Wednesday Words of Encouragement: Get Serious!

-
I Peter 4:7-11 (HCSB) ~

Now the end of all things is near; therefore, be serious and disciplined for prayer. Above all, maintain an intense love for each other, since love covers a multitude of sins.  Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Based on the gift each one has received, use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God. If anyone speaks, it should be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, it should be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

Get serious!  I've said this to my children a few times throughout the years as I'm trying to tell them something and they were busy goofing around.  They were so busy being silly that I couldn't get them to see the urgency of something.

Get serious!  This passage is telling us the same thing.  As believers, we are to be serious about our Christian walk.  And that is getting harder and harder in this day and age where so many only want to go skin deep in their relationship with the Lord.

This passage tells us we are to be serious about the following things:

1. Get serious about prayer.  We are to discipline ourselves and pray for one another.  I'm not talking about little popcorn prayers we throw up here or there.  Serious, disciplined prayer is necessary as a believer.  Prayer that changes things.  Prayer that in intense.

2.  Get serious about our love for fellow believers.  This is one we probably all struggle with.  In any given church there are a multitude of personalities and styles.  Yet we are to have not just love but an intense love for each other.  Why?  Because that will help you see through another person's faults and sins.  That is what gets you through the rocky times as a church.  That is what shows the world we are really different.  Love and forgiveness are the marks of a true believer.

3. Get serious about hospitality.  Open your home, possessions, and life to others.  Do it often.  Do it with enthusiasm.  Do it without hesitation.  Do it without complaining. 

4. Get serious about reflecting and glorifying God in everything.  It's not about me.  It's not about you.  Everything we do in our lives should point people to Jesus.  How much of God do we reflect?  It helps to remember that every we are and have is from Him.

If we continuing majoring in the minors that I'm afraid that we are no different than those who do not know Christ.  We will be known as "religious" people, but no one will come to know the living God who can truly change lives.

Let's get serious!

Comments

  1. AnonymousJune 19, 2015 at 7:44 AM

    I am really struggling with how God tells us to love our neighbor. Our neighbor is extremely mean. He has been here about 1 year lives with his elderly mother. Loud music and his yard looks awful. Had a surveyor come and now he throws brush lots of it just on the border. I want him to see that I am different but it is really difficult to love him. I ask for your prayers. Thank you

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

I love your comments and encouragement! I can't always respond back but do read each comment.

Popular posts from this blog

Oh What to Do; I'm Sixty-Two!

-
Image
Today is my sixty-second birthday and it's hard to believe I've achieved that....um....seasoned age! My first thought this morning was one of not being sure that I like it. However,  as I thought I about it, I decided to take joy in the fact that I've reached an older age. Because age comes with benefits. Benefit #1 - I'm a bit wiser.   When I look back at some of the decisions I made when I was younger, I cringe. With age has come the ability to slow down and think things through before I make major upheavals in my life. I've also discovered that getting worked up about certain things is just an absolute waste of emotional energy. Benefit #2 - I'm enjoying my life.   As I've aged I've learned all kinds of skills and hobbies and can honestly say that I'm never, ever bored. I love all the different things I'm able to do and it's fun! Benefit #3 - I've learned to appreciate my relationships. With age I've learned to work on developing a...
Read more

Eating to Live

-
Image
  Despite the unexpected busyness and interruptions, I have been plugging away at my weight loss as well as writing the plant-based, whole food cookbook. Recipe testing fell by the wayside the past two weeks, but I've still gotten a good chunk of the book done. I also got on the scale this morning for another one pound loss which makes a total of 61 lbs. since I started this journey back in July. It's second nature at this point and I have so much more energy and feel healthy. The only negative is that because I've lost so much weight I'm seeing some sagging, crepe-papery skin happening. Yuck. Some of that is age and I need to figure out some toning exercises. It's definitely a life-style change, but a positive one which I'm so thankful I started on. The pictures above are a small selection of meals I've eaten the past two months and many of those will be included in the book.  This will be a printable e-book as I find that will be the easiest and most cost ...
Read more

When the Unexpected Pops Up

-
Image
On Thursday afternoon, just as Dan and I were getting ready to leave for a meeting, we received a phone call from our son. He was sitting on the side of the road with a blown engine in his car. The problem is he lives 3 1/2 hours away. After back and forth phone calls he called a tow truck and got it towed to a garage. He ended up renting a car and headed here for the holiday. We've been working with him to figure out his next steps because he still owes thousands of dollars on the car which will also take a significant amount to replace the engine. His rent is going up in the new year. His seasonal job ended and he is trying to find something else, but needs a car for that to happen. His car still has not been looked at by the mechanic. It is all more than a little overwhelming. Long story short, we extended an invitation for him to live here temporarily so he can get out from under all of this. It would save him money on expensive rent and utilities.  The timing was right since h...
Read more