There is as phrase I heard a long time ago, something like, "Always keep the main thing, the main thing." I can't remember exactly where I was, but it was in a church, and the 'main thing' was 'living our lives Jesus' way.'
This week I thought about that phrase again as I was reading a passage from James:
Instead you should say, “Our tomorrows are in the Lord’s hands and if he is willing we will live life to its fullest and do this or that.” James 4:15 TPT
Beth Moore, in her book, James, Mercy Triumphs, discusses this scripture in conjunction with Jeremiah 29:11:
‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
And then she poses some interesting questions...
“What if we understood down to the marrow of our bones that His is the only plan that really does end up prospering us?
What if we really believed Jesus when He said that those who insist on finding their own lives will lose them and those who lose them for His sake will find them (see Matt 16:25)?
What if we really believed that, if we seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness, everything else of true value would be given to us, too (see Matt 6:33)?
What if we really believed that, “He did not even spare His own Son but offered Him up for us all; how will He not also with him grant us everything” (Rom 8:32)?
What if we really believed that “godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come” (1 Tim 4:8 NASB)?
What if we really believed that God is not only great, He is good?"
(Beth Moore, James, Mercy Triumphs, Page 153)
These are some very thought-provoking questions. Try substituting the 'What if we really believed that...' with 'Do I believe that...'
Then, lets take the questioning a step further, ... not answering with words, but rather with an inventory of our past actions ie Does what we do line up with what we say we believe?
Please understand my intention is not to bring condemnation, but rather to encourage us (definitely me too), to pause and consider how we are travelling with 'living with Jesus as Lord of our lives.'
There is always room for improvement, an area in our lives that the Holy Spirit wants to help us with - greater trust, quicker obedience, greater evidence of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives, just to name a few.
So today, let's determine to let God have His way in our life, helping us to keep 'the main thing, the main thing' as He alone knows what tomorrow will bring.
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