HEAVENSREEF

A friend in my small group recently texted a devotion to us and as I read it, one sentence stood out to me and it was this:

DON’T SETTLE FOR AN EASY FAITH.

That sentence gave me pause and required me to ask myself: do I settle?  Do I choose the easy way out? 

I don’t know about you, but I don’t like confrontation, of any kind.  But life isn’t that way.  Confrontation is right around every corner, especially today in our current culture. 

The “easy” way is just to go with the flow and never risk for CHRIST’S sake.  The easy way would be to ignore what is said especially when your faith is attacked just to keep the peace.

I believe we are at a time in history where the CHURCH needs to stand up for the truth, GOD’S truth and GOD’S word.  Remember, JESUS warned us about false prophets, wolves in sheep clothing.  

 

MATTHEW 7: 15  “BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS WHO COME TO YOU IN  SHEEP’S CLOTHING BUT INWARDLY ARE RAVAGING WOLVES……”

Am I settling for an easy comfortable position with people or am I risking speaking the TRUTH in love with those around me?  Because sometimes saying the right thing, the kind thing, can be a hard thing.

DOES OUR STUDY, WORSHIP, CONNECTIONS, INTERACTIONS WITH OTHERS BEAR THE FRUIT OF MY WALK WITH CHRIST?

Do we live in a way that honors GOD or one that honors the world?

ROMANS 6: 1 – 2 “WHAT SHOULD WE SAY THEN?  SHOULD WE CONTINUE IN SIN SO THAT GRACE MAY MULTIPLY?  ABSOLUTELY NOT!  HOW CAN WE WHO DIED TO SIN STILL LIVE IN IT?”

An easy faith takes GOD’S grace for granted as a license to act and do whatever one wants.  A faith that doesn’t settle learns to think the way GOD thinks, to see others through HIS lens and submits to choosing HIS way over our way.  A mature faith sees others as being better than themselves and treats everyone, no matter what color, race or belief as one of GOD’S children…….

PHILIPPIANS 2: 3 “BE HUMBLE, THINKING OF OTHERS AS BETTER THAN YOURSELVES.”

 

Living your faith out daily, requires perseverance…….to see each new day as an opportunity to be HIS light, HIS love and HIS mercy in a world that needs GOD now more than ever!

ROMANS 6: 13  “AND DO NOT OFFER ANY PARTS OF IT TO SIN AS WEAPONS FOR UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.  BUT AS THOSE WHO ARE ALIVE FROM THE DEAD, OFFER YOURSELVES TO GOD, AND THE PARTS OF YOURSELVES TO GOD AS WEAPONS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

Choosing HIS way over our own costs…….it is sacrificial, but it is fruitful and needed in our dying world.  So don’t settle for the easy way out……don’t sit idle all day long.  Study HIS word faithfully, then put it into practice…….be HIS hands and feet today.  The outcome is eternal and worth it.  And you might be an example to someone who is struggling.  Press on my friends…….our faith is never on hold.  Don’t settle for a lukewarm or stale faith! 

Let us abide with HIM and in HIM and be ready to live in the power of the HOLY SPIRIT today and every day……

2 TIMOTHY 1: 7 “FOR GOD HAS NOT GIVEN US A SPIRIT OF FEAR, BUT ONE OF POWER, LOVE AND SOUND JUDGEMENT.”