Laying Bricks of Obedience to Build Glory

Nothing is too hard for God – nothing is impossible.

We alone limit God, our action and our inaction are the only willful factors that keep His will from being fully manifest in our lives. Obedience is not just a good thing to do, it’s not just important for keeping us safe, it is VITAL. It is meant to keep us ALIVE in the Lord, spiritually thriving.

If we are disobedient in even “one area” of our lives, we are hindering God’s will, and His very kingdom as far as our circle of influence stretches – to all of our loved ones, our friends and acquaintances, even our future generations. Unfortunately, disobedience stretches until God’s mercy steps in and stops it.

The flip side: Obedience does the same thing AND brings glory to God! In obedience to His will, not only is our life saved (in submission to the true Life, Jesus), but it is manifest as God’s will is done and completed. It brings God glory to set our actions and inactions on His Kingdom, on His people in right relationships, and on His magnificent, saving love. Obedience is the mortar of the wall our Father commissions around His people in His Kingdom – it is the adhesive that we lay our stones of faith on His cornerstone.

So I charge you – how is your will affecting the kingdom? Who do you set to action or inaction for? Whom do you serve? And why?

Don’t be easy on yourself, for surely God’s wrath cannot make exceptions. But His saving love cannot make exceptions, either. Turn to your Maker and offer Him your best obedience, and surely He will direct your steps, and God’s glory will be made manifest in your life even today.

Confusing Kingdoms

I just LOVE you, Jesus. You definitely know what it means to LIVE - and for You to share that with me willingly, joyfully, excitedly ... wow. I hope you enjoy dwelling in me. I know sometimes You can't, because I am so wrapped up in MY kingdom, when I should be wrapped up in my Father's kingdom. During those times, I find myself confused, distracted, unhappy, lost... comatose. I'm not really even alive - just existing matter.
When I am zealous for Your Kingdom in Your Spirit and Your plan of massive, radical salvation, I am made alive! During these times, I remember the cold, "un-dead" feeling of life without You first, and I am made so grateful for Your grace. I am so grateful for the life You have given me, the life You are living in me; I'm grateful that you condescend to be so close. Thank you for your mercy! A joyful life I gratefully give to One who saves so mightily, and who has drawn so near as to be INSIDE ME, promising never to leave - a promise I can rely on.

Trite or Truth?

“Life is hard.”
“People change.”

We’ve all heard those mundane little sayings at some point, full of empty justification. I was thinking about the empty connotations of both of those ideas when I realized they were actually true… and not necessarily all that bad.

Life is hard. Obstacles rise up and bear down every step of the way; life is never what we thought it would be on the last step. Rarely do we feel prepared for the next step, but we are always pushed into it by… people changing. Seriously, you blink and suddenly your best friend is completely different. She’s becoming more reserved, or he’s letting go of old fears – they’re changing.

Christ came to give us life to the full, not to steal it away. Abundant life is not mere existence. It is thriving, growing, dynamic – it can never be static and be considered abundant life. I don’t mean that God changes, for His faithfulness is proven with every sunrise and sunset, but we were created to change, to grow, to conform. That is all part of loving.

Life gets hard, so people change. Or, people change and life gets hard. Either way, I know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. Praise God that we can be changed, that our hearts can be made more like His and closer to His, no matter the situation. That’s right I said NO MATTER THE SITUATION.

I emphasized that to remind myself, someday. I’ll need it.

Break our chains, Lord…
Won’t You take our burdens,
Our bondage, our deception-
And reveal it to us?

It looks like deception and fear keep us locked up, keep us from the abundance of your full blessing, from the joy of surrender to You.