Pointless Rebellion

Some people refuse to adhere to the traditions of our society (Romans 13: 1-14; Hebrews 13:17). They buck the system and rebel against human and Biblical rules and regulations. Therefore, God cannot bless them (Isaiah 1:20).

These people actually yearn for approval, but since their basics instincts are not well received, they decide to go the other way and live in defiance and revolt in every area of life.

Some even become a thorn in the side of society and often end up in prison. The rebel really wants to comply and gain approval; but since they do not measure up, they grow bitter and hate everyone, even their own self.

God's standards are higher than the system of this world; yet, many of our society's rules are patterned after Biblical truth (1 Peter 2:18-21; 1 Timothy 2:1-4). 

The nonconformist views God and the government as rule-makers, which do not accept or validate who they truly are inside.

If rebels would surrender their lack of self-esteem to God, they would find acceptance in His family. God creates a clean heart in us and renews His Spirit within us (Psalm 51:10).

At some point, we all start to realize the futility of attempting to control our own life. The alternative is to trust in God's plan for us (Ephesians 2:10), and to walk in the Spirit through every issue we face (Galatians 5:15-25).

Even if things do not progress as we think they should, if there is an apparent setback or imperfection in our life, God's love helps us to retain our faith in His faithfulness.

Prayer:

Father God, a rebel in this world is also rebelling against You. They want their body, emotions, thoughts and goals to be accepted by those who are supposed to love them, regardless of their behavior.

This attitude stems from pride. You resist the proud, but You exalt the humble (James 4:6). Please teach our rebellious loved ones to call on Your Spirit, to humble their pride, to submit to Your calling on their life and to surrender control of their life over to you.

Thought for the Day:

When we consent to God's will and obey His Word, He proves that He cares for all of our needs. 

- Isaiah 1:19; 1 Peter 5:7; Psalm 55:22

The Spiritual Fruit I Would Choose

Did you ever notice that the fruit of the Spirit are all characteristics of a servant? If I were picking fruit, I would have chosen traits like perseverance, wisdom, courage and strength. These would come in handy in life more often than not. However, these are all qualities, which help us to serve our self. God, in His wisdom, chose humble attributes for us.

The fruit of the Spirit are: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Gentleness, Goodness, Meekness, Self-Control and Faith (Galatians 5:22-23). You can see how they would produce a very fine servant?

These traits mean:

Love – affection for others
Joy – exuberance about life
Peace – serenity
Patience – willingness to stick with it
Gentleness – compassion from the heart
Goodness – kindness that pervades our entire being
Faith – trust that God knows what He’s doing
Meekness – humility and service
Self-Control – guided by the Spirit

The Bible describes characteristics of the flesh, which are the opposite of God’s fruit: envy, strife, hatred, self-centeredness, criticism, worry, depression, pride, bitterness, complainers, quitters, backbiters, lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful, those who invent ways of doing evil, and people who put work and fun ahead of God (2 Timothy 3:2; Romans 1:30).

We can focus on replacing hatred with love, discontentment with peace, irritation with patience, criticism with gentleness, backbiting with goodness, worry with faith, pride with meekness, and depression with true joy, as we are controlled and guided by the Spirit of God.

Prayer:

Father God, thank You for Your fruit and for faithfully healing us of the wounds in our life, which cause us to exhibit negative, fleshly characteristics in our life. We always feel so repentant when we do. It is good for us to humble our self and to apologize to those we offend. Thank You also for Your gifts, which You give us for the common good of Your Body. A message of wisdom or knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, prophecy and preaching, discerning of spirits, tongues and interpretation of tongues. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit who distributes these gifts to each one as He sees fit (1 Corinthians 12:1-11).

Thought for the Day:

God always provides us with wisdom when we ask for it. - James 1:5

 

Love and Loss

Read: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

“And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.” - 1 John 4:16 NKJV

When my former husband decided there was no option for us but divorce, I learned that hate is the opposite side of the coin of love, two passionate emotions using the same vehicle of expression. The realm of emotions has no rage comparable to that of love when it turns to hatred. The reason that we hate is because our love is spurned or disappointed. I had to give my dejection to God and to choose not to hate.

Even when someone we love dies, our love never dies. Love lives on in our hearts in spite of death, divorce and disease. When we love others with Christ’s love, we decide to accept each other’s faults and to encourage one another’s successes.

God’s agape love covers a multitude of sins, casts out all fear, and sets us apart from those without God’s love in their hearts. Jesus says that others will recognize us as His disciples by our love. If God’s love makes us the type of people who love no matter what happens, then others will want to know what we believe, so they too can experience God’s love.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, You taught us by your example to love those who hurt us. Help us to rely on Your spiritual power instead of our nuclear power. Help us to follow Your Spirit’s direction to prevent us from developing into misdirected persons.

Thought for the Day:

Our love actually never ends. It just changes direction.