Directions In His Word- 8-18-14
Planning a trip to the beach where I live can be complicating;
there are so many to choose from that you have to find directions to the
particular one you want and check the tides to be sure it will be the type of
‘beach experience’ you are looking for.
Back home in Washington State we just went to the Sound in
the summer and enjoyed the small time waves, a walk on the beach was best
during low tied where we could see the mini shells, crabs and sand dollars with
the occasional beached jelly fish. Here in
Our walk with God is like a trip to the beach some days, it
is a sacrifice of time and energy to achieve a pleasant thing but the good and
perfect will of God is better than a walk on the beach!
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you
to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a
living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the
way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of
this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you
think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and
pleasing and perfect. Romans 12 :1-2
That may sound silly to compare waking with Jesus with a walk
on the beach but you would have to know that it is one of my most favorite
things to do. I enjoy the calm of the sand in contrast to the rush of the waves
as they crash against the shore. The smell of the salt water mixed with fishy
seaweed and the sound of the gulls soaring above; it is close to heaven to me.
My most enjoyable place to relax and read, write or just contemplate life in
general is on a beach. I have a somewhat
secret dream to stay in a beach house for several weeks writing a novel, taking
long walks, sipping ice tea on a patio and watching the sun set daily. Such
peace would be wonderful, but I live in the real world of people and places and
things.
When I follow the directions to find the beach I am looking
for I will find that peace.
In the Word of God we find directions to follow in life to
bring not only peace to us but to those around us.
We are called to share the wisdom of God with others, not
just to keep it to ourselves. It may seem a silly thing to do to be on a beach
staring out at the ocean but God can use that scene to build upon and bring
others to Him. The story written on the beach could become a lead in to reading
the Word of God if the gift that God has given one is used properly to exalt
Him.
My job as a writer is not to lift myself up, but to lift up
Christ; my job as a mom is to lift my family up to Christ that they too my lift
Him up. It may seem foolish to some to put my family, and friends before my
wishes but God has a plan in it all. Instead of running off to a beach house I
cook and clean, and do laundry tossing in a few words here and there in an
article or book while taking care to do the will of God in my life. If by some
chance I can lead someone to Him I will know I am walking in my calling. Sometimes
our calling is to speak at an event, or Bible study, other times it may be to
change dirty diapers in a nursery so someone else may attend; whatever the
calling we are to do it as unto the Lord ad know that we are called by God.
In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing
certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out
with as much faith as God has given you.If your gift is
serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your
gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously.
If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And
if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate
what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love
each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each
other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord
enthusiastically. Rejoice
in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s
people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice
hospitality. Romans 12: 6-12
But to those called by
God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and
the wisdom of God. This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human
plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength. Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were
wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in
order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are
powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all,
and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important… God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God
made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure
and holy, and he freed us from sin. 1 Corinthians
24-30
To find the beach I want I have to
look for it, follow directions and walk in the sand.
When I do so I will receive the
peace, joy and hope I seek when I follow the directions and be prepared for the
day ahead.
When we walk with Christ He is faithful to bring us through
the joyful and sorrowful things; just like the little beach glass, shells and
sandcastles God will surprise us with great things as we walk through His Word
and as we walk through our days with Him.
I challenge us to take time this week to fellowship with
people, and more importantly take time to fellowship with Him while I walk on
the beach.
When we take time with Him, He will direct our paths and
life will seem like a walk on the beach no matter how many stones or seaweed
piles we have to walk through.
Dear Heavenly Father, help us to relax in You this week as
we wind down from a busy summer. Direct us and guide us in the path You have
set before us no matter how foolish it may seem, in Jesus name, amen.
Suggested reading: Romans 12:1-21, 1 Corinthians 1:1-31,
Psalm 1:1-5, 1 Corinthians 2:1-16.