10 Things Christians Don't Get To Do

Today's devotional is a between the chapters one.  It is a list titled "Things Christians Just Don't Get To Do" by Tim Challies.  I think it could have been named "Things Christians Are Commanded Not To Do" or you could take the list and think up your own positives of what we get to do.  I just thought this was a great list that I have shared in other situations so here goes.

1.  Christians don't get to hold a grudge.  Guilty. 

2.  Christians don't get to withhold forgiveness.  Guilty.

3.  Christians don't get to hoard their wealth.  Guilty for it is mine, mine, mine.

4.  Christians don't get to complain.  Guilty, guilty.

5.  Christians don't get to go it alone.  Guilty.  I make a great lone ranger Christian.

6.  Christians don't get to be a thorn in their pastor's side.  Guilty for it could be anyone's side.

7.  Christians don't get to be unproductive.  Guilty, i.e. FaceBook.

8.  Christians don't get to have a pet sin.  Guilty.

9.  Christians don't get to be anxious.  Guilty.

10.  Christians don't get to speak evil of one another.  Very ashamed to say guilty to this one also.

Let's turn them around to the positive side.

1.  Instead of a grudge, Christians get to work to resolve situations.

2.  Instead of un-forgiveness, Christians get to show forgiveness in a very unforgiving world.

3.  Instead of greediness, Christians get to be generous with what God has provided.

4.  Instead of complaining, Christians get to look for the positive in a negative situation.

5.  Instead of going it alone, Christians get to be a part of a great family.

6.  Instead of jabbing someone, Christians get to bring joy to others lives by their godly actions.

7.  Instead of wasting time, Christians get to see things get done of eternal significance.

8.  Instead of excusing sin, Christians get to repent of all sin to a forgiving Father.

9.  Instead of being a worry wart, Christians get to walk in the promises of God.

10.  Instead of speaking evil of others, Christians get to speak of others that produces unity.

A quote from the end of the blog says, "These are things we don't get to do because they are associated with godlessness rather than godliness, with sin rather than salvation.  In every case God has freed us by His gospel to a new and better way of living--a way of love, forgiveness, generosity, encouragement, community, submission, industry, purity, and freedom."

Many ask or seek the will of God for their lives.  I know they are speaking of God's specific will for their specific lives but it is good and necessary to start with God's general will for all Christians, His followers, to follow after and obey.  If we don't follow the general then why would He offer us the specific?  Write down the list today and make improvements or make it personal to your life and repent of the "don't do list" and move over to the "do list."  Let's pray.

"Lord, it is so easy to respond according to our sinful nature but You have given us a new birth, a new life, and a new nature to follow after.  Help us today to see which we are following and change course if needed so that we get to do all those God things You have planned for us.  Amen."

Pastor Adam
A simple man serving a great God and the local pastor of Stillwater Community Chapel (stillwater-chapel.org). We are in our 38th year of full time ministry. God directed us to this local body of believers on the Western Range of the Rockies to grow with them in mission and mindedness of Christ.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Connect a bit of Scripture with a bit of life - Spurgeon

     I heard this phrase today along with another that if you connect a bit of Scripture with a bit of life, it will end up effecting all of your life.  This came up in my study of the book of James and specifically the verses dealing with not just being a hearer of the Word but also be a doer of the Word.  It is all about application.  I can't look at preaching the Word without giving steps of applying the Word.  It really is an incomplete sermon if I don't.      Many times I think it has to be big and many points and given cute aliteration that makes it snappy and I think easy to remember and fun to write down.  Reality is, if I would make it a bit of Scripture connected to a bit of life and just that it would probably accomplish much more.  How much time I spend on the opening statement and lame joke and research and introductions and how many points and the closing statement and so little time on connecting the bit of Scripture to the bit of life.      So I guess I ha
Read more

Galatians #15 - Galatians 6:11-18 - "On The Road Again..."

Image
  Another week closer and it involves some more travel for the Wolfgangs.  I feel like the Willy Nelson song, " On the road again... "  I don't know if I agree with the next line though. " ...I can't wait to get on the road again. " One of the members of the church in Wisconsin calculated that I will travel well over 10,000 miles to make this transition.  Traveling mercies prayers please. Last Sunday we will look at Paul's final words to the churches in Galatia.  He brought them the gospel (good news) message of Jesus and what resulted were churches forming throughout the region.  The letter is to defend that message that our salvation comes from and is in Christ alone.  Christ's sacrifice on the cross was sufficient for the forgiveness of our sins.  The summary statement of the letter is found in  Galatians 6:15 (LSB) .  " For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. "  Translated another way earlier in  Ga
Read more

Sermon prep and maybe a video...

     James 4 has brought up some interesting study.  First, "the quarrels and fights among you."  Those are usually worse than you think even though we try to minimize them.  The source is simpler than you think because it is coming from within you.  The solution is easier than you think because the solution that James gives is that we need to humble ourselves before the Lord.  Any sincere resolution is specific and brief.  Beware of lengthy resolutions that usually include explaining it away or excusing some of the behavior.      As I have seen before, the words are a sign of the heart.  I read this week that if we have a critical heart we usually start by speaking evil of another to ourselves.  Then we progress to speaking evil of another to that person with a running tally in our heads of all their wrongs.  Finally, we speak evil of another to others and broadcast in a way that we are thinking that we are helping.  Giving judgment is always easier than giving mercy.  I
Read more