God is so forgiving. Father God, we thank You, that Your Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. Thank You, that Your Spirit will lead me/us to know You better. Fill my spirit afresh today with the wisdom and revelation, the strength and the comfort I/we need to walk in the areas that perplex us. Quiet my/our hearts to hear Your Spirit specifically for where it is you want me to go and what you want me to do in this new day. (Name your own perplexing circumstances here) Thank you, that You equip me/us by Your Spirit. I pray these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Words can be a form of blessings and it can be a form of hindrance and confusion. They can tend to enslave us or hold us in bondage. This morning as I studied I realized that some of us use the word “IF” frequently. It’s almost as though we feel that this word is a safe haven to use as an excuse for not doing something.
We say things like “If I had the money I would help someone.” If I had the time I would fast or pray,” “If I wasn’t afraid to speak in front of people I would do more at church.” “If I were twenty pounds lighter I would be better looking,” If I had a car I would be able to find a job,” and the list can go on and on. But I think you get the picture we all have our own “what ifs.”
Now don’t get me wrong this word is not such a bad word, but it is the context in the way we use it. Because the Bible teaches us that this word is a condition of something. Jesus uses it on several occasions. After He washed His disciple’s feet and told them to follow Him, He gave them an example in serving each other. He said to them. “A servant is not greater than his master, nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”
There is always a lesson in the words of Jesus by Him using the word “if,” it was a message of humility and love that He was demonstrating to His disciples. For one thing, we learn that all need to be washed by Christ. No man or woman can be saved unless his sins are washed away in Christ’s precious blood. We learn that even those who are cleansed and forgiven need a daily dosage to the blood of Christ for daily forgiveness. We cannot pass through this evil world without dirtiness.
He was showing that we should love others so much that we should delight to do anything which can promote their happiness. Although happiness comes from within we can be receiving. We ought to rejoice in doing kindnesses, even in little things. We ought to count it a pleasure to lessen sorrow and multiply joy even when it costs us some self-sacrifice and self-denial.
In the Bible, we learn what God wants us to do. Obedience moves that knowledge from our heads to our hands in serving others. Not only that-we ourselves are blessed when we obey what God’s Word tells us to do. But it all depends on one little word-”If”. So, let us reverse our thought patterns when using words. Let us try remembering that there is a context to how we use them. When we use the word “IF” let us not use it as a crutch to not do something. Let us remember that it can be the prelude to blessings. Jesus’ meaning is clear: Sin impairs our fellowship with him. If we want to walk with him we have to do something about the condition of our “feet.” I’m not saying that you should stop asking “What if?” Let’s just look at “What if’s” from an entirely new perspective. Let’s take our “What if’s” and put them into the power of what God can do in us, for us, and to us.
“Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” John 13:7-9
“Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” John 13:16-17
“Washed, sanctified, and justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Cor. 6:11
“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”1 John 1:5-10
Live life, give people hope and share your heart, wisdom and resources. Never place a period where God says there should be a comma.
As always peace and blessings, be safe. Take advantage of your opportunities but never allow your opportunities to take advantage of you. Remember God loves you and so do I. ©krw 3.21.18
Comments