Mindful Bible Study.org

Tag: faith

  • 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.

  • Don’t Fear Persecution, It’s not Personal – Day 137

    Don’t Fear Persecution, It’s not Personal – Day 137

    By Pastor Andrew Farland

    Persecution is hostility meant for Jesus coming to me.

    Persecution is not personal. When you follow Christ, you’ll meet people who do not like Him, and they’ll take their anger out on you.

    They are going to keep all of their bitterness, anger, and objections, and they will hurl them at you. You’ve already happened to others, I’m sure.

    During a presidential election, I displayed a bumper sticker on my car. It was for a candidate I hoped would win. When I drove this car, people would flick me off, say mean things about me, and some even tried to run me off the road. I realized it wasn’t me they didn’t like. They didn’t even know me. They didn’t like my choice of candidate. They didn’t like the sticker on my car.

    In the same way, people today are persecuting Christians because we are representing Jesus. Remember that persecution is hostility meant for Jesus coming to us.

    There was a lady named Anne who was on a political talk show, and she announced who she thought the next president would be. The entire panel was on the opposite side of the political aisle. Anne boldly professed her belief (which came to pass), and those who disagreed with her mocked her and made fun of her on the air – on national TV, no less.

    That’s what it’s like for us when we follow Christ.

    We go into a place and boldly come face to face with the culture. If you say “Hey, I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I believe in Jesus,” people will make you the laughing stock of the world. That’s something we have to expect as Christians when we are thrust into the midst of different beliefs.

    It’s like the fresh water and saltwater when it meets in the Fraser River near Vancouver, British Columbia. The freshwater bursts over the top of the saltwater, almost in a showdown. It’s like a war, two opposing sides, both with strong beliefs and with blazing guns.

    When people are persecuting you, and you’re trying to share your faith in an attempt to witness for God and share His love, focus on Jesus being right there with you. You may feel alone. You may be tempted to second-guess your faith, but don’t do it. When you speak the truth of God’s word, you are empowered by the Author’s words. That author is still very much alive today.

    The Bible is God’s living word.

    Jesus sent the Holy Spirit so we would have the same kind of guidance He had while He was on Earth.

    Remember that the spirit of Jesus Christ himself is with you. During the persecution, you may feel like backing down because you’re ashamed of your faith, but don’t do it. Stand boldly and profess your faith. Tell people how it is. They might not want to hear it, but the world is going crazy, and immorality is running rampant. Yet no one will stand up to them.

    Scientists think they have all the answers. They say Christianity is stupid, without a foundation or base.

    Think instead about the power of who God is. You have the strongest message behind you, and yet Christians are so weak. They won’t confront anything in the world. Instead, they retreat and hide. They won’t go up to the line. They won’t challenge the beliefs of the world.

    Meanwhile, literally, everything in the world is going to hell. Christians are backing down, but don’t back down when people are hostile to you.

    The truth is that the darkness in them is afraid of the light in you.

    Focus on Jesus being right there with you, holding your hand, strengthening you, and encouraging you to keep going in your faith.

    Stay close to God’s word. The Bible and God’s word is the power source in your life.

    Deuteronomy 31:6,8
    “ Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

    Be encouraged today because God is with you.

  • Coming up With a Vision Statement will Help You Make Decisions – Day 136

    Coming up With a Vision Statement will Help You Make Decisions – Day 136

    By Pastor Andrew Farland

    In life, it’s essential to identify the core values you’re going to live by. You at least need to come up with a slogan that defines who you are.

    Slogans have determined the plans and decisions of Presidents. The slogan becomes the filter by which they make decisions, and every President has had one.

    For example, John F. Kennedy said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” The current President coined the slogan, “Make America great again.”

    Medical doctors promise to uphold a critical tenet of the Hippocratic Oath: “First, do no harm.” These four words are supposed to guide their recommendations for inpatient care.

    What slogan guides you?

    If you don’t have one yet, create your own filter by deciding what you stand for.

    It was the first U. S. Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, who said, “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.” You must have a core belief that will guide you in your decision-making process.

    Once you identify your slogan, keep your mission and vision statement right in front of you. There will be times you must make decisions, and you won’t know what to do. Placing your priorities in the forefront will help you make good choices.

    The other day I had a potentially messy situation involving a lot of people.

    I didn’t want to offend anyone. I wanted to do the right thing. I turned to my priorities, my mission statement, and then the decisions were easy to make because I knew where I was headed. I knew what the outcome had to be.

    For you today, your slogan or mission statement might be, “Love God and love people,” or a question like, “Will this make me more Christ-like?”

    Listen to whatever God has put on your heart. Set your core values and mission by His word. Make sure that whatever you choose is Biblical.

    Always align yourself with God’s word. His word will always be relevant regardless of current cultural norms or Presidents in office.

    Then make your decisions based on your mission and vision so that you can keep God’s statutes and seek Him with all your heart.

    Proverbs 119: 2
    “Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.”

    Be encouraged today because God is with you.