The Toolbox: Living the Christian life the way God intended.
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12 ... be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. ... 14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, ... 15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. 1 Timothy 4:12, 14-15 (KJV)
Do we know how to use the tools God has given us?
A man needed to cut down a bunch of trees in his backyard to make a space to build a barn. He knew it would take a lot of time and effort to cut down the trees using a hand saw so he decided to purchase a chainsaw. He never used one before but he heard they were not very difficult to use and it would make his job much easier. He went to his local chainsaw store and after describing what he wanted to accomplish to the salesperson, he walked out of the store with the recommended chainsaw. He did not ask how to use the chainsaw and he didn't obtain a user's manual. So he set out on his own to figure out how to use the saw. He used the saw all day. He was exhausted. In all his effort he was only able to cut down one tree. The next day he took the saw back to the store and complained that the saw did work very well and asked for his money back. The salesman asked to look at the saw to see if there was something wrong with it. He placed the saw on the ground, moved the start lever to the full choke position, and then pulled on the start cord. The saw started perfectly. The man who purchased the saw, surpised by what he heard, yelled out, "What's that noise?"
Proverbs 3:5 tells us to "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart." You cannot grasp the depth and breadth of the "all" until you have a biblical understanding of the heart. Elsewhere in scripture the bible uses the words "all" and "whole" related to actions involving the heart: love, serve, obey, keep, seek, search, believe, praise, return, turn, etc. How can we truly honor the Lord in these actions unless we understand the heart? Holiness, worship, a sacrificial life, our identity in Christ, changing into the likeness of our Savior all involve the heart. Read my lesson "Proverbs 3:5-7" to learn more.
Prayer & Service
A man lived in a neighborhood where everyone kept their lawns in immaculate condition. One day he found out that his neighbor became sick. He prayed that his neighbor would be well soon. A week went by and while the man was cutting his own grass he noticed that his sick neighbor's lawn had not been cut. He thought nothing of it and continued to cut his own grass. After two weeks the sick neighbor's lawn was four inches high and the man started to get perturbed and mumbled to himself, "I wish he would get his lawn cut." After three weeks his grumbling turned into a complaining prayer to the Lord, "Lord would you please put it in someone's heart to cut my neighbor's grass?" Four weeks passed and while cutting his grass again, he looked at the neighbor's unkept lawn and once again prayed the complaining prayer to the Lord, "Lord would you please put it in someone's heart to cut my neighbor's grass?" The Holy Spirit moved in his heart with the words, "How about you?" Convicted the man veered to the left and cut his neighbor's grass.
Do we pray with the intention to be the answer to our own prayers? How much sooner would the neighbor have displayed the love of the Lord toward his sick neighbor if his initial prayer was, "Lord I pray that my neighbor would be well soon and help me to be a find a way to be a blessing to him in some way in the meantime?"
....The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16 (KJV)
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second [is] like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Matthew 22:37-40 (KJV)
As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 1Peter 4:10 (KJV)
But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Heb 13:16 (KJV)
Where Does Your Mind Go?
When you are not performing requisite daily tasks, where does you mind go? Does it focus on self or on the Lord?
The mind of a typical Christian focuses on themselves. Very little time is given to the Lord. Do they pray? Yes, but it resembles something like: “Thank you for this food;” “Lord I need a parking space;” “Lord I need help.” How about meditating on God’s word? Probably not. They have to remain focused on what needs to get accomplish during the day, or they are just too tired to think. Sing praises to the Lord? No, but they sure can sing a catchy song they heard on that popular secular music station they listen to every time they get a chance. It’s no wonder people don’t see Christ in the typical Christian. They sure are content to spend an hour in church every Sunday morning. Sadly, that one hour in church doesn’t shape what’s going on in their mind the other 167 hours of the week.
For a Christian who desires to honor the Lord by having a worshipful lifestyle, the heartbeat of the typical Christian must be turned upside down. The focus of the mind and heart is on the Lord and not self. Whenever given the opportunity, the worshipful mind returns to the things of the Lord. The worshipful lifestyle understands that the mediation of the heart must honor the Lord so the words that are spoken, the emotions that are displayed, and the decisions that are made honor Christ. I wonder how much impact Christians would have on the world around them if the upside down heartbeat was the normal heartbeat for those who claim to be in Christ?
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14 (KJV)
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. Hebrew 13:15 (KJV)
Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (KJV)
O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Psalm 119:97 (KJV)
Peace
Matthew 6:21 (KJV)
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Isaiah 26:3 (KJV)
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Philippians 4:7 (KJV)
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Romans 1:17 (KJV)
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
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