Know Your Priorities-Most Important Relationship

 

Foundational Living

Psalm 118:22

The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

Isaiah 28:16

So this is what the Lord GOD says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken.

Acts 4:10-12

"...then let this be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.

This Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’

Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

Ephesians 2:19-21

Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household,

built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.

In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord.

Matthew 4:19

And He said to them, “Follow Me [as My disciples, accepting Me as your Master and Teacher and walking the same path of life that I walk], and I will make you fishers of men.”

1 Corinthians 14:1

Love should be your guide. Be eager to have the gifts that come from the Holy Spirit, especially the gift of prophecy.

     Without this Foundation, this relationship which is made possible by believing that Jesus is the Christ, Who is our only means of salvation, a person is doomed to fail in this life. Success is not measured by how much we own, nor is it measured by our level of happiness.

     What we own in this life (material possessions, wealth or lack thereof) is not what we take with us when we die. When our bodies cease to have life, there is an immediate separation. The body remains earthbound while the spirit/soul travels to its destination, which has been determined by that soul while it lived on this earth. 

     Each and every one of us will give an account for our actions, our thoughts and our words. We are responsible in our lifetimes for making wise choices/decisions. Particularly the decision to believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation. That must be done on an individual basis by each person who ever lived. 

Acknowledge our sins and repent of them

Believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ

Confess that He Is Lord

Determine to follow Him

     This can be accomplished through simple prayers. God wants to hear us speak what is in our own hearts. We can recite a prayer, but unless we really mean it, that prayer is just words and has no power to change our lives. 

Dear Heavenly Father,

I admit I have sinned against You and against Your Word. Forgive me of my sins and make me new in You. I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty for my guiltiness and rose from the dead walking out of the grave. 

I confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Please be Lord of my life. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I may be able to live a life that pleases You. 

In Jesus' Precious Name,

Amen

Without Love

What is Love?

     How does your marriage work? Is it 50/50 or 100/100? Does one of you do all the work and one of you do nothing but play all day? It doesn't work that way in ours. We work together for what's best in our relationship. We did not get married so one of us could slide while the other worked his butt off.
     Maybe you aren't married, but in a gf and bf relationship. Does one of you pay for everything on every date? Or do you each pay your own way? Who decides what is best for the both of you? Is there equal say in every decision, married or single?
     When we first got married, Steve and I were both working outside and inside the home. We both had jobs that paid for our services outside the house. We both took care of the home maintenance, sharing the work. Working together to bring about an increase in our assets and a decrease in our liabilities.
     Then I got sick and couldn't work. Did the relationship suffer? Yes. On every level. Especially the finances got hit hard. And then Steve got laid off and was laid off for nine months. The only income coming into the house was his unemployment. My disability had not yet been approved. Every bill was paid on time. We had groceries. We paid our tithes into the church. We had gas in the car. And even the dog had her needs met. We were clothed, fed and nurtured while neither of us was working.
    Because the relationship we have with Christ is 100/100. He gave His all. So we gave Him our all, too. Individually, Steve and I both were able to reach a level in our walk with God where we were each able to surrender what we want out of life and turn it over to God. We are able because God is able. God's Word is faithful. Every promise He makes, He keeps.
     All He wants us to do is obey. If we are only hearing the Word of God preached and doing nothing with it, the Word has fallen on deaf ears. And the hearer has disobeyed God. It is not enough just to go to church. If you claim to do the works of God, but refuse to hear the Word of God spoken, you are disobeying God. It is not enough to do just the good works, the good deeds. If songs of praise are coming out of your mouth, but your heart is filled with unforgiveness and hate, not only are you disobeying God, but your voice is not being heard. Without love, you are just noise. 1 Corinthians 13:1 "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity(love), I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal."
     It is not enough to open your mouth, if you refuse to open your heart. It is not enough to put your body in motion, if you are lacking in spirit. You will never be good enough on your own. Without Jesus, you are just a shell of who you really could be. Without submitting to God and without surrendering your heart and your life to Christ, you are not even giving God anything. There is no relationship. There is no 50/50. A half-hearted attempt on your part will not be met with a half-hearted reciprocation on God's part. HE ALREADY GAVE ALL. He can't give you half of nothing.
      And He is still giving to us. Every time we are faithful to our Lord and Savior, He continues to give and give and give. He already gave till it hurt; and then some. Now it's our turn to give till it hurts; and then some. Do you really think you are living the life God wants you to have? the life God wants to give you? Can you love like Jesus loves?

     Luke 6: 27 "But I say to you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you.." Are you loving the people you consider your enemies? Are you being good or doing good things for the people who hate you? Luke 6:28 "Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you." So, the last time someone swore at you, what did you do? Luke 6:29 "And to him that hits you on one cheek, offer him the other; and to him that steals your coat, give him your shirt." There's a rare sight. Or maybe not so rare. I have been accused of being a doormat, but I have only "turned the other cheek."
     Luke 6:30 "Give to every man (or woman) that asks of you; and of him that takes away your goods ask them not again." If someone asks you for something that is rightfully yours, can you give it to them in love? If a thief or a friend takes something that belongs to you, do you try to get it back?
     Luke 6:31 "And as you would that men (and women) should do to you, do you also to them likewise." Treat others how you want to be treated. When we bless people, regardless of how we have been treated, they will respond in kind. Luke 6:32 "For if you love only those who love you, what good does it do you? For sinners also love those that love them." You are not getting any credits built up in heaven if you only love the people who love you back. We must love everyone the same; treat everyone the same.
     Luke 6:33 "And if you do good to them who do good to you, what good does it do you? for sinners are also good to they who are good to them."  Are you being good to your enemies? Do you share what you have with someone you don't like?
     Luke 6:34 "And if you lend to someone hoping to receive something back, what good does that do to you? for sinners lend to sinner, expecting to receive as much back again." We are to give without expecting compensation back from anyone we give to. Therefore it is not a loan that we are giving them; it is a gift.
     Luke 6:35 "But love you your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the children of the Highest: for He is kind to the unthankful and to the evil." We are to (1) Love our enemies; (2) Do good to all; (3) Lend to all; (4) Hope for nothing in return. Why? For great is our reward AND we will be the children of the Highest, He who gives gifts to everyone. He who shows kindness to the ungrateful and thankless people.
     Luke 6:36 "Be merciful, as your Father also is merciful." As Christians, we are to show mercy to all, not expecting a recompense of anything. We who have answered the call to salvation are Christians; therefore, we have become the sons of God also and can call Him Father. Because our Father has shown mercy to us, forgiving all sins and transgressions on our part, we are to show mercy to all on their part. We are His people, and He is our God. Psalm 100:3 "Know you that the LORD He is GOD: it is He that has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture."
     Luke 6:37 "Judge not, and you will not be judged: condemn not, and you will not be condemned: forgive, and you will be forgiven: Give, and it shall be given to you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give to you. For with the same measure that you mete out, it shall be measured to you again." If you turn on the television, not too many Prime Time shows are advocating mercy or forgiveness or love. Most shows and movies have swearing, mild nudity and/or someone gets hurt or killed. People in general do not want to change for the better; only the worse. Sometimes this can happen to Christians, too. We start running with the pack and we will behave like the pack.
     But when we walk with God and behave like Christ, we get separated from the pack mentality. By advocating love and mercy, we show that we are different; that this difference is a good thing. An example to be emulated and not treated like dung. Without love, the true love of Christ, that changes a person from the inside out, we are just like everyone else. "But, Mom, EVERYBODY'S DOING IT!" is a lie. That is the pack mentality creeping into the situation.
     As Christians today, especially in this crumbling immoral world we live in, we now more than ever need the love of God in us. And we need to show it and share it with the rest of the world: one person at a time, if we have to. You want to see the world become a better place? You who advocate change for the better instead of for the worst, are you willing to make the sacrifice it will require for you to love your enemies and bless those who mock you, imprison you, torture you or kill you? Without love, it is impossible to change anyone, even yourself. But with love...hm. 

Just you watch. I'm gonna change the world.