A few days ago, I had a conversation with my Mom about my parents' pets. I mentioned her "stupid dog." (Forgive my political un-correctness in using that "s" word).
Mom's swift response was "We don't have a stupid dog."
"What happened to him?" I asked.
"Oh, we still have him," she said. "He's just not stupid."
Our conversation made me smile.
My parents love their pets - pretty much unconditionally. They are responsible, kind and generous pet owners (two cats and two dogs) and do everything they can to care for them properly. In return Bob, Charlie, Victor and Missy are devoted to my parents. They always want to be where Mom and Dad are and follow them around wherever they go.
God loves us that much -- unconditionally. Long ago, Jesus told us just how much the Father loves and cares for us. In that beautiful discourse called the Sermon on the Mount, Christ teaches that we are cared for much more than the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. (Matthew 6:25-34 NKJV)
We aren't to worry about what we will eat and drink or what we will wear. Christ says, "For your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6:32b -33). In other words, we don't have to worry about anything except seeking the Father and His righteousness. Then God will take care of the rest.
Probably the most well-known verse in the Bible is John 3:16 and no wonder! "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." How awesome is that? It is a kind of love that we cannot begin to fathom. Knowing about His love gives us hope beyond measure.
To me, the next verse is just as profound. "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." God gave us the greatest gift -- it was the perfect gift - the sacrifice of His loving Son for our sins.
The love of God is unconditional in that He sent His only Son to die for us. His sacrifice was for the whole world. And yet John 3:16-17 uses the words "should" and "might." See in return for His sacrifice -- in return for Christ dying for us - God wants us to live for Him.
He wants us to seek His kingdom and His righteousness - He wants us to be as devoted to Him as my parents' pets are to them. He wants us to long to be with Him - just like those beloved animals long to be with my Mom and Dad. He wants us to follow Him.
No I am not saying we are like pets' to God. Matthew already told us that in God's eyes we are so much more than the birds of the air. We are the only creatures to whom God gave a soul. But I am talking about pure love. Just as God's love is perfect and pure - so our love for Him should be.
We love God because God first loved us. (I John 4:19) Each one of us must decide if this is true for our lives. And if it is - we should be happy -- excited --eager to go wherever He leads us - just as those wonderful pets eagerly follow Mom and Dad wherever they go.
God's loves is wonderful, pure and holy. He wants us to be with Him. The question is do we love Him enough to follow where He leads?
Christ above all things,
Robin
Saturday, March 26, 2016
Saturday, March 19, 2016
Never Too Old -- Choosing Our Destiny
I got a sweet little book from my nephew for Christmas this past year -- 365 Lovely Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. As you might imagine, it is a collection of encouraging quotes. I've enjoyed this little book. Some of the quotes are really thought provoking. It is the combination of yesterday's and today's quote that finally prompted me to start sharing my thoughts again.
OK, Robin - so what are they? Well, yesterday's is from C.S. Lewis - "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." I loved this. It made me realize that it's not too late to pick this habit up again. It also helped me understand that if I am to continue to grow (as we should all strive to do) I must continue to set goals for myself ... to dream new dreams.
The quote for today is :"Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice." (W. J. Bryan) It brought to remembrance recent conversations in our Ladies' Sunday school class. These conversations centered on the choices we make and the impact they have on our lives and the lives of others. It also reminds me of all the times my parents told me we make our own destiny.
Both quotes are so very true. Our destiny in life is determined by the choices we make. Our eternal destination also depends on our life choices. And that is precisely why it is never too late to make the right choices -- to dream of eternal life.
We are never too old or too far gone in our sin to make a change and choose to serve our Savior. What better goal can we set? What better dream to have than the one of living with God in heaven eternally?
For those of us who already made the choice, we must choose to never give up. We must decide to continue to grow. God wants us to mature in our faith - to learn as much as we can so we can teach others. That is the choice we make. Do we choose to go with the status quo? Do we decide to just go through the motions of serving God? Are we Christians in name only? OR -- do we decide to actually live it every day?
Peter gives us great encouragement and the best reason in the world to keep growing -- to set new goals spiritually. Read 2 Peter 1:5-11. It is a somewhat lengthy passage; but so worthwhile to study.
"But also for this very reason, giving all diligence," make a conscience choice ... to do what, Peter?
"Add to your faith, virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance, godliness, to godliness brotherly love, to brotherly kindness love." That doesn't sound like going through motions to me. It sounds like we are to constantly set new goals for ourselves - to stretch and grow as Christians. And notably, this challenge doesn't have an age limit.
"For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." These "things" will not be ours by chance or accident. We will not obtain these qualities, let alone abound in them unless we choose to acquire them.
Next comes a warning, "For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins." How sad it is to become so indifferent to your salvation that you have forgotten the joy of forgiveness! Yet that is a choice some will make.
Peter offers the better choice. "Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
Did you get all that? We can decide to be diligent. We choose to be sure. There is so much to be gained if we do "these things" - if we continually add those qualities to our lives we will not stumble. What a glorious gain will be ours if we make the right choices.
Thank you Gentry for reminding me through your gift that we are never too old to dream - never too old to grow and mature in our Christian faith -- and for helping me remember that the choice really is ours (mine) to make.
By always adding to our faith, we choose our own destiny. We will be abundantly supplied an entrance "into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." What better reason for deciding to heed Peter's instruction?
Christ above all things,
Robin
OK, Robin - so what are they? Well, yesterday's is from C.S. Lewis - "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." I loved this. It made me realize that it's not too late to pick this habit up again. It also helped me understand that if I am to continue to grow (as we should all strive to do) I must continue to set goals for myself ... to dream new dreams.
The quote for today is :"Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice." (W. J. Bryan) It brought to remembrance recent conversations in our Ladies' Sunday school class. These conversations centered on the choices we make and the impact they have on our lives and the lives of others. It also reminds me of all the times my parents told me we make our own destiny.
Both quotes are so very true. Our destiny in life is determined by the choices we make. Our eternal destination also depends on our life choices. And that is precisely why it is never too late to make the right choices -- to dream of eternal life.
We are never too old or too far gone in our sin to make a change and choose to serve our Savior. What better goal can we set? What better dream to have than the one of living with God in heaven eternally?
For those of us who already made the choice, we must choose to never give up. We must decide to continue to grow. God wants us to mature in our faith - to learn as much as we can so we can teach others. That is the choice we make. Do we choose to go with the status quo? Do we decide to just go through the motions of serving God? Are we Christians in name only? OR -- do we decide to actually live it every day?
Peter gives us great encouragement and the best reason in the world to keep growing -- to set new goals spiritually. Read 2 Peter 1:5-11. It is a somewhat lengthy passage; but so worthwhile to study.
"But also for this very reason, giving all diligence," make a conscience choice ... to do what, Peter?
"Add to your faith, virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance, godliness, to godliness brotherly love, to brotherly kindness love." That doesn't sound like going through motions to me. It sounds like we are to constantly set new goals for ourselves - to stretch and grow as Christians. And notably, this challenge doesn't have an age limit.
"For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." These "things" will not be ours by chance or accident. We will not obtain these qualities, let alone abound in them unless we choose to acquire them.
Next comes a warning, "For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins." How sad it is to become so indifferent to your salvation that you have forgotten the joy of forgiveness! Yet that is a choice some will make.
Peter offers the better choice. "Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
Did you get all that? We can decide to be diligent. We choose to be sure. There is so much to be gained if we do "these things" - if we continually add those qualities to our lives we will not stumble. What a glorious gain will be ours if we make the right choices.
Thank you Gentry for reminding me through your gift that we are never too old to dream - never too old to grow and mature in our Christian faith -- and for helping me remember that the choice really is ours (mine) to make.
By always adding to our faith, we choose our own destiny. We will be abundantly supplied an entrance "into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." What better reason for deciding to heed Peter's instruction?
Christ above all things,
Robin
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)