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January 4, 2011
Living Fully in 2011 |
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Greetings!
Welcome to the year 2011! I hope you enjoyed a blessed Christmas and wonderful New Year.
I relish this season of new beginnings and new opportunities. January holds a collective freshness to it that other months lack. There is no special significance but there is a realized sense of fresh starts, do-overs, and restoration. January is a spiritual wave we should ride with renewed vigor and enthusiasm by pursuing a full life in Jesus.
This past week was spent in lengthy discussions and devotions with the family. We talked about the outcomes, passions and pursuits of 2010 and reflected on God's hand in our lives. Next, we looked forward to 2011 and made course adjustments for passion, purpose and pursuits. Lastly, we began the process of working backward from our objectives to look at the means for getting to the desired outcome. All in all, it was an incredible and rewarding time in God's presence and as a family. (If you are interested in the document we used as a tool simply email me and I'll send it to you).
We all have choices in life. We can allow life to run us on we can, under God's wisdom and grace, run life to the best of our abilities. It is true that God is sovereign and His will is perfect but it is also true that He calls us to be diligent in living. We simply cannot let life pass by in apathetic recline nor can we create a perfect life with effort and work. Life is complicated and somewhere in the middle of the options presented, God intervenes and responds to our diligence and faith.
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Show Diligence in Following God in 2011
4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age 6 and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. 7 Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.
9 Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case-the things that have to do with salvation. 10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
~ Hebrews 6:4-12 ~ |
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Press On in 2011 and move to the "Better Things" in God
To live fully in 2011 you will need to apprehend God's Word and be diligent in application of His Word through obedience. There are no short-cuts to walking in abundant life. There are no short-cuts to living fully in Jesus. It is a daily, moment by moment, choice by choice walk in a wicked and dying world. If someone told you it would be easy then I apologize. To live fully in Jesus requires diligence and obedience.
The writer of Hebrews reminds us that once we have "tasted" the goodness of God it is our responsibility to live positionally in a "blessable" state through obedience and application of God's teaching. The writer likens our life to a planted field that is cared for and diligently attended yet also realizes that rain and sun come from heaven! Like the farm in our passage, our life needs to be "tended" with an awareness that God is in control of the crop.
Friend, God knows you and He knows what you do, how you think and what is in your heart. He knows you better than you know yourself and He chooses to love you, guide you and lead you to an abundant life. God does this because it is His nature. He is compassionate, pure, loving and kind. On the other hand, He is holy, jealous and just and will allow the consequences of life to shape, mold and develop our character and nature. His pursuit is not our happiness but our joy and His glory. This is why diligence is key to living fully.
I challenge you to make a commitment in 2011 to be diligent in your walk with Jesus and the pursuit of His glory. Be diligent in learning of God through His word (2 Timothy 2:15). Be diligent in enjoying God through worship and praise (Hebrews 11:6). Be diligent in hearing from God through prayer (Proverbs 8:16-18). Lastly, be diligent in giving God glory through your service and giving (Romans 12:10-12). Be diligent and pursue Jesus with passion in 2011. You will live fully and bring our King great glory. |
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For King and Kingdom,
Randy Martin |
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