February 2017 - GraceAndWorks

When driving around town, there is a stoplight at nearly every major intersection. Green lights for go, red lights for stop, and amber lights for caution. Most people obey the signals, but when others don’t there can be problems.

I don’t know about all of you, but I wish I had a light like this for life. When I’m about to make a major mistake or making a wrong decision, I wish there was a BIG RED LIGHT that would come on so I would know to stop before proceeding. That in itself would solve a lot of problems that I create by just forging ahead with what I deem as being right. By the way, I tell people I have only been wrong once and that was when I thought I was wrong. lol

Now when I’m headed in a little bit of a wrong direction, a BIG CAUTION light would come on. That would let me know that it’s probably OK to proceed, but do so carefully. Check all facts and concerns, look every direction, and make sure you are doing the right thing. That would certainly help, knowing the decision is right.

The BIG GREEN light is what we all look for. It simply means charge straight ahead, everything is OK. Nothing to be concerned about so no worries.  If we only had a traffic light for life!!

The one place we do have the light is in our Christian lives. God has provided us with an instruction manual called the Bible. His words on what we are to say and do. He has put big RED LIGHTS throughout the text to let us know we need to STOP “IT”. He has put passages throughout to let us know to be careful and think about what we are about to do. The big CAUTION LIGHT. It may be OK, but proceed carefully. Then there are passages than say everything is OK. The big GREEN LIGHT to let us know we can charge ahead and not be concerned or worried. Thank you God for giving me direction for my Christian life!!

There is a multitude of things that are going on right now that are just mind boggling to me and should be to you. Just a few of these are:

Anyone can have an opinion.

Anyone can say what they want.

Anyone can just worry about self.

Anyone can hurt others feelings.

Anyone can hate.

Anyone can be nonchalant.

Anyone can not care.

Anyone can cause quarreling to happen.

Anyone can deceive.

The list goes on, but basically anyone can do WHAT THEY PLEASE!!!

No matter what you might think, this is what is going on in the world today. These things are causing divisions in family, friends, workplace, and God’s Church. Somehow–someway–this has got to stop and God has the answers in Titus chapter 3.

Model citizens/Christians should act like this:

Verses 1 and 2 tell us to respect authority, speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing humility towards all men.

Verses 3-8 Talks about our changing from an old life to a new life (Baptism), Christ’s coming and His death on the cross for our salvation. These verses also show us that those who believer in God should maintain good works. Those things that are profitable and good to men.

Verse 9: Avoid foolish disputes, contentions.

Verses 10 and 11 instruct us to REJECT a divisive man after you have tried to correct the wrongness he is causing. Knowing full well that such a person is warped and sinning, being self condemned.

God wants us to be MODEL CITIZENS!! He wants us to FOLLOW HIS INSTRUCTION. If we would just do that, we would have a better world to live in. Take some time and study this chapter, make yourself and those around you appreciate what we have and stop dwelling on negative things that are happening.

My daughter, Tami, is diabetic and has to watch what she eats. She can have, pretty much, whatever she wants. Just has to be careful not to overdo the eating. She takes insulin shots to help her regulate her blood sugars. A special diet–no, a watched diet–yes. Many of us have some type of health problem that dictates, somewhat, how and what we eat. Most of us eat three meals a day to stay up on our needs for good health. We make an honest effort to do the shopping, so the food we buy is healthy for our bodies. Fast food every day is not conducive to a healthy diet. When we were living on the farm, Mom would fix a good meal at lunch time so we had the energy needed to work the afternoon. The right food, right diet, and right exercise will lead to a healthy body and life.

The question I have is this:

If we need three meals a day, right diet, and good exercise for our daily lives–Why don’t we need the same nutrition and exercise for a healthy Christian life? There are people that never go to Worship Services, never fellowship with fellow Christians, never Pray to God, and never open their Bible (If they even have one). How can they survive with no nutrition at all? Some people will go to Worship on Sunday morning and do nothing else the rest of the week. How can they survive on one meal a week? Some will go to Worship on Sunday morning and Sunday evening and do nothing else the rest of the week. How can they survive on two meals a week? The answer, to the above questions, is–They CAN’T!!!

God tells us in the 10th Chapter of Hebrews to attend Worship Services (Not forsaking the assembly of the Saints). He tells us in 2nd Timothy chapter 2 to study to show ourselves approved. These two things alone tell us that we need daily nutrition to sustain us in our Christian walk. One meal a week won’t work for God. 2 meals a week won’t work for God. Daily nutrition works for God. A special diet–no, a watched diet–no. The diet, exercise, and food we need is simply, IN THE BIBLE. Are you getting the right nutrition? If not, make some changes so that you are not only a healthy person, but you are a healthy Christian.

Have a good day all and SMILE God loves YOU!!!