STOP

STOP
Ps 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Do you ever find yourself trying to keep up with your daily activities and you get in a hurry only to find that you are getting further behind. It seems that many times we are like someone said of a man, "He jumped on his horse and road off in all directions."
It seems that there is always someone who is trying to claim a piece of our time and we never seem to get caught up. The question we need to ask ourselves someitmes is who are we really trying to please? Why are we in such a rush.
There was a time in my ministry when I seemed to be always running and always behind. The things I was really trying to get done were obviously not as important to the survival of the world as I thought they were because I spent the next week in the hospital with a heart attack and the world kept right on going.
For four days I was in intensive care. It didn't have a TV, I could only have visitors for a few minutes each day. I asked them for a Bible and they told me that I couldn't have one. They just wanted me to lie still and try to get strong enough to move to another hospital. All I could do was lay in that room and think and pray. God spoke to me while I was there, not audibly, but it was plain enough. For four days the first part of this scripture kept going through my mind, "Be still, and know that I am God."
Sometimes now I get in a hurrry, I start trying to please everyone around me and I have a problem saying no to people who want me to do something. Every once in awhile I have to remind myself of what God was telling me in that intensive care unit. There are times when all he wants from us is for us to STOP. He wants us to be still, and know that He is God.
Do you need to stop for a little while?

WHO AM I?

Exodus 3:11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

It is not hard for me to understand Moses' doubts when God spoke to him from that burning bush and told him to go to Pharaoh and and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt. What a task. For over 400 years the children of Israel had dwelt in Egypt and had become enslaved to the Egyptians. What an overwhelming task to be given. Who am I indeed?
Moses was in exile from Egypt himself. He was tending sheep on the back side of Midian.
We often feel the same way when God calls us to some great task. Who am I? What special credentials and qualifications do I have? What special gifts and talents could I possible have that would qualify me to do the work God calls me to do? Who am I?
Remember it does not matter who I am or who you are. The important thing is who He is. He is Almighty God, Mighty Father, Creator and Sustainer of all creation.It doesn't matter who we are as long as we understand who He is. He always qualifies those He calls.

How Frail We Are

Psalm 39:4 LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.

I guess you might think this is kind of a gloomy thought. One usually doesn't want to think of their end. We usually want to live like we will never die.
The truth is that everyone of us is here only temporarily. We don't have any idea when the end will come. I think it is good to realize that it will come some day. It helps us understand just how frail we are.
As I grow older and encounter more health problems I become more aware of how frail I am and even know that I have always been frail.
What I take comfort and great joy in is knowing that there is something better awaiting me. One day I will leave this old decaying body and I will have a new and perfect one. One day I will leave this world behind and I will live in a new and perfect place.
Knowing how frail I am doesn't bother me much when I realize how strong and powerful Jesus is and that He has promised that someday I will be like Him.

Conviction

John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

God uses many ways to bring about conviction in the lives of people. We need people today in the Lord's service who are sensitive to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. If we are to grow, if we are to flee from sin we must be convicted of it.
Sometimes we grow accustomed to sins. At first we fear them and shun them. If we do not flee them and turn them over to God we may just try to ignore them. The next step is to tolerate them. (It is frightening to hear so many people speak of tolerance today) Tolerance is followed by acceptance and before long a person will be embracing them.
We must be sensitive to conviction of sin and turn to righteousness. Ignoring, tolerating, accepting, and embracing sin does not make us a nicer or kinder person. Actually it is just the opposite because sin is destructive. God would never deny us anything that was for our own good.

THE BEST THINGS

Lu 10:38-42 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. (39) And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. (40) But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. (41) And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: (42) But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Haven't you known the Marthas who are always busy and fussing about trying to make sure everything is just right? Most of us at some time or another has been like Martha. We get so busy planning, preparing, and serving that we forget that there is a needful thing that we must do.
We must at times just sit, adore Jesus and worship Him and enjoy being in His presence. Sometimes we are so busy doing good things that we lose out on that which is best. No time spent in sweet fellowship with Jesus is wasted.

GROWING UP

1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I [spake as a child], I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
Some people get older but they never seem to grow up. They still have the characteristics of a child.
A child likes to play. Many are playing at making a marriage and a home. Many are playing church instead of really getting involved.
Children are naturally selfish. They have to be taught that the world doesn't revolve around them. It is what I want. Some throw a fit if they don't get their way. It seems that we have developed into the greatest crop of babies any nation has ever known.
Childishness is characterized by self pity. You hear things like, "No one likes me". "They don't include me in on things". "They like him better than me".
Children fail to recognize they have obligations and responsibilities. The church is everyones responsibility and you have an obligation to minister to others. The obligation of carrying out the great commission falls on us all.
Childishness is also indicated by a lack of gratitude. Most children never say thank you to their mothers for clean clothes and food. They never say thank you to their parents for working and providing for them.
When I look at these things it kind of makes me feel like I might act childish sometimes. Maybe we all need to put away some childish things.

NO TRESSPASSING

Mark 13:32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
These versus are refering to end time events and the return of Jesus. People have tried to predict and fortell when Jesus will return for years. This verse tells me that it is God's business to know when the end will come and it is my business to be ready when it does.
I've noticed throughout the years that people try very hard to second guess God and try to figure out things that God never intended for us to know. One of the lessons I have learned over the years is that I can understand the parts of the Bible that I need to be saved, to serve God, and to fellowship with other Christians. I will be the first to admit I don't understand a some parts of the Bible. I personally believe that if I pray and study diligently that God will reveal to me everything He wants me to know and everything I need to know to live for Him.
As for certain things like exactly when Jesus will return. I think that is His business and His territory and I don't need to trespass. What I need to do is obey Jesus and be ready as if He were coming today.