Wow, I want to say thank you and blessings to all who read or viewed and sent comments to me through FB! It was very encouraging and my hope was that it was reciprocated back to you in some form of His love, grace, kindness and direction. Yes, I must say it has been a challenging two weeks for me...how about you? It seems that every time we make up our minds to pursue something, or at least in my case (you can co-sign or agree later...keep reading) that something always tries to interfere, deter or put a halt to it...can I get an Amen Somebody...?!!! Whether it is starting a new diet, getting to work on time, starting a savings account or even cracking open my bible for just a five minute devotion time with Him, all chaos breaks loose, right? Kids knocking on the bathroom door, husband spent an extra $5 or $50 (and so did I), we oversleep, had weird cravings for ice cream since its cold or that gym just looked to crowded today...or the best one "I'm only human", whatever the deterrents, distractions or disclaimers we settle on, it's really just an excuse. Surely, if we really wanted to do it badly enough, we would be obedient to Him!!! And that is just how the enemy operates, always trying to deceive us, give us an out or a pass to think that "it's okay", God knows your heart...well he is right in that respect, God Does know our hearts because he made them. Let's just examine this a little more closely and curl up your toes, because mine are already tucked in as far as they can go.
How often do we hide behind our own excuses and those of others? Friend, does God really accept and forgive us when we take that route? I look at examples in the bible that may or may not make the case, but let's look anyway. First, right there in the Garden of Eden, all Adam and Eve intended on doing was to tend to the garden, have dominion and live worry free, but what happened? Eve, being "distracted" by the serpent, she fell into the enemy's trap and thus the denial and blame game started in the garden when all the Lord wanted was obedience and accountability. Does he not want the same from you or me? A little bit of obedience and accountability goes a long way in His eyes. Like the obedience Samuel speaks of in 1 Samuel 15:22 which is always more favorable than the "sacrifice". What are you in need of sacrificing dear Sister (or Brother) to be obedient to what God has called you to do? I have a whole slew of things, but let's look at one more example. I love my man Peter...I want to be like him when I heavenly grow-up, lol. Back to Peter, right after the Lord's Supper, he swore up and down (you know how we do, til the end-through thick and thin) to Jesus, he was going to be there, didn't care what the people said, I will be right there wicha bro-I got yo' back, yeah wayyy back. And I do not mean to make light of the situation, but the truth was in or the proof as they say is in the scripture! Reading in Matthew 26:31-75, after Judas' betrayal, Jesus told Peter that he already knew while Peter had good intentions (many of us do) that he was going to get called on the carpet. But we know Peter, proud, sticking his chest out, Lord I'm with you...right, he couldn't even stay awake for an hour (vs. 40) but the action really starts in verses 69-75. Just a recap, Peter waits around the temple after Jesus had been taken to the high priest, but at every turn, people recognized him as one of the disciples, who was with Jesus. By his own breath, he readily denied knowing Jesus, as Jesus already knew he would and verse 75 reads, "Peter remembered the word of Jesus...he went out and wept bitterly".
Friend, how devastatingly sad...what was Peter's sacrifice or what was his excuse for denying Christ? Did he have an excuse or was it justified? Or did Jesus' words come back to cut his heart? Do we "get cut" by not living up to what we have committed to Christ...? Or negotiated...with Him? Lord, if you just help me, heal me, get me outta this one mo' again, this is what I'll do....just as Peter said, I'll be with you. Daily, people are looking at us, pointing at us and so is Jesus, wanting to know when are we going to get ourselves into gear and get rid of the excuses and just OWN IT! This Christian life is not supposed to be comfortable and I believe God does forgive us and thus allows us another opportunity to get it right, because he knows us and he knows our hearts ( Jeremiah 17-9-10). Remember, he knows "we're only human".
All of the deterrents, distractions or denials we advocate in the place of our own shortcomings we have to remember God already knows and really looks at our efforts and conduct in what we are pursuing. So pursue Him my Friend and His charge to you, even if it is as small as just not complaining for half a day, smiling at someone, or letting someone cut in front of you in traffic (you know that spot that's always crowded), or starting that bible study group (personal quiet time) you been meaning to do for awhile. I believe, that episode of Peter's denial fueled him to just own it and move forward, believing in the bigger and better, just ask the people who were with him and were saved at Pentecost (Acts 2).
Like the Nike slogan says, just do it. Until next time...blessings unto you, cw.
