HEAVENSREEF

Reading in the Bible about the parting of the RED SEA and JESUS walking on water might influence us into thinking that we as followers of CHRIST, are small and insignificant.  Sometimes we think our love for CHRIST needs to be shown in grand gestures.  And when we think that way, the enemy gets hold of us and tries to discourage us from doing anything at all.  The enemy, satan is the deceiver and he knows our weakness.  When we focus on what we can’t do, he has us right where he wants us!

Our thinking is such that we convince ourselves that “those things” we did weren’t good enough for anyone, let alone GOD.

But did you know resisting even the slightest temptation honors GOD?

Even when we choose to do the hard, the right thing with HIS help, we honor our GOD.

Every time we overcome a problem, or issue by trusting JESUS, we glorify HIM.

When we choose honesty over lies, character over convenience, faithfulness over going our own way, we honor GOD.

SERVING HIM WITH ALL OUR HEARTFELT OBEDIENCE EVEN IN THE SMALL…….HONORS GOD!

PROVERBS 15:33 “THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS WHAT WISDOM TEACHES, AND HUMILITY COMES BEFORE HONOR.”

We should be humble enough to realize that no one might ever see what we do, because what we have chosen to do was unseen.  Maybe it was a great sacrifice and a very hard thing to do for us, or something as small as holding our tongues, but when mindful of GOD…….we are choosing grace and honoring HIM.

In these things that show honor to GOD alone, and when GOD alone is the only ONE who sees, remember this:

1 PETER 2: 20 “BUT IF WHEN YOU DO GOOD, AND SUFFER FOR IT, YOU ENDURE, THIS IS A GRACIOUS THING IN THE SIGHT OF GOD.”

SERVING GOD ESPECIALLY IN THE SMALL THINGS, DOESN’T ALWAYS COME WITH A THANK YOU.

In our culture now, credit seems to be given only when what was done was seen by many.  When we serve one another in the small, let’s remember WHO is watching and WHO truly gets the credit in the first place!  Often we think we deserve the credit, but that is our stubborn pride getting in the way.

And because sometimes, only GOD sees, remember this too…….

ISAIAH 43: 19 “BEHOLD, I AM DOING A NEW THING; NOW IT SPRINGS FORTH, DO YOU NOT PERCEIVE IT?  I WILL MAKE A WAY IN THE WILDERNESS AND RIVERS IN THE DESERT.”

THE LORD MAKES A WAY FOR US, BECAUSE WE HAVE CHOSEN HIS WAY OVER OURS.  BUT FIRST WE MUST THROW OFF ALL PRIDE AND KNEEL DOWN IN PURE OBEDIENCE.

With the Spirit’s help we then can do those small sacrificial things with much love……even there we honor GOD.  Some of us pour out our love over sinks, toilets, tubs and basins every single day!  How do we do these chores?  Do we honor GOD with our hands?

When we place our eyes upon the LORD and take our eyes off of ourselves, we honor HIM and because HIS eyes are upon us all along HE says this:

PSALM 32: 8 “I WILL INSTRUCT YOU AND TEACH YOU IN THE WAY YOU SHOULD GO.  I WILL COUNSEL YOU WITH MY EYE UPON YOU.”

HIS eyes are always upon us………teaching us too.  Take comfort in that dear ones.  Live close in HIS grace, abide daily and live obediently even in the small things.  Trust that GOD sees you and your efforts will be secured and established in HIS grace.

IT IS A GRACIOUS THING WHEN MINDFUL OF GOD ALL THAT YOU DO, YOU DO, TO HONOR HIM!

Serving wholeheartedly makes us living sacrifices and didn’t JESUS do this exact thing for us?  HIS sacrifice on the Cross was for us, while we were still sinners and it was not anything we ever deserved……..it was a free gift of grace! 

Our routines can get us into a spiritual rut……..so think on this:  who can we sacrifice for this week and be ok with no credit except knowing that mindful of GOD, we honored HIM and HIM alone?

I am challenged by this and I hope you are as well.

JOHN 5: 23 “WHOEVER DOES NOT HONOR THE SON DOES NOT HONOR THE FATHER WHO SENT HIM.”