What Kind Of Thinking Makes A Person Become Dedicated To Serving God?

What kind of thinking makes a person dedicate themselves to the Lord? The Bible gives an example in the writings of Paul.

"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me- the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace." Acts 20:24.

I CONSIDER MY LIFE WORTH NOTHING
This is humility not self-pity or that he has disdained life, but he is saying that he values nothing above the task God has given him. It is a comparison contrast statement- that life did not compare to the task of proclaiming the Good News. Sharing the Gospel was more precious to him than life.

ONLY AIM
An aim is a purposeful focus.  He resolved to do what God assigned for him to do. He knew he would face persecution, troubles, hardship and affliction, yet he continued his aim.

It was his only aim- he had no other, living for God was not a weekend hobby it was his sole purpose, he had no other interest or occupation.

FINISH THE RACE
When he considered the end of his life he saw his death as a conclusion of a task God has entrusted to him. He had a sense of urgency, passion, and commitment. He was going to go all the way as long as he was able. There is no idea of a pause on the way to vacation or ending in a soft retirement.

TESTIFY
To testify is to tell what you know. Paul knew God. He met Jesus on the road to Damascus and through him found the Gospel.  Paul spoke of these things wherever he had the opportunity and even when it was inconvenient.

GOOD NEWS
The good news is forgiveness through the blood of Jesus' sacrifice for mankind's sin, and he gives fellowship with the Father; not because mankind did deserve it but because God is gracious and gives free salvation to any who come.

The Gospel is too good to not share.

The Apostle's statements were intelligent and thought out. He considered the gospel and came to the conclusion that he would live full throttle for God. May we each consider the facts of God's grace and come to the same conclusion.

(c)Adron Dozat 12/21/14

Why Are There Defeated Christians? 1 Samuel 17:4

We know we should be doing great things for God, but often, we seem to get nowhere.

"All those gathered here will know it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves, for the battle is the Lord's..." 1 Samuel 17:47, NIV.

The conflict between David and Goliath was not private but designed to be a public spectacle. The enemy of the Lord loves to openly humiliate and defeat the Lord's own. Our struggles do not happen in secret. We may keep them from friends, but there are angelic and demonic witnesses to our faithfulness and our betrayal of faith.

OUR BATTLES

Why Are There Defeated Christians?

We think that we will win the battles of our times with bigger weaponry, more dollars, or greater campaigns. However, technology, organizations, movements, and political parties do not win the Lord's battles.

In 1 Samuel 17:4, David was facing a giant problem, yet his focus was not on his abilities or weaponry. He did not say, "It is not by spear or sword that I will save," but "it is not by spear or sword that the LORD saves." He saw the struggle was not a conflict between two armies, ideals or political entities or even between his king and the Philistine leaders, but it was between the Holy God and that which opposed him.

THE LORD'S WORK
Some translations use the word "saves," "delivers," or "rescues." Defeat in ancient times meant the vanquished were often annihilated, and families enslaved. The fight was for national and personal salvation; the armies of Israel were facing such an overwhelming foe that the thought was not of victory but of survival. Here God is not a helper but the one who alone rescues, the Lord saves means total dependence on the Lord. David looked to him to be the Savior.

WHOSE?
The battle is the Lord's. We feel that we are struggling and fighting against the evil overrunning society. When we make the battle ours, we lose it. It is the Lord's battle—not ours. Victory does not depend on us; it depends on him.

DAVID'S EFFECT.
There are many points to ponder in the lesson of David and Goliath.

     * When the youth David faced the giant, he stood his ground.
     * He acknowledged and glorified the Lord.
     * He obeyed the Lord.
     * He was prepared by accepting earlier challenges, such as the lion and bear.
     * He used what he knew- the sling and stone.
     * He refused man-made contrivances such as the king's armor and trusted on that which was provided by God- a rock.

These are all wonderful points, but the greatest is that the battle is the Lord's, and that lesson is a lesson of faith we often need to realize over and deeper as we go through our lives

Let us make a similar declaration of faith, and go out in faith and face our Goliaths.

(c) Adron 8/30/12

The Heart That is Tested by Fire. Proverbs 17:3

There is one thing that is shared universally by people of faith- they will be tested. Some of the hardest sufferings to endure is not physical but the anguish of the heart.

“The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord test the heart.” Proverbs 17:3.

CRUCIBLE
The crucible and furnace were designed on purpose to do a task, and God has designed a purpose in every test of our hearts.

FURNACE
The crucible and the furnace try the metal and make it pure. Only the extreme heat of a blasting fire can make silver or gold pure. Silver yields its impurities rapidly, but gold enters the furnace over and over to become pure. Some tests are like silver; they come and finish their purpose quickly; others are like gold and must be endured time and again.

TEST
Sometimes our tests are to expose our weaknesses, and sometimes to purify us. Just as a crucible tests and refines the metal, in the same way, our lives endure the fire of testing to reveal our shortcomings and to improve our quality. Like gold which becomes more pure and valuable; so the testing of our hearts will make us more precious, useful, and beautiful; through them, we grow and mature as we never would otherwise.

THE LORD
What a comfort that it is the Lord who tests our hearts! The Lord, who is so loving, all-wise, and all-powerful, has our good and best at the center of His plans for us. In our test, we can remember that He is in control. We may not understand why we go through such depth of testing, but we do understand He is bigger. We can and must trust in Him during the test.

Here are a few suggestions:

• Cling to our loving God in prayer.
• Search His word as never before.
• Recount His many blessings.
• Remind yourself of His love.
• Pray over the promises in the Bible.
• Declare to Him and others your trust in Him.
• Be honest before God and others.
• Accept the support of others.
• Thank God.
• Resolve by God's help to endure.
• Resolve to bless His name.

The laws of physics guarantee that silver and gold will purify when superheated in a crucible. If the crucible should tip over and the metal spill out, the results will be disappointment and loss. The metal that stays in the furnace becomes useful and made into a thing of beauty.

Let's be grateful that our trials are guided by a loving God and that we will become the treasure that we would not be otherwise in His hands.

(c) Adron 7/23/10

The Secret Jesus, Mark 7:24. NIV.

Jesus comes into our lives to live there, but when he comes in can we hide him in a closet?

“Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence a secret.” Mark 7:24, NIV.

Jesus was tired after ministering to the multitudes and needed rest. He came to a disciple’s house where he hoped to take a well deserved personal Sabbath. However, he couldn't hide from those looking for Him, and soon the house is a target of people with needs and problems.

If you trust Jesus as your Savior some things begin to happen, he will come in and be felt. He starts work in your life and is committed to it until the very end. You may not notice it but others will. You can’t keep Jesus hidden in a little part of your life and go on like business as usual. His being there is going to draw attention, you can’t be a secret disciple for long. People are hungry for what Jesus offers; love, peace, forgiveness, salvation acceptance with God and community, and if you have Jesus then people are going to see these things in you.

The job of His Spirit is to reveal Him to the world and the Holy Spirit will reveal Jesus is in us to those around us. People are going to comment when they recognize that Jesus is living with you. Perhaps they are going to compliment you on a good deed or your changed thoughtful character. When the fruit of the spirit such as love, joy, peace etc, begins to grow they will see it and wonder.

Jesus paid a price to buy salvation for you, so is persecution too great a price for us to pay to have Jesus? Jesus brings peace to our hearts but also puts a sword in the hands of those who hate him. Following Jesus is risky, he was killed and the mindset of those who hate him is alive today and seeks to hurt Him still. To hide that Jesus has come into our lives is the same as denying Jesus, most devoted Christians consider denying the Lord worst than persecution.

One woman who came to the house where Jesus was staying was marvelously healed of a horrible illness. Could we have robbed others of healing and blessing by trying to hide our Jesus? Have our loved ones been struggling in the dark because we have kept the light of Jesus hidden?


Since he can’t or won’t be hidden let us boldly proclaim him.

(c) Adron 4/18/10

What Is The World's Only Hope?

Is there any hope for the world? 

You would think the teaching of Christ would offer a solution. We read Jesus’ words and feel they are for someone else but his words of hope and challenge are for all of us to take to heart.

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.” Matthew 5:13.

SALT

There is nothing to boast about in being called a mineral that comes out of brackish marshland, but it has virtues that challenge us.

To say, "You are the salt of the earth;" is to say, "You are the world's only hope." Jesus does not give you the choice. We must get radical and make his truths relevant to ourselves and others. We must fill our lives in doing good unto others.

YOU

Jesus spoke to individuals, and his words speak to each of us today. We can't say, “My church is doing something for God, so I'm OK.” Being salt is a personal mandate. It says we each must live the attitude that we are the last living Christian and the work of Jesus to the world was on your shoulders alone.

Matthew 5:13

You can't save the whole world but you can influence the five or ten people God gave you. Be salt in those lives, bring the flavor of love and joy to their lives, sting them with the challenges of righteousness, and preserve their well-being at a deep cost to yourself.

SALT-LESS

Today's world has seen salt-less Christianity and has thrown it out. Today's Christianity is often conformist and wants membership without making waves; creating a soft cuddly church culture that focuses on comfort. Like the terminal patient who receives no treatment just morphine to deaden pain while they expire.

HOW
Jesus asks, “How can it be made salty again?” It cannot so we must not let it happen that we are no longer making a positive difference in the world. Begin with repentance and prayer. Ask God to show you where you have failed to be salt to those around you. Ask Him to show you where to start. And pray for those in your own community to become “Salty” too.

Salt just is; it has no will or ability to choose, it is simply being what it is. We must be who God meant us to be- the light of Jesus to a dark world.

(c) Adron 2/11/10