"So," they say, "nobody's perfect!"
But the Vinedresser won't buy that.
Given the opportunity, He will trim the unproductive suckers and shape the branches so each one will bask in Sonlight.

Thursday, August 05, 2010

Youth Springs Eternal(or something like that)

            If you've ever found yourself in the midst of Christian young people, you've surely heard one agonized question: "What is God's will for my life?"
            That, my friend, is a noble question over which a Christ-follower might agonize. As it turns out, Jesus anticipated that question and answered it quite directly, in Paul's first letter to the believers in Thessalonica, the third chapter, verse eighteen:
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
            "Too simple," you say? Yes, simple ... but incredibly powerful
            Since gratitude is God's will for us in every circumstance, obeying that universal command will open the door for us to know His will in more specific circumstances. It's a principle Jesus Himself declared, as recorded in Luke 16:10:
The one who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and the one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.(NET Bible)
This principle applies in many circumstances, and not just for money, which is the context of this verse. Think about it; if we go through life dissatisfied or grousing, how could we expect God to give us even more responsibility? First, we must make good with what He's already placed in our paths. Then, once we've demonstrated our faithfulness in that little, He will be faithful to give us something bigger to do.
            In other words, if we find ourselves in the position of encouraging someone—even someone we may not like—and do it without reservation, He may give us the opportunity to show just how clean the church bathrooms can be.
            We may never expect more responsibility than we've already muffed.

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