Let Us Not Be Weary

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. (Gal 6:9-10 KJV)

As I consider how weary are our law enforcement officers and our firemen and others who are busy trying to put out the fires that began as peaceful protests and were infiltrated by others with not so peaceful agendas, I become weary. 

But, this morning I give thanks to God for the outstanding and peaceful way that the protests here in Flagler County and next door in Putnam County, Florida were held. I am grateful that the organizers of the protests and local law enforcement were able to coordinate their efforts together and walk together, as well.  

If we take the time to talk with (not at) one another and walk together there will much less weariness. So many people have been harmed these past couple of weeks that it has become a time of grieving for much of our population.

Life in this world will never be perfect. We will never know perfect peace. But, that does not mean we should not strive for a more peaceful way to live, caring for one another; caring for all people. "...let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
                                                                              (Num 6:24-26 KJV)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Not Of This World

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

                                                                                     (Romans 12:2-3 KJV)

How to live in this world without being conformed to it is something to ponder! Where is the line between thinking more about ourselves and the world around us than the creator and Father of all things? These things can be difficult, if not impossible, given the fact that we are after all infallible human beings, to discern.

We were born into a world that is filled with temptations to indulge ourselves and others. If you want to have a career there is some adapting that might be necessary. Being a radical in any direction may very well limit your opportunities to support yourself and your families. Being a radical is going to mean that you may just not fit into society. 

There are a lot of radicals of every kind in the world. In the end, it is better to be a radical for Jesus because we know that we can trust him to be there for us. The Lord knows what's going on in our lives.  He will take care of you.

Jesus tells us:

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

                                                                                    (Matt 6:24-33)

Life's decisions can be tough. There are a lot of temptations to follow in the ways of the world rather than the way that Jesus sets before us. Sometimes, it's hard to even know what he would have us do. But, we do know what God which direction God would have us go in because we have the Holy Spirit as a counselor. We have the word given to us in the Holy Scriptures. We can know; but, the devil and the world would tell us that we are wrong. Don't believe them. Believe the Word, who is Jesus the Christ, the one who lived and died, yet lives for you.

We live in this world; but, we are not of it. We are children of our Father's Kingdom, a kingdom where there is no struggling to get ahead of ourselves or our neighbors. There is only peace.

And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. (2 Thess 3:5)

God's Peace - Pr. J

God's; Not The World's Will

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Rom 12:1 KJV)

Do we really want to good or do we just want our neighbors to be good and acceptable and perfect so that we don't have any injustices inflicted upon us? 

Jesus tells us, "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." (Luke 6:31) Do we treat others as we would like them to treat us? Do we get upset if someone gets in our way a bit as they struggle with something or do we help them? Are we understanding when someone is ill and is not able to do what we'd expect of them? 

The world's way is to take care of ourselves first. Indeed, we have to take care of ourselves. But, do we include taking care of our frivolous desires as a necessary part of taking care of ourselves over and above helping our neighbor in genuine need?

Lot's of questions on my mind this morning. I pray that we would learn to be a little bit more understanding of others and begin proving what is the good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God with both word and deed. How fruitful the world would be!

God's Peace - Pr. J