| Whatsoever
Things Are True
by Dan Coburn Pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church pastordan@mtida.net Oh mule you're the son of a donkey, and I'm in the image of God Yet here we work hitched together, toilin and tillin the sod. I wonder if you work for me ---- or if I work for you ole mule Sometimes I think it's a partnership between a mule and a dog-gone fool. The only time I'm your better, is when elections come. Cause a man can vote and a mule cannot, but that don't worry you none, Because you're a wise old donkey, you're gettin the best in how, You knew politics wouldn't help you a lick, and I'm just findin it out. (Old song, author unknown) And that's enough about that. Let's turn the Spiritual Switch: "Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful." 1st Cor. 4:2 Faithful in what? Money? Resources? Missions? Service? All yes, but the single most precious commodity you have is ---- Time. Nugget: Time belongs to God by virtue of the fact that He created it. He was before time - He operates outside of it, and fasten your pew-belts, to Him all is now. What is His name? "I Am". Adrian Rodgers said: "Time is what God allows so everything doesn't happen to you all at once." Isaiah 46:10 = "Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient time the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:" He exists in both. "Time is the dressing room for eternity" - unknown. Nugget: It's not your time. This realization will radically change your life. Nugget: A Biblical fool lives only for himself, and for the moment, while - "Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?" Psalm 89:47 "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow, for what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." James 4:14 And Moses said in Psalm 90:12 "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom". Conclusion = Someday, the author of time will require of us an account of how we used the time He allotted us. What is it for? To make an name? Get possessions? Build a portfolio? From God's perspective, we are not talking about "personal guidance" as in "Who should I marry?" or "Where should I go to school?" or "What job should I pursue?" or "What house should I buy?" It isn't that God doesn't care about these things, but rather they have been answered already. Nugget: God's will has little to do with choices. It's primary focus is on what He already revealed in His Word. If we search out, appropriate and act on the will of God in our lives, we will know the answers to these life choices. Jesus said "Don't be concerned with what you will eat, or what you will wear -- your Heavenly Father knows what you need" actually better than you do. What does He demand we pray for? Others; Their salvation. Boldness; to share the gospel. If you "Delight thyself also in the lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart" Psalm 37:4. Simple formula, impossible to accomplish absent an enabling grace of the Holy Spirit, which is impossible to obtain absent a Saving relationship with Christ. What's your calendar look like? |
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