Giving Thanks Paves the Way

Todays blog post is contributed by David Trotta:

He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God. (Psalm 50:23)

We say thanks for a lot of things in our life before we receive them, often times without even being consciously aware of it.

Let me give you a few recent personal examples.

A few days ago, I thanked by son in-law for ordering a couple of movie tickets for me that I could pick up at the movie theater before the showing.  I didn’t watch him place the order or have the tickets in my possession ahead of time, but I still thanked him because I was fully expectant the tickets would be there when I walked into the theatre.

The other day at work, while on the phone with my wife, she told me she was cooking my favorite dinner.  Before we hung up, I thanked her, even though I hadn’t tasted a bite yet.  Why?  Because I trusted my wife’s word and knew the dinner she promised would be waiting for me.

How much more does God deserve my thanks before I see His promises come to pass?

Has God revealed a promise to you in His word?  Maybe the promise of provision in a time of need?  Maybe a promise of peace in the midst of a very difficult situation.  Maybe the promise of comfort for a broken heart?

Whatever it may be, one of the greatest demonstrations of faith is to express gratitude to God before you receive what you’re expecting.

Jesus practiced this truth.  Before He even called Lazarus out from the tomb, Jesus said “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.” (John 11:41)

What if we sincerely thanked God after every prayer request before we saw anything come to pass?  Our thanks-filled expectation will align our heart with God’s desires and position us to receive all that He has for us.

As the above verse declares, God wants to show you His salvation, and giving thanks prepares the way.

Is God Your Co-Pilot?

I hope not!

There is statement made popular over the years that also was seen on bumper stickers.

It read: “God is my Co-Pilot.”

It sounds like a wonderful concept except it falls 100% short in effectiveness.

What do I mean?

A life half surrendered to God is a life we are still in control of.

Listen to Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Did you notice whose plans they are?

God’s plans for you and I are good plans.

I confess, when I am left in control of my own plans they are not always good, prosperous and hopeful.

A life fully surrendered to God, where we give Him total control to pilot our destiny, is a life that honors Him and fulfills His plans and purposes.

A fair question might be – “Don’t I have a role to play?”

Yes, you do. It’s called complete and total surrender.

God will not usurp my will.

Instead I must choose to surrender my will to His.

When I have done this, it is not me piloting my life, not even co-piloting it.

God pilots my life.

Do you pilot your life?

Do you and God co-pilot? (I hope you understand the irrelevance of this question)

- or -

Does God pilot your life?

Am I ‘Exhibit A’ for Faithfulness?

“I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws.”

Psalm 119:30 

How does faithfulness ‘play out’ in our lives?

In other words…

What are some evidences of faithfulness in the life of a believer?

Let me give you some examples –

1.The faithful man or woman of God supports the vision of their church with their time, talent and treasures.

2.They worship God on the mountain and in the valley – through the highs and lows of life because they understand that worship is not so much an ‘act’ as it is a lifestyle.

3.They are not ‘moody’ but are reliable even in the expressions of their personality.

4.At it’s core – a ‘faithful’ person is a ‘faith-filled’ person who responds with faith toward God and others and does not respond out of fear or unbelief.

5.They can be trusted with a task to see it through to completion – they are dependable.

Alright, I have given you only five evidences of faithfulness on a list that can be very much longer.

What would you add to it?

What is God speaking to you about concerning your faithfulness?

“Faithfulness or Fruitfulness?”

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

John 15:5

What ought to be the greater goal in the life of a believer, faithfulness or fruitfulness?

No, no, I hear your objections but it is not an irrelevant question.

It is of the utmost importance to you.

You see the apple tree does not fret about producing apples.

It is in its’ DNA to produce apples and not sunflowers.

Fruitfulness as a disciple of Jesus Christ is expected but my fruitfulness has more to do with relationship than with labor. If I remain attached to the vine I will bear fruit. The Father prunes and I bear more fruit. Faithfulness is often defined as “steadfast adherence”. To adhere means: to stick fast; to become attached. My faithfulness can be measured by my “stick-to-itiveness” to Christ.

Do I abide in Him?

Do I remain in Him?

Am I a branch attached to the vine?

If I abide in Him, if I remain in Him, if I am attached to Him then I will be fruitful because His DNA courses through my veins. As a matter of fact His word says apart from Him (we might say – a branch severed from the vine) we can do nothing but through the strength that Jesus Christ gives me I can do all things.

That includes living a fruitful life.

Don’t fret about being fruitful –

Faithfully abide in the vine and you will be fruitful.

“Extreme Seasons”

“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse,

whose rider is called Faithful and True...”

Revelation 19:11a

We happen to live in a part of the world where there are four distinct seasons throughout the year. If I had to describe them (and if you allow me a little liberty) I would say that Winter and Summer are the ‘extreme’ seasons typically marked by the most cold and most hot days of the year respectively. Spring and Fall can certainly have surprises as well but the weather complaints are most often heard relative to the cold and the heat.

That got me to thinking about faithfulness and how the greatest tests of faithfulness often come at the ‘extreme’ times of our lives. Those times when the days are shortest, the wind blows coldest and the voice of God seems silent are times when we may be tempted to be unfaithful because the circumstances seem to be getting the best of us.

Conversely, there are also seasons of sunny days and warm breezes blowing when we are enjoying the blessing of God on our lives. Sadly though, when we fail to recognize Him in the blessings and we are tempted to credit our skill and perseverance, we can also slip away from that faithful commitment to God.

Faithfulness, then, is most obvious in our lives during those ‘extreme’ seasons. It is made most evident, to ourselves and others, not only “…through the Valley of the Shadow of death…” but also on the mountaintop experiences.

Faithfulness is tested – and evidenced – in the time of lack and

the time of abundance in our lives.

If you or your family are in an ‘extreme’ season in your life right now hold fast to God. Remain faithful to Him as He walks with you through this season. Even if you don’t ‘feel’ His presence understand He has not left you.

We may be called to faithfulness but He is Faithful and True

through all the extremes of life!

The Greatest of These

Today’s blog post is contributed by David Trotta:

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (I Corinthians 13:13)

Why did Paul say, “but the greatest of these is love?”  Simple.  Because, on God’s scale of importance, it’s at the top all by itself.

And God didn’t just give lip service to it.  He put His money where His mouth is.  He walked the talk.

The bible makes it point to say “God is love” (I John 4:8).  God’s character is to love.  It’s woven into His DNA.  Why do you think Jesus left the glory of heaven to come to earth?  Yep, all because of love.

Love is what moves God to act.  Love is what paved a way for us to receive God’s grace and forgiveness.  Love is why while hanging on the cross Jesus said, “Lord forgive them for they know not what they do.”

Faith and hope are critical to the life of a Christ follower here on earth, but love trumps them both.  When we love, we put the character of God on display. Love causes us to be more like the Father.

Love also prepares us for heaven.  It’s the language of heaven.

When we get to heaven, we won’t need faith, hope, or the gifts of the spirit, but we will still need love.  The other things will cease, but love will never fail (fade or end).

So if the greatest is love, shouldn’t our focus be on growing in love?  But yet so often, we talk about wanting more faith or a greater measure of hope.  Let me say again, faith and hope are important, but we should be desiring love more than anything else.  If we aren’t, our spiritual life may be out of balance.

Let’s not forget the strong admonishment a few verses earlier I Corinthians (chapter 13, v2) where God said if we don’t have love, we are nothing.

Without love, we are good for nothing. Without love, God can’t use us to further His kingdom.  Without love, we are equivalent to one of those kitchen gadgets we bought years ago that sit in the back of our cupboard never to be used.

As a matter of fact, without love, we can actually do damage to God’s kingdom and unknowingly advance the kingdom of darkness.

With love being the greatest of importance to God, isn’t it something we should desire and strive for more than anything else?

“Abiding and Walking”

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Galatians 5:22-23

“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”

John 15:4

An abiding life is a fruit-bearing life.

The fruit we bear is evidence of what we worship.

After all true worship is not simply a result of an energized song service at church but the result of living a life pleasing to God.

We are told that if we walk in the Spirit we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.

Why does this matter?

Because in that same chapter – Galatians 5 – the works of the flesh are also listed and contrasted with the Spirit’s fruit. If I want the fruit of the Spirit in my life I will walk in the Spirit.

What does it mean to ‘walk in the Spirit’?

It means I am being led by the Spirit of God and not by the urgings of my old nature – the lusts of my flesh. That continued obedience to being led by the Spirit is indicative of one who remains or abides in the vine and that is a person who will bear much fruit for the Kingdom of God.

Our challenge for today then is twofold:

Are you abiding in the vine?

Are you walking in the Spirit?