Positively Inspired

Have you ever heard the saying, "Too many chiefs and not enough Indians"? The gist of the saying stems from the workplace and refers to the problem of there being too many managers and not enough people to actually do the work. In the following passage from 3 John:5-8, the apostle was not critical of the church body that was being represented; he was just exhorting a fellow Christian worker who seemed to be in an otherwise normal position within his church that did not involve leadership.

We should express our faith in the full view of many other people who observe us in our daily lives. Our faith and our desire to serve GOD and follow HIM all of our days should never be hidden from others because we should not be ashamed or afraid of HIS workings in our lives. You know, you should never feel ashamed of expressing your love for GOD. Every bit of your life was exposed to HIM before you ever even considered accepting the sacrifice of HIS Son as an atonement for your sins. That gift of salvation is yours! Proudly proclaim that you have been set free of your sin!

Have you ever had the pleasure of teaching a young student GOD’s Word and watching them grow by leaps and bounds in faith right before your very eyes? It’s amazing to watch this young man growing into a spiritual leader in my youth group. I am proud of his effort to remain true to the scriptures as he learns more about GOD’s purpose for his life. He has a good heart and I hope that I am still around to see what the Holy Spirit is going to empower him to do.

Christians are now living in a world when sins are excused as a condition of life and celebrated over when accepted by society. It is too easy for us to immerse ourselves in this world today. The influence that it has upon us is profound. We are forced to be tolerant of an immoral train of thought or face the consequences of standing up for what we believe in.

How often have you been discouraged and needed to hear words of approval for the work you are doing for the Lord? Have you ever been told by a trusted colleague to do something that you sense is wrong, but they try to convince you it's the right thing to do? This episode deals with sinning against Christ when someone encourages another Christian to do something they believe is wrong.

In Colossians 4:2 Paul urged Christians to "Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;". That is we are to be constantly in contact with God, devoting ourselves to prayers of praise and gratitude. However, you might ask yourself, how is it you can be true to God when so many things in your life steal away from the devotion he deserves from you? How do you stay alert?

As you consider your New Year's resolutions, don't let your faith be entangled by the thorns of worldly concerns. Those who are weak in the faith tend to get close to GOD only when they are in the presence of other Christians in worship. I'm not claiming whether or not they are Christians, but that they practice their faith in the presence of thorns. Once they leave the church, the world presses in on them and chokes out any spiritual growth.

When we walk in the ways of the world we tend to forget GOD has an intended purpose for us. I cannot pretend to understand all the nuances of the events or the directions GOD steers me in but I know there is meaningful purpose in all of it.

Let's read Matthew 5:13-16

You may have asked yourself this very question:

"Why was the Son of GOD; the King of kings; the Messiah; born in a place of shelter and feeding for livestock instead of a palace meant for royalty?"

GOD is in control of all things, including the timing, location, and events surrounding the birth of HIS Son. Even the tiniest detail could not be overlooked.