What if… believers really lived according to Scripture—the Book we claim to believe? we prayed as a first response? we talked about the Gospel as often as we talk about the weather? we embraced God’s will with higher priority than our will? knowing and worshipping Him became more important to us than getting things from Him? Or, getting things done? we answered kindly and acted for the well-being of our crabby neighbor or our incompetent server? we were patient and friendly when inconvenienced…especially while driving? we thought about our spouse’s concerns before our own? we thought about our enemy’s concerns before our own? we really believed that God put our president into office and that He had a good purpose for doing so? we prayed primarily for things of eternal value? we had more passion for Christ than we do for sports? we gave more energy, time, and money to serve Christ than to entertain ourselves? we longed for something better than a fairy tale life? What if… today is the last day I’ll get to speak with that friend, family member, or coworker? tomorrow everything I own would go up in smoke? God would post a YouTube video of my thoughts for the past two days? when everything goes wrong, I would respond as though God’s grace really is sufficient for me? thanksgiving was a habit of mine? I cared about the souls sitting next to me and let them know in ways that were meaningful to them? I purposed to cooperate with God’s solutions for my local church? someone seriously sinned against me and I forgave them at great personal sacrifice (as Christ did for me)? What if… instead of mentally and verbally rehearsing people’s faults, we rehearsed Scripture? instead of worrying about the future, we rejoiced in God’s sovereignty? instead of mourning over loneliness, we were grateful for Christ’s eternal presence? instead of seeking my own way, my heart sought God? instead of fitting Scripture into my counsel, I sought God’s counsel in His Word? What if I… really wanted to know to what extent I was wrong? accepted and honestly considered how I might correct my part of a problem? asked someone’s forgiveness without expecting anything in return? gave sacrificially? understood who I am as a child of God in Christ? really accepted that I will never be worthy of His grace, but that He gives it to me anyway? truly believed that, in Christ, I have been raised to abundant life—not misery—for all eternity? lived with hope in my Savior rather than in my journey? welcomed trials as useful gifts from the hands of a faithful God? thanked God for the troublesome people who push me into closer relationship with Him? yielded my heart and mind to God? sought Christ more than explanations? honestly admitted my part of the mess? let God—not pride—lift me up? discerned the right questions and studied God’s Word to learn His perspective on them? watched, believing that Christ might come today? saw myself as I really am? loved truth more than comfort, power, or self-esteem? sought God (not just advice, information, or emotional balm) through His Word? honestly discerned error and faced Truth? learned to pray (not just how to pray)? learned to speak truth into my culture? loved as Christ loves, so that I care more about people’s souls than about how they affect me? had the mind of Christ, so that I care more about how God sees my enemy than what my enemy thinks about me?
Posted on: Wed, 25 Sep 2013 01:53:11 +0000
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