Mark 9: 23, Jesus said to him,
“If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
Unbelief is killing us as believers. I know this is a bold statement, and perhaps I am completely wrong. I can only speak for myself, as a confession, and not out of judgment of anyone else but my own actions and observations.
It’s easier to believe the Word for others, and to be in awe of who God is; but can we believe who God says we are. To truly and honestly believe the bible to the point where we stand on the Word of God no matter what is going on. Can we shush what the circumstances in our life are saying and declare the Word of God to be true and all else a lie? This is our challenge today.
Romans 3: 3 - 4 says, “What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.”
This doesn’t mean we pretend things aren’t happening, it just means we choose to focus only on the truth. Wherever we put our focus grows. We experience this everyday. What could have been just a bad interaction with someone becomes a ‘stay away from me life sentence’ if we give it our attention.
What if we gave more attention to good? What if we focus on the good in others and only that? What if we focus on the good in our life and let that color everything else that’s going on? Everything else will become easier. It’s easy to be grateful when you see good. It’s easy to love when you recognise the good in someone. These are conscious decisions we can all make to bring more joy into our lives. It doesn’t cost anything, no expensive gifts or vacations necessary to be happy, just a commitment to guarding what we let hang around our heart.
Proverbs 4: 23, “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”
Negativity, keep moving. There’s no seat for you in my heart. There is only one truth. That’s the only lens we need to see through.
John 14: 6, Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Do you believe that we are chosen? That nothing is by chance about us. That everything within us is by design. It has a purpose that only God can show us through His revelation. The same commitment, zeal, and tenacity that led the Apostle Paul to be a leader in persecuting the church of Christ, upon revelation God used to bring us parts of the gospel. (See Acts 9) Paul’s very personality was by design. There is nothing “off” about you and I. It all has a purpose. Paul’s encounter with God made him believe. He was unstoppable because he believed the vision from God.
Acts 9: 15 - 16, “Go!” said the Lord. “This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.”
Can you believe the vision that God has given you?
When we recognise that we are instruments that God will use to bring glory to His name it changes everything. At some point we have all thought that life was about us, and what we want to accomplish and the things we want to check off our bucket list. All those desires are fine. It's part of our unique makeup, but there’s a greater gift that we must not leave unopened.
The purpose of God in all our doings.
It’s deeper than a job. It’s deeper than a business. It’s deeper than a family role. We are on this earth to serve. We will all serve in different ways and places. What led King Solomon to ask God for wisdom was the desire to serve the people of God. The intention was what pleased God. (see 1 Kings 3: 9) It wasn’t enough for Solomon to be King, he wanted to do it right, in a way that pleased God.
Our service is that of ambassadors of Christ. Put on your ambassadorial attire! A heart of service to the Most High God. Our standard is an excellent spirit. This will unlock everything. When we serve wholeheartedly our jobs, our businesses become a ministry. Self fulfillment will naturally flow from that service. Work doesn’t bring fulfillment. Education doesn’t bring fulfillment. Ask anyone you know how work is going, honestly? Without Christ it’s all vanity.
But everything done wholeheartedly in service of the Lord becomes a fragrant offering to Him. A good pay cheque is nice, but an offering to God is excellent. It transcends the natural.
Every spiritual blessing is already ours.
Ephesians 1: 3, “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.”
Stay encouraged. Stay in faith.
You already have all you need for a great life. Focus and multiply.