Mindful Bible Study.org

Author: Servants of God

  • Would You Love Them Any Differently? – Day 141

    Would You Love Them Any Differently? – Day 141

    By Pastor Andrew Farland

    There was a young man in attendance at his dad’s funeral.

    The son about the last time he saw his dad. They were in the garage, and while the dad working under the car, the two of them began arguing and yelling at each other. Before long, they said words they couldn’t take back.

    Later that evening, the son received a call. The car had crashed down on his dad, killing him instantly.

    Fast forward to the memorial service, where the son is standing in front of everyone. He tried holding back his tears, and his chin quivered. His body language told of his pain. Without saying a word, he looked around the room. Then he mustered up the courage to open his mouth.

    “I want you to look to your right and to your left. You might be sitting with your relatives or with your friends. Now think about the question I’m going to ask you: If that person died today, would you have loved them any differently?”

    This son was trying to say that life is short. Too short.

    We don’t always get the opportunity to get out our final words. We forget to say I love you or we didn’t take the time. We forget to give others a few extra minutes, and we don’t even take a break. We keep going as though tomorrow – and the people we love – will always be there.

    I want to remind you today that life is short.

    Before you know it, the lights will dim.

    Like it says in Ecclesiastes 11, enjoy the God of your youth, but remember to never forget God. Take time for the people in your life while you still have the capacity to do so.

    It’s easy to take people and even God for granted, but I want you to reprioritize your focus. Consider for a moment, the people in your family. Who you would live differently if you knew they would die tomorrow?

    There’s a story about a man who died and went to hell and asked for a favor. He wanted to go back for just a little while to let his family know that hell existed because he didn’t want them joining him.

    God said, “No.”

    “They have everything they need. They have the Word of God, just like you did. You can’t go back,” He continued.

    You can’t go back, either.

    Remember that we are accountable to God for everything we do in public and in secret, whether it is good or bad. Remember that you get only one chance to do things the right way.

    . . . one chance to milk every relationship.

    . . . one chance to develop a deep and blossoming relationship with God every day.

    . . . one chance to enrich the lives of others and love them.

    Ask for forgiveness, confess your sins, and never forget what’s really important.

    Ecclesiastes 11:7-10

    “Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun. However many years anyone may live, let them enjoy them all. But let them remember the days of darkness, for there will be many. Everything to come is meaningless. You who are young, be happy while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigor are meaningless.”

    Be encouraged today because God is with you.

  • What do I want to see Tomorrow – Day 140

    What do I want to see Tomorrow – Day 140

    By Pastor Andrew Farland

    Many people today live in delusion. They live for the moment right now, without a thought about tomorrow. They think what they do today doesn’t really matter. According to them, today has little, if any effect on tomorrow.

    Nothing could be further from the truth.

    The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 11:1, “Send your grain across the seas, and in time profits will flow back to you.” It’s an incredibly powerful verse.

    Notice that there is an immediate call to action here. We are told to send our grain across the seas. We have to put ourselves and what we do out there in front of others. When we broadcast our work, there will be a follow-up result – and it can be a positive one. In time profits will flow back to you.

    When you’re looking for what you’re supposed to do today as you try to prioritize your life, start by asking yourself what results in you want to see tomorrow.

    Don’t ask what are you are going to do today. Instead, begin with the end in mind.

    Everyone has a lot to get done. There’s a lot of grain to send across the sea. If you don’t know what to do today or how to prioritize your tasks, ask yourself one question:

    What do I want to see happen tomorrow?

    Base your action on your answer and get to work.

    We are also told in Ecclesiastes 11:4 that farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest.

    Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.

    What do you focus on? The weather? Perfect circumstances?

    Or are or taking action to bring about what you want to see come to pass tomorrow?

    Ecclesiastes 11:1
    “Ship your grain across the sea; after many days you may receive a return.”

    Be encouraged today because God is with you.

  • Our Idea of Work vs God’s – Day 139

    Our Idea of Work vs God’s – Day 139

    By Pastor Andrew Farland

    The Bible talks clearly about work.

    When God created the world, He worked diligently for six days, and then He rested one, on the Sabbath. In today’s culture, we can forget that last day, the Sabbath; we tend to turn it into overtime in the hopes that we’ll either finally catch up or maybe even get ahead.

    We use our seventh day to finish reports, write emails, complete chores, and otherwise continue to work.

    You are right to be sowing seed always; you never know for sure where the big payoff will be or even which seeds will take. We need a balance that allows us to acknowledge that God is the only one who can make the seed grow. He is the only one who can water it, nurture it, and bring its fruit to fruition.

    Work hard in the morning and in the afternoon, but also give yourself permission to take a break. Pace yourself rather than race yourself to the finish line. There is a big difference between pacing yourself and running relentlessly without a break. The pacing keeps you at the top of your game; racing wears you down and prevents you from doing your best work.

    God calls us to do our best in everything we do, but find the balance in making it happen. Always be working, but take time for yourself and for God. Make work part of your routine, but take time to rest and honor God for His influence in your life.

    Ecclesiastes 11:6
    “Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well..”

    Be encouraged today because God is with you.

  • In and Through You Whats God’s Responsibility and What’s Mine – Day 138

    In and Through You Whats God’s Responsibility and What’s Mine – Day 138

    By Pastor Andrew Farland

    Job descriptions can be useful, but sometimes they cause even more confusion, especially when you’re trying to do the right thing.

    It’s really hard sometimes to figure out the balance between what’s our responsibility and what God’s responsibility is. We hear things in the Bible like the Ten Commandments, and we’re told, “Do this, do that. Obey and serve God, but don’t do that. Go this way instead.”

    We have all these commandments from God, but then there’s also the reality that if something is supposed to happen, then God will do it. After all, isn’t it is His job to make it happen?

    We’ve got this balance of life, so am I supposed to push? Is God taking care of the pushing? Whose job is it, anyway? We’re not sure.

    I discovered that God tells us what to do in Philippians 2, Chapter 12:

    Work hard to show the results of your salvation. Obey God with deep reverence and fear,

    And here’s the highlight:

    for God is working in you, giving you the desire the power to do what pleases him.

    On the inside, God is working in you, giving you the desire and power to please Him.

    The rest is up to us. We are to obey God with deep reverence and fear but to do that, we have to allow what’s happening on the inside to overflow on the outside. God is giving you His Spirit. He is working throughout the day to convict us and give us the desire to do His will. It’s up to us to do good things, be more loving, and offer greater kindness. We show God’s power through our actions.

    Our work isn’t to do the inside work. God is already doing that through the Holy Spirit. Our job is to let it happen.

    Allow God to allow His power to happen through you.

    Sure, there’s a common tension regarding job duties. We all feel it. We all wonder whose job it is anyway. Let go of that worry.

    Say amen to God’s plan, and once you do that, what is happening on the inside will flow freely to the outside.

    Let the word of God dwell in you richly, inside and out.

    Colossians 3:16
    “16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”

    Be encouraged today because God is with you.