Drop it and step up! In His Word-7-26-15

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Hebrews 12:1


Could you imagine trying to run a race carrying a pile of trash, some dirty laundry, your old smelly sneakers, and nothing on your feet? You would both look and perform horrible. 

That is pretty much what we are doing before we realize that Christ has been standing there all our lives waiting to take all that off of us and put on new clothes, sneakers to sprint with, and take away all of the trash we are carrying around that makes us smelly.

Look He even gives us an armor to dress us up in finery that will protect us and keep us strong!
All we need to do is let go of the junk and accept that He wants to take care of us. It’s okay to be needy when the person you need is Christ Jesus!
Sometimes we don’t know when to let things go though and we hang on to our poverty like it were a prize because we think we can get things without doing anything for them.

Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. Proverbs 6:6-8

If we go along in life thinking everything will be given to us , or that we will get a cut rate on something for doing nothing at all for it we will fail to do what God has planned for us.
He does not want us to be lazy, or expecting to get something for nothing; he tells us to work hard.
Even in Jesus’ parables he discusses how the hard workers who at least invested the finances in  ways to increase the money that was given to them in order to benefit others as well as themselves were the ones who got the most in return.
The people in life who gain the most financially are the ones who work for it, the people in live who grow the most spiritually are the ones who put the most into learning the Bible, God’s Word,  and walking in the ways that He shows us to walk in His Word!

Which one will you be?
But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates?
                                                                                                                                                                Joshua 24:15
If you do not do the work He puts before you , whatever that is, you should not expect the blessings He provides. I am not saying you won’t be saved if you do not work, I am saying in this life if you work hard for the Lord’s good then you will find blessings. You will find joy unspeakable; you will find life to the full!  Sure it is not always easy to do what the Lord has chosen for you to do. Preachers, Teachers and Evangelists can all attest to the fact that they get tired some times and have a hard time standing before you to lead the sheep. Sometimes they may even want to quit trying, but God has ordained them to lead the sheep and so they dig in, get on their knees and plead their cause to God who adds to their strength, their hope and their desire the things that He wants them to do.

He will do the same for each of us, when we step out in faith and grab a hold of the rope He has dangling to us to pull us up to the next level, no matter how hard it may look to scale the wall; God will pull us up and plant us where He wants us  to work.
The joy He gives us will make us stronger in our resolve to work the work He has given us to do, just like Paul. Paul suffered in prison, as did Peter but that did not stop them they continued to share the Gospel Message.

We need to seek God find out what He wants us to do and gear up to do it!
Ask Him to remove the things hindering you from doing the work He has called you to do. Then walk in it!  Gear up by studying, learning, and then doing the will of God over the will of your self.

Dear heavenly Father, help us to follow Your directions and  do the work you have given us to do, no matter how hard it is to accept the calling you give You will be there for us and You will guide us through it. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear to know what You plan for us today, In Jesus name, amen.
Suggested reading: Joshua 24:1-28, Hebrews 12:1-29, Hebrews 13:1-25 Proverbs 6:1-36