What His Must Do!

Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” (2 Timothy 2:19 NIV)

Instead of getting into tireless conversations about what others must do, perhaps it's way past time for us to concentrate on what we--who are His--must do. After all, if we truly His, He knows and if we confess to be Christians, there should be no reports of wickedness or evil doing ever made on us.

Here's what we know for sure. There are two reigning spirits in the atmosphere, influencing and controlling what we do. We are either influenced by God or Satan. Now, some believe there some people who simply do what they want to do and are guided by a spirit of self.  If we understand that "self" is only concerned with doing what pleases self's flesh, then we are still seeing the influence of Satan who would love it if all people were only concerned with self.

Why? Selfish people never do anything for anyone else. They are not kind or compassionate, they are evil and greedy and will run over anyone who gets in their way--literally and figuratively. Remember the battle in heaven and Satan being thrown out? He selfishly thought he was superior to God and wanted to take over heaven. His influence led to one-third of the angels who foolishly followed him, being thrown out, too. And now we deal with them in the earth realm.

Selfless people are guided by the Spirit of God to assist others in need and are not concerned about their own needs. Selfless people know that God will provide for them and they use their provisions to helps others in all kinds of situations. This is why we have missionaries in other countries, those who are determined to help others, even to the point of endangering their own lives. Selfless people promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ no matter how many times they are ridiculed and scorned; they pray for those who hate them and they continue to be obedient to God whether they understand why God wants them to do things or not.

This is what His must do! All who proclaim the name of the Lord and say they are "Christians" have a job to do and the first task is to turn away from the influence of wickedness and stand firm in the knowledge that He knows who we are. If we are His, We must obey His Word and not allow ourselves to be duped by the enemy and his minions. We must follow Christ in the fullness of His life--in Truth--and in love, obeying The Father in all things.

Rising Light!

"if you pour yourself out for the hungry
and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
then shall your light rise in the darkness
and your gloom be as the noonday"(Isaiah 58:10 ESV).

How often have we seen people who are hungry--naturally and spiritually? Finding a way to help feed the naturally hungry is fairly simple (sometimes). We point them in the direction of a soup kitchen, buy them a meal, take sandwiches to the areas in which the homeless can be found, and some will even take people home with them to feed them.  At the end of the day, we feel we have accomplished something. We have--the rumblings and gnawings in their stomachs have ceased for a moment. But tomorrow, they will be hungry again.

Some of us have put ourselves in the position to comfort those who have been afflicted--by life in illness, abuse, or loneliness. We were there to offer them a shoulder to lean on or cry on when they needed. But when we left, they were left to their own devices.

Now the real question is--how many of us have poured ourselves out to those who are spiritually hungry--feeding them The Word and showering them with love, leading them to a Risen Savior who can quench any thirst and hunger, comfort, heal and counsel like no one else? When people are fed and nourished in The Word, have opened their hearts to Jesus, and accepted the outpouring of love being offered, they will hunger no more and the prophet Isaiah tells us that the light within us will rise and our gloom (feelings of despair will dissipate) shall be as the noon day (as bright as the noon day sun).

If we stop and think about how we feel when we help someone else, we'd have to admit that helping others, certainly makes us feel better about ourselves. At least that is true for many who do out of right motives--a simple desire to help. When we do things to be seen or for a photo-op or for any other ulterior motive, we have not accomplished much and what we do--is tarnished by our motives.

Before we do anything to help someone else, make sure it is being done to the glory of God and not for self-aggrandizement. God knows our hearts and instead of seeing a light rise within us, we may sink into a pit of darkness because of selfish motives that were intended to help no one but us. Despair not! Even when we mess up, God will pull us out of the pit--using someone else with pure motives--and give us another chance to have our lights rise!
Is your light rising or is it sinking into darkness?

Father, in the name of Jesus, help us see beyond our own needs and reach out to others who are in need. Help us to see the need to feed--naturally and spiritually so no one will ever hunger again. Continue to fill us as we pour out of our spirits, all You have poured into us, to all who will accept what we have to offer. Grant us continued mercy and grace as we do all to Your Glory!