Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 04  Why Are You Waiting???

 

I love Southern Gospel Music and there are a plethora of songs about no tears in heaven, no blindness, no deaf ears, no sorrow, and I love those songs but it seems to me that many today are living so much for what heaven holds that they are missing living for Jesus right here and now!

We are to live seeking God and His ways each day or we are missing opportunities that HE is placing before us each and every day.  God is ever working to grow us into the image of The Son, Jesus, through every circumstance in our lives.

“And we know

that all things work together for good

to them that love God,

to them who are the called

according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow,

he also did predestinate

to be conformed

to the image of his Son,

that he might be the firstborn

among many brethren.”   Romans 8:28-29

As God is ever working to conform us into Jesus’ image, our part is to pursue God, His Word and His ways. Jesus tells us to seek God’s purposes not the greedy ways of the world; we are to seek God first in all things, for He has promised to provide our every need.

“But seek ye first

the kingdom of God,

and his righteousness;

and all these things

shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow:

for the morrow shall take thought

for the things of itself.

Sufficient unto the day

is the evil thereof.”  Matthew 6:33-34

Jesus reminds us that we live in an evil world, but our focus is to be on our Lord and His will for us; we are to follow Him, pursuing Him and His will, and we can only do that consistently as we delve into the scriptures and follow the leadership of His precious Holy Spirit.  We are called to choose the good over the profane—and that is most difficult in this profane world we live in.  But God has promised to provide for those who will exercise this principle.  Jeremiah gives testimony of the need to go or halt at God’s bidding, and if we are faithful to God and stand fast for His truth, HE promises to be with us.

“Therefore thus saith the LORD,

If thou return,

then will I bring thee again,

and thou shalt stand

before me:

and if thou take forth the precious

from the vile,

thou shalt be as my mouth:

let them return unto thee;

but return not thou unto them.

20 And I will make thee unto this people

a fenced brasen wall:

and they shall fight against thee,

but they shall not prevail

against thee:

for I am with thee

to save thee

and to deliver thee,

saith the LORD.

21 And I will deliver thee

out of the hand of the wicked,

and I will redeem thee

out of the hand of the terrible.”  Jeremiah 15:19-21

What terrible things are you facing today?  God promised not only Jeremiah deliverance, but He has promised to walk with us through our difficulties each and every day, if we will but seek HIS face.

“Let your conversation

be without covetousness;

and be content

with such things as ye have:

for he hath said,

I will never leave thee,

nor forsake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say,

The Lord is my helper,

and I will not fear

what man shall do unto me.”  Hebrews 13:5-6

Here and now—not just later in heaven!  And a few more passages to encourage you today.

“Ye are of God, little children,

and have overcome them:

because greater is he that is in you,

than he that is in the world.”   1 John 4:4

It’s all because of Jesus!

“Being confident of this very thing,

that he which hath begun a good work

in you

will perform it

until the day of Jesus Christ:”  Philippians 1:6

And a few words of challenge and hope for us all.

“Study to shew thyself approved

unto God,

a workman

that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing

the word of truth.

16 But shun profane and vain babblings:

for they will increase

unto more ungodliness.”   2 Timothy 2:15-16

“All scripture

is given by inspiration of God,

and is profitable

for doctrine,

for reproof,

for correction,

for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God

may be perfect,

throughly furnished

unto all good works.”   2 Timothy 3:16-17

If you would– to know truth—to heed conviction of sin/error—to yield to God’s discipline—and to receive and obey His words of righteousness—all to grow us unto spiritual maturity!

And in Jesus’ own words, we are reminded that our work on earth is to be done in HIS power, as we “abide” in our “vine”!

“I am the vine,

ye are the branches:

He that abideth in me,

and I in him,

the same bringeth forth much fruit:

for without me ye can do nothing.”   John 15:5

May we draw near to our Lord that HE may be seen in us—as we bring forth HIS fruit!  NOW!!!

“But it is good for me

to draw near to God:

I have put my trust

in the Lord GOD,

that I may declare

all thy works.”  Psalm 73:28

May you/I be “about my Father’s business” here and now, not just looking forward to heaven (which we are to do, but not to the exclusion of the present work of God)!

Amen and Amen!!!