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As a person of faith, it sometimes concerns me when we receive man-made mandates or operate in rigid ways in Christ. Instead of telling people about the consequences of disobedience or having a lack of faith, we can better serve by meeting the person where they are in their walk when we try to minister to them. We want to remember that our destination is always the same…freedom. However, we want to avoid placing seekers and believers a paradox by trying to convince them that they “must do this” or “must do that.” That simply creates a different set of shackles and misses freedom altogether. I never want to suggest that we should filter God’s Word or words from Pastors and spiritual leaders. However, if we get stuck on a directive verse in God’s word or from a minister of the Gospel the risk is a loss, or delay, or passing of movement in one’s faith.
Do we want to speak the Truth?...Yes! Do we want to water down the Gospel of Jesus?...of course not! Yet one of our sacred duties is to help build up the body of Christ and Minister to our brothers and sisters. I believe the best way to do this is by ministering to them where they are. As an example, if the hand on your body has a cut, you treat it with what it needs at that time by putting some ointment and a band-aid on it so that it heals. Having surgery on the hand doesn’t seem necessary at the time, even if there is an underlying issue which may require surgery later. First you heal the hand with what it needs in the short-term.
We also want to try to remember that we are given the free gift of God’s grace and that means we have some leeway in our walk. Yet if we seek full rights and inheritances and promises, we will ultimately be asked to lay our whole life down in exchange and this is not easy for most of us.
Don’t operate in shame or guilt or fear as you are seeking God. Don’t let someone or something discourage you in the faith. Instead find YOUR way!
Your way can initially be one of the many paths or rivers (if you like) that God has established which brings us closer to Him, His Word, His Will, and our rightful destination.
There are many ways in which God has given us to be in communion with Him, and in my experience, He leads each of us in a way unique to and for us.
FIND YOUR WAY from God. And of course, we know Who provides the way:
Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me. John 14:6
For some the way may be to seek His Peace, for others His Love, for others to seek His presence, for others to obey His commands, for others to pray and meditate.
The goal is to LET God meet you where you are and He Himself will begin to minister to you and to mold you and complete your faith. Find your stream or river of God’s living waters and let God rise up in you in your stream (or way).
For the Lamb Who is in the midst of the throne will be their Shepherd, and He will guide them to the springs of the waters of life; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Revelation 7:17
If your heart is closed to the sacrifices you will have to make to (your ways) that you will inevitably be asked to make to gain full rights and freedom, be not concerned about it…for now.
For the God of ALL things knows of the plans He has for you and they will not hasten.
In Him we also were made [God’s] heritage (portion) and we obtained an inheritance; for we had been foreordained (chosen and appointed beforehand) in accordance with His purpose, Who works out everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His [own] will, Ephesians 1:11
As you find YOUR WAY in the living waters God has given you, He’ll pour more and more into you and you’ll begin to experience a type of glory you were not familiar with. Then soon will come the day when you’ll want ALL of God and the things which used to be a difficult sacrifice for you will become easier to give up and you’ll begin to get closer and closer to freedom until the day you finally have no need of your ways and lay your whole life and agenda down. In exchange you’ll gain the life and agenda of Christ Jesus who is resurrected in Heaven!
ALL ways of God point to this destination of freedom, so operate in THE WAY He has given you and protect it vigilantly. Do not let any person or thing hinder your way in Christ. Be patient and trusting of your faith and watch what happens. You’ll begin to realize that indeed ALL things are possible through Christ Jesus!
Philippians 3:10-16 provides a good outline for much of how we are to strive for God.
[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]
That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body]. Philippians 3:10-11
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