Sadly today's soceity is plagued with the demand of instant gratification. Technically it isnt just todays soceity, God's word has revealed this characteristic of humanity throughout the generations. We are straying farther and farther away from Him, and its breaking His heart. I for one, will not be a part of that. There is a great many people who have been mislead by Christs "followers" (who mind you are only following to receive that instant gratification from God...which for some reason doesnt seem to come to them*sarcasm*) and that is a heavy weight to bear. If we want to see actual changes in our lives,...not in our timing, but in Gods, we need to give ourselves to God's interest.
His people Israel were so fickle with Him. After everything He did for them, they still only pursued Him in their own interest, as it benefited them. Elijah, a great prophet of God (he had an amazing relationship with God) agonizes over His people in Romans 11. Here is an excerpt from the Message version verses 2-10:
"6Do you remember that time Elijah was agonizing over this same Israel and cried out in prayer?
God, they murdered your prophets,
They trashed your altars;
I'm the only one left and now they're after me!
And do you remember God's answer?
I still have seven thousand who haven't quit, Seven thousand who are loyal to the finish.
It's the same today. There's a fiercely loyal minority still—not many, perhaps, but probably more than you think. They're holding on, not because of what they think they're going to get out of it, but because they're convinced of God's grace and purpose in choosing them. If they were only thinking of their own immediate self-interest, they would have left long ago. 7-10And then what happened? Well, when Israel tried to be right with God on her own, pursuing her own self-interest, she didn't succeed. The chosen ones of God were those who let God pursue his interest in them, and as a result received his stamp of legitimacy. The "self-interest Israel" became thick-skinned toward God."
The biggest problem is that they kept on doing it! After consequence after consequence...and even after coming back to Him they would stray off again. Our soceity is exactly the same! We're all a bunch of sheep. Going along with all the ridiculous different fads and fancies, doing only what gives us instant gratification, and if it doesnt we blame God for "not being there"! But this is not our destiny, we dont HAVE to be like this. Romans 12 continues with news of hope, how to be different and not repeat the same mistakes and finding out ways to be worse...
Romans 12:1-3
"So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
3I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him."
God is not asking us to do something that we cannot handle. However, we cannot expect Him to instantaneously satisfy everything...that is to put demands on Him, and expect Him to work in our timing...essentially keeping the control within ourselves. Also its one thing to "surrender" in your heart, but to continue living and doing and reading or whatever the things that are corrupt of this world, is to be going in circles...or simply just standing still not moving forward of back. Live in the world, but NOT OF it. If we want to make a difference, make one through God. Allow Him to pursue His interest in you. Great things will be done, and His love will change everything. The bible spans many many years and people yet is specific about certain individuals that made a great difference. They didnt do it, they allowed God to do it through them. We dont need to wait for everyone to "come together" simply start within ourselves and just watch what God will do. Some things happen sooner than later, but what we get instantly is inheritance to the kingdom. Instantly we get His love, by accepting His son...the gift he gave to us. Paying a debt that we could not pay. From there allow His changes to take place, but do not continue to consume yourself in the evils of the world. Just like Israel did over and over again. We need to see the lessons and learn them, as Israel did not. And we are all very graced to be living in this day and age, where Jesus can live inside us.
And i'm not saying that everything is going to be easy street and we'll all be skipping around not dealing with everyday life. Not at all, although we will be spiritually sound and nothing earthly can hurt us, there will still be trials. But only to mature us in God, to stregnthen our faith.
2 corinthians 1:3-5 says
"All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too."
and James 1:2-8
"Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.
5-8If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open."
Lets not do things half-asked and then end up having to start all over again and our efforts be in vain. No where does it say that we HAVE to take the hard road, God openly lays out His direction so we dont have to. I see it as a test of some sorts. God is the teacher, and the test of life has already been filled out with the correct answers...an instant A+, all we have to do is put our name in the top corner.
The bottom line of all this, is dont dwell on the abhorities of this world, expecting a change. Dwell on God and allow His work to be done inside you, then maybe, you will be a part of the revival that IS coming. And even if not, you will still be walking through life at His side. Friends, God is a Father to the fatherless, a friend to the friendless, a groom to the widowed and unmarried, a lover of souls, author and perfector of life itself! He truly WANTS to be a part of your life, more so than you can imagine. Before rejecting Him because of what someone else has done, why not give Him a chance. Develop your own relationship with God and not be like the sheep that wander aimlessly...lets find our direction and run for it. Be blessed in God's perfect name, and much love from Him, through me, to you.
<3 Amanda
His people Israel were so fickle with Him. After everything He did for them, they still only pursued Him in their own interest, as it benefited them. Elijah, a great prophet of God (he had an amazing relationship with God) agonizes over His people in Romans 11. Here is an excerpt from the Message version verses 2-10:
"6Do you remember that time Elijah was agonizing over this same Israel and cried out in prayer?
God, they murdered your prophets,
They trashed your altars;
I'm the only one left and now they're after me!
And do you remember God's answer?
I still have seven thousand who haven't quit, Seven thousand who are loyal to the finish.
It's the same today. There's a fiercely loyal minority still—not many, perhaps, but probably more than you think. They're holding on, not because of what they think they're going to get out of it, but because they're convinced of God's grace and purpose in choosing them. If they were only thinking of their own immediate self-interest, they would have left long ago. 7-10And then what happened? Well, when Israel tried to be right with God on her own, pursuing her own self-interest, she didn't succeed. The chosen ones of God were those who let God pursue his interest in them, and as a result received his stamp of legitimacy. The "self-interest Israel" became thick-skinned toward God."
The biggest problem is that they kept on doing it! After consequence after consequence...and even after coming back to Him they would stray off again. Our soceity is exactly the same! We're all a bunch of sheep. Going along with all the ridiculous different fads and fancies, doing only what gives us instant gratification, and if it doesnt we blame God for "not being there"! But this is not our destiny, we dont HAVE to be like this. Romans 12 continues with news of hope, how to be different and not repeat the same mistakes and finding out ways to be worse...
Romans 12:1-3
"So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
3I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him."
God is not asking us to do something that we cannot handle. However, we cannot expect Him to instantaneously satisfy everything...that is to put demands on Him, and expect Him to work in our timing...essentially keeping the control within ourselves. Also its one thing to "surrender" in your heart, but to continue living and doing and reading or whatever the things that are corrupt of this world, is to be going in circles...or simply just standing still not moving forward of back. Live in the world, but NOT OF it. If we want to make a difference, make one through God. Allow Him to pursue His interest in you. Great things will be done, and His love will change everything. The bible spans many many years and people yet is specific about certain individuals that made a great difference. They didnt do it, they allowed God to do it through them. We dont need to wait for everyone to "come together" simply start within ourselves and just watch what God will do. Some things happen sooner than later, but what we get instantly is inheritance to the kingdom. Instantly we get His love, by accepting His son...the gift he gave to us. Paying a debt that we could not pay. From there allow His changes to take place, but do not continue to consume yourself in the evils of the world. Just like Israel did over and over again. We need to see the lessons and learn them, as Israel did not. And we are all very graced to be living in this day and age, where Jesus can live inside us.
And i'm not saying that everything is going to be easy street and we'll all be skipping around not dealing with everyday life. Not at all, although we will be spiritually sound and nothing earthly can hurt us, there will still be trials. But only to mature us in God, to stregnthen our faith.
2 corinthians 1:3-5 says
"All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too."
and James 1:2-8
"Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.
5-8If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open."
Lets not do things half-asked and then end up having to start all over again and our efforts be in vain. No where does it say that we HAVE to take the hard road, God openly lays out His direction so we dont have to. I see it as a test of some sorts. God is the teacher, and the test of life has already been filled out with the correct answers...an instant A+, all we have to do is put our name in the top corner.
The bottom line of all this, is dont dwell on the abhorities of this world, expecting a change. Dwell on God and allow His work to be done inside you, then maybe, you will be a part of the revival that IS coming. And even if not, you will still be walking through life at His side. Friends, God is a Father to the fatherless, a friend to the friendless, a groom to the widowed and unmarried, a lover of souls, author and perfector of life itself! He truly WANTS to be a part of your life, more so than you can imagine. Before rejecting Him because of what someone else has done, why not give Him a chance. Develop your own relationship with God and not be like the sheep that wander aimlessly...lets find our direction and run for it. Be blessed in God's perfect name, and much love from Him, through me, to you.
<3 Amanda