I've decided to do "what's best for me"

Proverbs 30:5 "Every promise of God proves true; he protects everyone who runs to him for help.”

Have you ever heard someone say “I have to do what’s best for me?” Maybe you’ve even said it yourself a time or too…I know I have. The truth is, if what’s “best for me” goes against or doesn’t align with what God’s word says we fall into sin’s trap.

The world would have us believe that times have changed and the word of God is simply a “guideline” for how to live a moral and just life. Furthermore, we are inundated with ideas that we should also “believe” that there is “no way” in today’s society we could even follow such “out of date” practices. I personally, would BEG to differ. I think about this and it breaks my heart. 

The word of God is as true today as it was over 2,000 thousands of years ago. The Bible has stood the test of time and is our guiding light in the uncharted waters of this journey we call life. Through it, God shows us His unconditional love, He shows us how to live and how to love, He has also given us armor we can put on every day to stand up and fight against Satan’s schemes (Ephesians 6:10 – 18). He promises peace to people who follow him (Psalms 85:5 and Isaiah 26:3-4).

Finally, did you catch the second part of Proverbs 30:5? "He protects everyone who runs to him for help." According to Noah Webster’s (1828) dictionary the word “protect” means:

To cover or shield from danger or injury; to defend; to guard.

Imagine that for just a moment. When we “run” and seek the truth from God’s word instead of this world, God will “protect” or “shield” us from the dangers of it (this world). I for one would rather be shielded by God than led astray by the lies. 

So "what's best for me" is to listen and obey God’s word no matter what this “world” may think of me.

Are you blending in or standing out?

1 Corinthians 3: 1 – 4 (MSG) But for right now, friends, I'm completely frustrated by your unspiritual dealings with each other and with God. You're acting like infants in relation to Christ, capable of nothing much more than nursing at the breast. Well, then, I'll nurse you since you don't seem capable of anything more. As long as you grab for what makes you feel good or makes you look important, are you really much different than a babe at the breast, content only when everything's going your way?

In these verses, Paul urges believers in Corinth to grow up in their faith. Before I dive a little deeper, I want to give you a glimpse of the city. Paul planted this church in 51 AD. The first members of the church were representative of the diversity of the city itself. A major multi-ethnic city, Corinth was the connecting link between Rome and the East. People flocked there to participate in the gambling, legalized temple prostitution, business adventures and all the “fun” that came from being a seaport town.

 

When we come to Christ, we are new creations in Him (2 Cor. 5:17). He washes away the sins of our “old self” and makes us white as snow…clean, pure. We are no longer muddied by the sin He pulled us out of; in fact, we are citizens of Heaven. Our journey with Christ begins. We learn more about Christ through His Word and start to see the world differently; our perspective begins to change. We no longer live as we once did, where we often gave into the desires of our flesh. Now it’s His desires that matter… not ours.

 

As we “grow up” in our faith, we learn His ways and we submit to His authority in our lives. The Bible, not the world, becomes the standard by which we live our lives. As we continue to follow, we grow from being an “infant” in Christ to being a mature believer – depending more on Christ in every circumstance and less on ourselves and the world around us.

 

Paul writes this letter to the Corinthian church and asks them to stop focusing on the “world” around them. Even though they lived in a very “worldly” city, once they became followers of Jesus Christ they were called to be different - to stand out. Different in the way they lived their lives, conducted business, and raised their families. The same is true for us today.

 

Christians are not suppose to “blend-in” to the world around us. Jesus wants us to be a light in the darkness that surrounds us no matter where we may be (in our jobs, with our extended families and friends, or even in our own homes.) Our worldly views change as we grow up in Christ. Instead of seeing the "world" God changes are perspective to see the things of this world through the lens of the Bible.

 

As maturing Christians, we should strive to be different in every area of our life… at home, at work, and especially in how we handle difficult situations. When we have our faith and trust grounded in Christ, we depend on Him to navigate us through churning storms. Christ will change our lives BUT we have to do our part too. We have to take steps in faith knowing that Christ is out in front leading the way.

 

Remember Peter’s walk on water? He didn’t see the waves crashing all around him, He saw Jesus. When his focus was on Christ nothing else mattered. He didn’t see the world around him. (Matthew 14:28 - 29)

 

Are you growing in Christ or are you just “blending in” to the world around you? Growth in Christ is up to us. One of the best places to start is by having a daily quiet time. Get away with just you, your Bible and Christ. You will be glad you did.

Related scripture: Titus 3: 4-6, Romans 8: 1 – 14, Phil 2:12 – 13, 1 John 3: 4 - 10

What do you reach for when times get tough?

Proverbs 7: 1 – 3 (NIV) “My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you. Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.”

In the verses above, the writer is encouraging his son to remember everything that he has said. He tells his son to treasure his commands and obey them so he (the son) will live. When you treasure something what do you do? Let’s say you’ve been given an award or certificate of achievement. Are you going to read it once and throw it in a drawer never to be seen again? Chances are, probably not. You’re most likely going to hang it up and read it over again and again.

This is what we should do with God’s word, not that I’m suggesting hanging your Bibles on your walls, but there are many “treasures” of scripture in the Bible that can help us through whatever situation we’re facing.

Proverbs 7:3 says to “Remind yourself of them; write them on your hearts as if on a tablet.”

Want to know how to deal with a situation in your life? Go to the word of God and find the answers there. Whenever I am struggling with an issue, I like to look for the truth about the issue in God’s word. When I have found scripture telling me what the truth is, I write it down in a small notebook I carry around with me.

When I’m having a bad day, the notebook is what I reach for first. I find reading through a few of the scripture verses reminds me of the truth and God’s promises. Just a few moments in my notebook and my focus is back on Christ and not caught up in the “stuff” of this world.

So, what do you reach for when time get tough?

Related reading: John 14:15; 1 Timothy 4: 7-8; Hebrews 12:1; 1 Cor. 15: 57 - 58

Growing in our Faith

1 Corinthians 3: 1 – 4 (MSG) But for right now, friends, I'm completely frustrated by your unspiritual dealings with each other and with God. You're acting like infants in relation to Christ, capable of nothing much more than nursing at the breast. Well, then, I'll nurse you since you don't seem capable of anything more. As long as you grab for what makes you feel good or makes you look important, are you really much different than a babe at the breast, content only when everything's going your way?

Paul urges believers in Corinth to grow up in their faith in the third chapter of 1 Corinthians. Before I go more into that point, I want to give you a glimpse of the city. Paul planted this church in 51 AD. The first members of the church were representative of the diversity of the city itself. A major multi-ethnic city, Corinth was the connecting link between Rome and the East. People flocked there to participate in the gambling, legalized temple prostitution, business adventures and all the “fun” that came from being a seaport town.

When we come to Christ, we are new creations in Him (2 Cor. 5:17). He washes away the sins of our “old self” and makes us white as snow… clean. We are no longer muddied by the sin He pulled us out of; in fact, we are citizens in Heaven. Our journey with Christ begins. We begin learning more about Christ through His Word we begin to see the world differently; our perspective begins to change. We no longer live as we once did, where we often gave into the desires of our flesh. Now it’s His desires that matter… not ours.

As we “grow up” in our faith, we learn His ways and we submit to His authority in our lives. The Bible, not the world, becomes the standard by which we live our lives. As we continue to follow, we grow from being an “infant” in Christ to being a mature believer – depending more on Christ in every circumstance and less on ourselves and the world around us.

As Paul writes this letter to the Corinthian church, he is asking them to stop focusing on the “world” around them. Even though they lived in a very “worldly” city, once they became followers of Jesus Christ they were called to be different. Different in the way they lived their lives, conducted business, and raised their families. The same is true for us today.

As Christians we are not suppose to “blend-in” to the world around us. We can be a light in the darkness that surrounds us no matter where that may be; in our jobs, with our extended families and friends, or even in our own homes. As we grow up in Christ, our “worldly” view changes so that we see the things of this world through the lens of the Bible.

As maturing Christians, we should strive to be different in every area of our life… at home, at work, and especially in how we handle difficult situations. When we have our faith and trust grounded in Christ, we depend on Him to navigate us through the churning storms. Christ will change our lives BUT we have to do our part too. We have to take steps in faith knowing that Christ is out in front leading the way.

Remember Peter’s walk on water? He didn’t see the waves crashing all around him, He saw Jesus. When his focus was on Christ nothing else mattered. He didn’t see the world around him. (Matthew 14:28 - 29)

Are you growing in Christ or are you just “blending in” to the world around you? Growth in Christ is up to us. One of the best places to start is by having a daily quiet time. Get away with just you, your Bible and Christ. You will be glad you did.

Related scripture: Titus 3: 4-6, Romans 8: 1 – 14, Phil 2:12 – 13, 1 John 3: 4 - 10