Truth To Self

Revelations 5:⁹ “With your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and every language and every people and every nation!” (NIV, emphasis added).

God is all about diversity. God’s Kingdom is multinational, multi-ethnic, and multi-tribal. If you have a community, state, or national vision, then your vision is too small. You must start thinking globally. You must keep thinking about the entire world. Christians, sometimes, just want to keep our churches small. Where we know each other, and we know every family. It seems like the longer we are Christians, the more we forget how good the good news really is. Never allow yourself to forget how good the Good News is. It should never grow old.

Guess what I do when I am low. When I get discouraged or discouragement is trying to creep in, or it feels like what am I doing? What am I giving my life to? Do you know what I do? I watch the baptism videos. I see people committing their lives to Jesus. I watch the altar calls of God Will Do It Again services, and I see hundreds and hundreds of people coming to God. I watch the bridge testimonials; I see people’s stories, people who God has helped economically. And I am fired up! I am addicted to changed lives. God’s agenda is for people to come into His Kingdom. My question to you is, is this your agenda? Think about it.

We are in the month of August, about to roll into September. Think, this year, has your life been about your own agenda, or about God’s agenda? When we look at things practically, we should be able to tell ourselves the truth. If it is not, you need to be realigned today. It is about the Kingdom of God. Do I get an Amen? So, we must adopt God’s agenda.

To stay aligned, to stay above discouragement, and keep the main thing, the main thing, the second thing is We Must Abandon All Distractions. 1 Corinthians 7:³⁵ “…do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.” (emphasis added). Matthew 6:³³ “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (ESV, emphasis added). This is a big directive from the Word of God. But how do I know what I am seeking first, Pastor? I am glad you asked. It is two things: First, look at how you spend your money, and second, look at how you spend your time.

How you spend your energy will follow how you spend your money, and how you spend your time. But let’s leave energy out, because energy will flow in the direction of both factors. How do you spend your money and your time? Examine your calendar and your bank statement.

Prayer: Father, give me the courage to be true to myself about how much I have really adopted Your Kingdom agenda and what I am truly seeking first in my life, in Jesus Name. Amen!