Transformational Thought
Yesterday I was standing in line at the omelet making station of a nice restaurant serving brunch … there were 4 or 5 people ahead on me in line. A well-dressed, middle-age man with his teenage son walked in front of the line in an attempt to place their omelet orders. The chef making the omelets gently told the man there was a line.
As the man stepped back, I assumed he was just making an honest mistake, so I jokingly asked; “Were you trying to cut in line?” His response surprised … and saddened me. He said, “Absolutely … if you’re not cheating, you’re not trying.”
It’s a hard element to measure, but it sure feels like our society is increasingly turning to shortcuts and even cheating to get what they want. And the guy in the omelet line was not only attempting to cheat … he even adapted a slogan to glorify it. If this is what he openly does in public, he must even be worse when no one is looking, when no accountability is in place to contain him. What is he teaching his young son?
Then I realized how often “I cut in line” in my day. Sleeping in … taking that extra doughnut or cookie … not confronting a situation that needs it … procrastinating a less desirable task or project … judging someone before all the evidence is in … doing a task halfway … leaving that wrapper behind the garbage for someone else to pick up. And these all happened before lunch! I am too embarrassed to tell you my major “short-cuts” … otherwise labeled bad habits, addictions, or dysfunctional patterns of cheating in life.
It’s unbelievable what we are willing to do to avoid a little discomfort … rationalizing it so we believe it is self-protective, when actually, it is self-destructive. Our shortcuts harm our brain circuitry, our personality and psychological skill maturation, and they are especially harmful to our spiritual walk in developing the Mind of Christ. You see, these shortcuts don’t renew the mind, they undermine, weaken, and deceive or brainwash the mind.
Today, examine your behavior and actions. Are you taking shortcuts or cheating? Why? Is feeling “good” or avoiding some discomfort worth sacrificing yourself so much? Be mindful that even minor infractions eventually trend toward major violations. However, minor character- building actions truly renew your mind so you become a powerful lighthouse of character. As always, the choice is yours … don’t harm yourself, choose well.
Prayer
O God, I confess that I have been guilty of cheating … in small and in big ways. I ask Your forgiveness, Father. I know You have protected me from many consequences of my shortcuts … thank You for Your amazing grace. I pray that You fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that He may guide me to the “right-way” … into “Your way” in all that I do. Help me not to be deceived into believing the shortcuts are beneficial to me. I pray this and all prayers in the name of the One who always avoided shortcuts with ultimate integrity and character, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say - AMEN!
The Truth
Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
Luke 16:10
The righteous detest the dishonest; the wicked detest the upright.
Proverbs 29:27
Showing posts with label Works. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Works. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Stepping Stones: Relationship or Obedience, What Do You Communicate?
Transformational Thought
Yesterday we discussed God’s utmost desire and concern for us…to be in eternal and in daily relationship with Him. Don’t get me wrong, He does want our obedience as well, but relationship is much more important to Him.
A major piece of my transformation occurred when God sent my beautiful wife, Martine, into my life…she embodied this principle perfectly to me. She loved me and loved relating to me, even with all my flaws and wrongful behavior towards her. She was able to forgive, and continually tell me it was ok…just relate to me. The revelation that pursuit of a relationship was valuable to her dramatically changed my life. She didn’t simply say it. Instead she really believed it and she lives it out daily in almost every way she interacts with, toward, or for me.
Fortunately, it dawned on me, (well, I guess it could have come from my wife’s or kid’s frustration with me, or the Holy Spirit convicting me), that I was trapped in a distorted pattern with those close to me. I was definitely communicating that their obedience was more important than their relationship to me. I was acting like Straight-A Jane from yesterday’s devotional instead of Absent-minded Mindy.
Unfortunately, the message that was conveyed at times was that I expected them to be perfect before I could be happy with, accept, or relate to them. It was never my intention. It wasn’t what I truly wanted from those close to me. Talk about false pride… for me it’s a battle that I fight each day, and some days are better than others.
Today, think about and examine the subtle communication you give to those close to you…your spouse, kids, parents, siblings. Are you showing them they are valuable to you just for being themselves? Or do you only have time for them when it fits your agenda, only interested in them when it meets your needs? Do you make efforts to serve them or do you communicate that they need to “serve” you first? It’s a look into our hearts that is difficult to do, but necessary for us to really identify idols and grow.
Prayer
O Father, You are so amazing. Thanks for Your love and thanks for sending Martine, to be Your example to me to open my eyes and show me Your ultimate desire for relationship with me. I pray for wisdom, courage, and humility as I try to embody Your desire to those around me, so I will be less judgmental and more loving and accepting. I pray these things in the name of the one who is pure love, Christ Jesus; and all God’s children said - AMEN!
The Truth
I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants."' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate.
Luke 15:18-24
Yesterday we discussed God’s utmost desire and concern for us…to be in eternal and in daily relationship with Him. Don’t get me wrong, He does want our obedience as well, but relationship is much more important to Him.
A major piece of my transformation occurred when God sent my beautiful wife, Martine, into my life…she embodied this principle perfectly to me. She loved me and loved relating to me, even with all my flaws and wrongful behavior towards her. She was able to forgive, and continually tell me it was ok…just relate to me. The revelation that pursuit of a relationship was valuable to her dramatically changed my life. She didn’t simply say it. Instead she really believed it and she lives it out daily in almost every way she interacts with, toward, or for me.
Fortunately, it dawned on me, (well, I guess it could have come from my wife’s or kid’s frustration with me, or the Holy Spirit convicting me), that I was trapped in a distorted pattern with those close to me. I was definitely communicating that their obedience was more important than their relationship to me. I was acting like Straight-A Jane from yesterday’s devotional instead of Absent-minded Mindy.
Unfortunately, the message that was conveyed at times was that I expected them to be perfect before I could be happy with, accept, or relate to them. It was never my intention. It wasn’t what I truly wanted from those close to me. Talk about false pride… for me it’s a battle that I fight each day, and some days are better than others.
Today, think about and examine the subtle communication you give to those close to you…your spouse, kids, parents, siblings. Are you showing them they are valuable to you just for being themselves? Or do you only have time for them when it fits your agenda, only interested in them when it meets your needs? Do you make efforts to serve them or do you communicate that they need to “serve” you first? It’s a look into our hearts that is difficult to do, but necessary for us to really identify idols and grow.
Prayer
O Father, You are so amazing. Thanks for Your love and thanks for sending Martine, to be Your example to me to open my eyes and show me Your ultimate desire for relationship with me. I pray for wisdom, courage, and humility as I try to embody Your desire to those around me, so I will be less judgmental and more loving and accepting. I pray these things in the name of the one who is pure love, Christ Jesus; and all God’s children said - AMEN!
The Truth
I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants."' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate.
Luke 15:18-24
Monday, November 15, 2010
Stepping Stones: God Desires: Relationship or Obedience?
Transformational Thought
Yesterday we discussed what God desires from us. Today I want to be more specific. Say you have a choice of the following 2 kids…which would you choose? “Straight-A Jane” does everything right, chores all perfect, homework on time, straight A’s, no breaking curfew, courteous, polite, follows all the rules…BUT, she doesn’t really like you, it doesn’t matter to her if you feel down, she isn’t interested in spending time with you or finding out more about you and can’t wait to leave when she turns 18.
“Absent-Minded Mindy” on the other hand is rough around the edges, needs reminding for chores and homework, grades range from D’s to B’s, forgetful, and ill-mannered at times…BUT, she loves you and cares about you, she celebrates when you’re happy and is sad when you hurt, she wants to spend time with you, is interested in how you tick, what you are interested in and what you dream about, and enjoys going on errands with you.
No brainer, right? Well, sometimes we get caught up thinking God is more interested in our obedience to Him rather than our relationship with Him. Sure, He wants both. But if He could only have one, He would yearn for our relationship with Him. Easy example: just think of the criminal on the cross, who had a minimal track record of obedience but believed in Christ, and how God rewarded him eternally. Or think of Mary and Martha: Jesus praised Mary’s pursuit of relationship and corrected Martha’s obedient pursuit of chores.
Satan’s system, our flesh, and our baggage are always pushing us into this work-based system for approval first. Then once we win God’s approval, He would want to have relationship with us. But the truth is really the other way around. Regardless of our long track record of disobedience, He pursues us like the father of the prodigal son, because He so loved the world and sacrificed His only Son.
Today, take a look at how much of your day is spent in dutiful obedience, and how much is spent building and growing a relationship with your Heavenly Father. When you shift the scales so that pursuit of relationship far outweighs obedience, you will realize that you actually become obedient to God and His instruction. Your decision, choose well.
Prayer
O God, thanks for desiring relationship with me even before I learn how to be obedient to You. If it were the other way around, and I needed to be cleaned up before I was worthy enough for You, I would be eternally damned. Help me not to fall into our world’s mentality of pursuing your approval instead of pursuing You. Once I learn to be close to You, the rest will take care of itself. In the name of the one who binds me to You in relationship, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children said - AMEN!
The Truth
And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."
Luke 10:39-42
One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
Luke 23:39-43
Yesterday we discussed what God desires from us. Today I want to be more specific. Say you have a choice of the following 2 kids…which would you choose? “Straight-A Jane” does everything right, chores all perfect, homework on time, straight A’s, no breaking curfew, courteous, polite, follows all the rules…BUT, she doesn’t really like you, it doesn’t matter to her if you feel down, she isn’t interested in spending time with you or finding out more about you and can’t wait to leave when she turns 18.
“Absent-Minded Mindy” on the other hand is rough around the edges, needs reminding for chores and homework, grades range from D’s to B’s, forgetful, and ill-mannered at times…BUT, she loves you and cares about you, she celebrates when you’re happy and is sad when you hurt, she wants to spend time with you, is interested in how you tick, what you are interested in and what you dream about, and enjoys going on errands with you.
No brainer, right? Well, sometimes we get caught up thinking God is more interested in our obedience to Him rather than our relationship with Him. Sure, He wants both. But if He could only have one, He would yearn for our relationship with Him. Easy example: just think of the criminal on the cross, who had a minimal track record of obedience but believed in Christ, and how God rewarded him eternally. Or think of Mary and Martha: Jesus praised Mary’s pursuit of relationship and corrected Martha’s obedient pursuit of chores.
Satan’s system, our flesh, and our baggage are always pushing us into this work-based system for approval first. Then once we win God’s approval, He would want to have relationship with us. But the truth is really the other way around. Regardless of our long track record of disobedience, He pursues us like the father of the prodigal son, because He so loved the world and sacrificed His only Son.
Today, take a look at how much of your day is spent in dutiful obedience, and how much is spent building and growing a relationship with your Heavenly Father. When you shift the scales so that pursuit of relationship far outweighs obedience, you will realize that you actually become obedient to God and His instruction. Your decision, choose well.
Prayer
O God, thanks for desiring relationship with me even before I learn how to be obedient to You. If it were the other way around, and I needed to be cleaned up before I was worthy enough for You, I would be eternally damned. Help me not to fall into our world’s mentality of pursuing your approval instead of pursuing You. Once I learn to be close to You, the rest will take care of itself. In the name of the one who binds me to You in relationship, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children said - AMEN!
The Truth
And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."
Luke 10:39-42
One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
Luke 23:39-43
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