Are you Moving Forward- In His Word

Are You Moving Forward?- in His Word 5-23-16
When we come to know Christ we are a new person, in other words; we get rid of things that are keeping us going back to the sins we used to do and we focus on doing what God’s Word tells us to do. In doing this it moves us forward. Sometimes though we do not get started on the right foot and we forget that God has done so much to clean us up from our sins and bring us out of the bondage that we put ourselves into. When this happens we need to get in His Word, feed on His goodness, and move forward in our walk with Him.

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.  Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Romans 12:1-3
We need to be honest with ourselves about who we are in Christ. We are basically “Jesus Reps” we represent the Lord Jesus wherever we go. Whether it is at a local store or a big event some place we need to remember who we are in Christ. Maybe in the past you would sneak into a building and cut in line but now that you are a new man in Christ you must move forward past it. It is not always easy…sometimes we just think it is.





Sometimes when we are in line for an event we just want to skip off and open a side door to get into the building. We want to just walk inside instead of waiting for the people in front of us in line; even though they may have been there much longer and deserve to get in first. We often see others going in the door and think to follow quickly behind them only to find they did the wrong thing. If we went through the door knowing it was wrong we could inadvertently bring someone else down the wrong path following us. I did this recently, I slipped in the door of an event because I saw others doing it and I had to use the restroom. When I came out I noticed others going ahead and heading to their seats but I thought for a moment and chose to go out the door and got back in line at the end of the line. I had been way closer to the front to begin with but I did not mind, I was much more comfortable having returned to outside than I would have been had I cut in line. 


It just feels better to do the right 
thing.


Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
James 4:17
We need to move forward and stop doing the things that we used to do because someone else is watching us. No matter what it is we are doing we are representing Jesus in all that we do just because we decided to accept Him as our savior.
But so and so does it right? So it can’t be that bad…

We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. For even Christ didn’t live to please himself. As the Scriptures say, “The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on me.”   Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Romans 15:1-6
Our life is given over to live for Christ and do His will in all that we do. Its time to stop insulting one another, time to be kind to one another and time to do what is right, just because it is right!
Grow up! That is what we have to do, and just as when a teen who has graduated and gone off to college finds out when they are thrust into taking the responsibility for themselves; doing what Jesus would do is not always the most fun thing. It is not always easy, it is not always what we would want to do; it is always what we should do.
If you or I are stuck doing what we always did then will be stuck the much and mire we started from and never grow up in Christ. We will find ourselves in the rut in the road sinking fast when it rains instead of moving past it to the new pavement smooth and beautiful; but sometimes you have to bump over a lot of ruts to get on to the new road. Sometimes the road has ruts from where others have gotten stuck and we just need to push on forward to the next thing.

When we make a commitment to follow Jesus we are to keep following Him all the days of our lives.  Like an old pastor used to say “I’m not retired I’m re-fired!” we never stop doing what is good and right in the eyes of God and we dig in the word to grow stronger and more efficient in His Word.

Dear Heavenly Father, help us today to grow closer and more like you. Don’t let us stop focusing our lives around Your directions and Your guidance. Let it be an everyday, every time thing in our lives today and every day. In Jesus name, amen.





Suggested reading :Romans 11:1-36, Romans 12:1-21, James 4:1-17 and Romans 15:1-33