Putting God in His Place - Part 1

Reading the newspaper can be very depressing. We read about war, violence, crime and corruption on a daily basis. At the same time we see “inspirational” books and articles come out by the hundreds about; finding meaning in life, how to be happy and how to be successful. As a Christian, I find this almost as discouraging as the news.

The reason I say this is: people are running to these books and ideas and gurus because they are searching. They’re hungry and even a little desperate. But, they are searching in all the wrong places.

What is the Christian church not doing – or doing wrong – that they are not turning to us for answers?

Positive thinking helps… but it’s not the answer. Organizing our homes and our lives aren’t bad things…but they’re not the answer. Getting good grades, having a successful career are nice…but they’re not the answer.

As Christians we need to say “enough” and then reach out and help.

Everyone has a built in hunger for God. He created us that way – with a little hole inside that can only be filled by Him. We don’t always recognize that, but it’s there. We think it’s something else and go after money, fame, security, material items, power, - but nothing fills the void.

One by one everything else fails us. As Christians, as a church, it’s time to start paying close attention to God. It’s time to start being transformed into the image of His son. It’s time to grow our spirituality and share the answer with the people who are searching.

“Spirituality is an inward relationship with God that fills every part of living with Christ.” It’s a molding process to make us into the people God wants us to be and we want to be.

If we want the world to change – we have to start first with ourselves and then our church. Spirituality enables us to see God at work in everything. Then when we don’t totally understand the why we still believe that God never wastes a relationship or situation in developing our interior life. That’s why we can “always give thanks for everything in the name of Christ Jesus.”

SO – if we decide God’s time IS now – we need to open our hearts; read and digest the scripture. Include Christ in every detail of our lives; examine all we do in the light of what we know He wants from us. Give Him all our excuses and commit to obedience.

If the goal of a Christian is to know and love God and then live with Him forever. Living toward that goal is what makes an abundant and quality life.

When we seek God’s will we need to remember that the “where” and “what” are less important then the “who”. God wants to have a relationship with us. He wants us to believe that His Son is who He says He is. And to tell others that every time we get a chance with both our words and our actions.

It's not about me!

Is that what God keeps trying to tell me? Have I gotten that far on the road? The path of my Christian journey?

When I struggle with why things happen and why they aren’t the way I wish or dream they would be…maybe the only answer, what I’m suppose to be learning, is; it’s not about me!

Marital problems. Why can’t we solve them? We know God wants people to stay married, to have good and loving relationships – and still it isn’t perfect and easy. We come up against the same old things. Is God trying to remind us that He is bigger than our relationship? That we need to lose ourselves in His will? Put HIM first? THEN our spouse, and THEN ourselves? To be giving, loyal, generous, loving and not worry about getting?

In the world today it is so hard to be that way. Every book has a hero, every magazine an article about taking care of ourselves, every trophy or metal something to go after, every commercial tells us “we deserve it”!

But, God showed us in Christ that we are to be servants. What a relief it would be if we could get that right! No more competition with others. No more feeling like we’ve been let down or didn’t get what we deserved. No more anxiety about how, or whether, things will work out in our favor. Just a quiet sense of living life the way God intended. Looking out for others and loving Him more than we love ourselves.

One of the most important choices you make in life is your attitude!