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Don't be ashamed, dissapointed, or guilty
06/11/2008 14:11:55 / Full of life
1 John 2: 28
28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when[a] He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. (New King James version)
28 And now, children, stay with Christ. Live deeply in Christ. Then we'll be ready for him when he appears, ready to receive him with open arms, with no cause for red-faced guilt or lame excuses when he arrives. (the Message version)
I think one of the greatest things in the world is to be encouraged by someone. Have you noticed that when we were children we were always praised for doing the right things. The things that we did right were so cute and adorable to our parents. When we first used the potty without our parents or we put our dishes away without mommy. We put away out toys without anyone asking. We just had an inner feeling if I do this I know my parent will be happy with me. Of course they were.
Some took pictures, some give prizes, and most of all our parents smiled unconditionally clapping before us. That type affirmation is one of the building blocks to making the right decisions in life. We will always do what right when we KNOW the rewards for the decisions we make. Wouldn you agree? Did you know that you have a crowd of witnesses around you at all times? Some who just look at you cross-eyed and then there are God's angels that we cannot see. Did you know that every time you do something God tells you it's like standing before a well of prizes he has been waiting to give you.
Really! It's not the new Hummer, the imperfect/perfect spouse of our dreams, the job that all you have to do is time in and time out. His prizes are the manifestations of these words the inner parts of our souls beg for: LOVE, SECURITY, JOY, and Peace.
With that said lets "examine ourselves in God's perspective" while no one is looking. Honestly, I think many of us can agree we have all made some pretty stupid decisions. I mean some decisions that you really are asking yourself "what in the world was I thinking?" I am talking of the decisions that don even back up the sensibility of the situation. Now, for the hard hearted it's not to leave the spouse that God gave you to nurture responsibly. Or to disown the child who won't listen to the dictator or the verbal/emotional/domestic abuser. I am talking about the decisions we use to help us function and learn everyday.
I have a proposition for you. What if I can tell you, that you can make really great decisions and in it's course not feel disappointed, humiliated, or confused in it's outcome. Not in some scheme where you feel in your gut something is wrong. I mean, really great decisions without the cost of your consciousness to the guilt afterwards.
That is letting go of your own wisdom and cleaving unto God's wisdom.I have personally learned that my wisdom no matter how many times I believe I am right or the source that I affirming it with. If it does not line up with what Jesus or the Apostles have said or did, I am eventually going to be kicking the dust. I say that because he(Jesus) is our example of how to handle all of our situations in life, through what he and his apostles said and did. He was perfect in all and even though his apostles were not but being perfected, they had the Holy Spirit to help them everyday to do what he did.
So we are faced with a bridge or trap everyday. Whether relational, financial, or spiritual we have to properly govern our thoughts to give not just a response, but a righteous intended response. Many of us fall into that trap every day because everyday we are all faced with a multitude of decisions. So in the pressure of giving an response to the situation at hand our decision making is factorized off of: our experiences, what our parents did, what we may have seen in a movie or song, what our friends say, and worse of all what we have manufactured in our own minds un-rationally. So when I say "righteous" the typical person "Oh, I'm trying to do the right thing" we have to put the gem of wisdom in the light to see if it is good.
Well dont feel bad. A majority of the testimonies of people that God used made some really bad decisions in efforts of trying to do the "right thing" in their own eyes.
Lot's wife didn't listen to God when he told them to leave Sodom and don't look back. She then turned around and was turned into a pillar of salt. His daughters then "thought" that to save their lineage lets sleep with our father.
Abraham was told by God to leave his father's house and he misinterpreted God's message. So Abraham, taking along with him his FATHER, his wife, and Lot in an effort to obey his father; who then died in another city and he fought with Lot later on, only to save him.
Sarah was told she was to have a son within a year. Because of her disbelief she got her maid servant (Hagar) to have her child for her. Who she then later was faced with animosity in the "that's my baby daddy syndrome" and jealousy. She (Hagar) was then ex-communicated from them but not from God.
Saul the King of Israel did not wipe out all the Amalekites when God told him to. Later on in history, one of the offspring became a ambassador for King Ahaerseus in the Book of Esther who wanted to wipe out all Hebrews. However, Esther was used by God to correct the situation.
In each one of these situations I highlighted three words that are our keys in why many of us make bad decisions and more or less miss God's guidance in what he wants best for us.
We can: 1) Not listen to God - only to suffer facing the consequences of disobedience
2) Misinterpret what God said - and endure through time as his love and mercy corrects it.
3) Disbelieve in God - then as a Father, he will let your wisdom take it's course so you can face the results.
In each of these testimonies, we cannot say that God is mean or doesn't love us. It is very clear that he wants the best for all of us and he always "says something" to those he loves to protect them. He always manifests it whether it is an instance or long distance he will show. The result of our wisdom is the same we may not see the result of it and sometimes it is years later. We have to remember our wisdom has little viewing range like a flashlight in a dark open field. God is all light and life within itself. So whether by inner voice, preacher, christ centered wisdom from friend or non-expected source, or just the Bible he (God, Jesus, Holy Spirit) is always talking to us prompt to respond.
Example: Just right now I am asking God:
What is the difference between Lot / his Wife / Hagar / Abraham / Sarah / Saul / in these situations that their consequences have different results?
His answer to me is this:
Psalm 7:9O righteous God, who searches minds and hearts, bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure.
So with that said here we are faced with a multitude of decision making: How do I make my spouse pleased? How do I get by today financially and not be in a rut later?How do I get what I need?How do I know that what I am doing is right?How do I know if I can trust this person?How do I know I am secure with God?In all of these questions the best response for everyone is believe in God and learn how to hear more of his voice to instruct you.
Just like we can sit in a chair and lean back knowing the support will hold us. We then recline and get comfortable, then start taking off our shoes. This is exactly what happens when you study the word of God, start applying it to your life. You can always check on it and it will always work. I promise you it will never fall short and he through the written words will start talking to you more and more. What will happen is...
The more you trust the more you start seeing that your not as disappointed in your expectations.You will not be ashamed before people because of the decisions that you have made ignorantly.If you did make them ignorantly, you will be around people who love you enough to encourage you to lift your head.You will be more secure in yourself and insecurities will turn into "I know who has my back."You will not be confused and most of all....
You will come into the fullness of the love of God through Christ Jesus. Who is always standing there pleased with your trust in his wisdom. Who watches you go from the potty seat to a victorious life in his name.
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