Do What's Relevant

"If you get rid of unfair practices, quit blaming victims, quit gossiping about other people's sins, if you are generous with the hungry and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out, your lives will begin to glow in the darkness, your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight. I will always show you where to go. I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places-firm muscles, strong bones. You'll be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry. You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew, rebuild the foundations from out of your past. You'll be known as those who can fix anything, restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again.

If you watch your step on the Sabbath and don't use my holy day for personal advantage, if you treat the Sabbath as a day of joy, God's holy day as a celebration, if you honor it by refusing 'business as usual,' making money, running here and there-then you'll be free to enjoy God! Oh, I'll make you ride high and soar above it all. I'll make you feast on the inheritance of your ancestor Jacob. Yes! God says so"---Isaiah 58:9-14 (Message)

"The people in power are the people who are constantly able to discover new and relevant knowledge, which is really tied to the capacity to learn."---Joseph Badaracco





Earlier this week, as I was discussing the coming of Rosh Hashanah (September 29-October 1) with a friend of mine, I said, "I am going to honor it because I can use the New Year coming as soon as possible!" When you really think about it, what could be wrong with that? We should treat every day as a new beginning--- an opportunity to get right what we may have done wrong the day before. After all, the Bible tells us that when we are in Christ, we are made anew:

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."---2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)

I know this is often only used in the context of new believers, but the scriptures do not say if anyone is "new to Christ" they are a new creation; it says if anyone is IN CHRIST and this should be a daily occurrence. After all, if God was not big on daily renewal (2 Corinthians 4:16), then there would no need to remind us that mercies are new every morning. (Lamentations 3:22-23)




As I was thinking about the word "new", right when I was about to write a message on it, the Holy Spirit surprised me with another word that he wanted me to study instead. (2 Timothy 2:15)




Shellie, you need to focus on what's relevant. You wear yourself out when you don't---and lately, you've been worn out a lot.




Relevant. It's amazing how orderly God is. (I Corinthians 14:40) The name of the company that published my first book in 2004 was "Relevant". As a matter of fact, when they were encouraging me to share my story, that was one of their selling points: that it was relevant to the times. How amazing, how special, how God that as I was thinking on being made anew (Colossians 3:10) and what that means, the Holy Spirit was guiding me to what's relevant and understanding what that means, instead. Very interesting, indeed.




You know, if there's one thing that I do not want to go into tomorrow, January 1 or 35 (June 17, 2009) with, it's cyclic/stagnant behavior. For me, that often consists of living in the past. The truth is (John 8:32) only rarely and with God's leading (such as Moses) did people in the Bible go backwards. No, usually when there was progress to be made, they were told to move forward:




"If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.]"---Galatians 5:25 (AMP)




"Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."---Philippians 3:12-14 (NKJV)




"Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation..."---2 Peter 3:14-15 (NKJV)




In these modern times, the above scriptures encourage us to move forward as well and yet, how many of us really take that leap of faith and do it? (Remember that "hope" means to trust that everything will work out for the best---Hebrews 11:1&6) I know for me personally, moving forward (which often meaning moving away from something/someone) is not one of my favorite things to do, but since I want to change that way of thinking (Ephesians 4:23), I decided to do a little research into why.




Forward: directed toward a point in advance; moving ahead; onward; ready, prompt, or eager; of or pertaining to the future; progressive; deviating radically from convention or tradition; extreme; going, tending, or moving toward a position in front.




Front: the area, location, or position directly before or ahead; a position of leadership or superiority; demeanor or bearing, especially in the presence of danger or difficulty; the area of contact between opposing combat forces; a battlefront; the first part; the beginning.




Is it just me, or do the definitions for "front" seem a bit challenging...semi-hostile, even? Maybe some of us don't want to move forward because it could put us in the position of leadership; it could call us to bear the presence of impending danger or difficulty; it may place us in an area between opposing forces, or, what often is the scariest for humankind, it will position us to be at the beginning of something; something that we've never seen before.




Beginning: first; opening; basic or introductory; learning the fundamentals; to come into existence; arise; originate.




Just this morning, I was talking to one of my obsessive-compulsive friends. I find that she often hyperventilates about hypotheticals. Oh, but I get it. I've done it. When you are putting what you can see behind you for what you can't see before you, sometimes you would rather lag in complacency so that you can be comfortable (in your eyes) rather than correct (in God's). At times like these, what we should keep in mind is that NO MAN can find out the work that God does from beginning to end (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Therefore, we should hold to the truth that it's the Lord who directs our steps. (Proverbs 16:9), and so we shouldn't be so arrogant as to think that we can always figure out what he's doing. (Proverbs 20:24) If it's time to move from where we are, we should do it simply because he told us to and we know that he has our best interest---past, present and future, at heart.




So, how do you know when it's time to get to movin'? Well, chances are, you will find that you are no longer at peace with where you are. And, that's OK. After all, there is a time for war and a time for peace (Ecclesiastes 3:8); God makes peace and he makes calamity (Isaiah 45:6-8), but with whatever he does, it's always for a greater purpose. (Ecclesiastes 3:17, Romans 8:28) If you trust him, even in the shifting, you can rest assure that you will be just fine. (Isaiah 26:3)




It was in my studying time, that I discovered another sign of when it's time to readjust; realign...move forward. It's when you find that you are doing things that are irrelevant:




Irrelevant: not relevant or pertinent to the subject; not applicable; having no bearing on or connection with the subject at issue; extraneous, immaterial, impertinent, inapplicable, beside the point, neither here nor there.




Synonyms: foreign, inconsequential, moot, nonessential, unrelated.




Relevant: bearing upon or connected with the matter in hand; pertinent; having significant and demonstrable bearing on facts or issues; properly applying to.




Synonyms: allowable, associated, correlated, fitting, seasonable, significant, timely.




I don't know about you, but I can't remember the last time I prayed, "Lord, help me to put my energies toward what's relevant to you, your purpose, your plan for my life and the influence I am supposed to have on those around me." I'm sure if I did, I would have spared myself a lot of time, tears and heartache. Let's look at one of the synonyms for "relevant" and see how, just that word alone, if properly applied, can totally change our lives:




Fitting: suitable or appropriate; proper or becoming.




Now, let's see how the Bible applies this word:




"[It is then] my counsel and my opinion in this matter that I give [you when I say]: It is profitable and fitting for you [now to complete the enterprise] which more than a year ago you not only began, but were the first to wish to do anything..."---2 Corinthians 8:10 (AMP)




"Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God's favor) to those who hear it."---Ephesians 4:29 (AMP)




"And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks."---Ephesians 5:2-4 (NKJV)




"Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord."---Colossians 3:8 (NKJV)




"But [as for] you, teach what is fitting and becoming to sound (wholesome) doctrine [the character and right living that identify true Christians]. Urge the older men to be temperate, venerable (serious), sensible, self-controlled, and sound in the faith, in the love, and in the steadfastness and patience [of Christ]. Bid the older women similarly to be reverent and devout in their deportment as becomes those engaged in sacred service, not slanderers or slaves to drink. They are to give good counsel and be teachers of what is right and noble, so that they will wisely train the young women to be sane and sober of mind (temperate, disciplined) and to love their husbands and their children..."---Titus 2:1-4 (AMP)




According to these scriptures, it is fitting, it is RELEVANT to your life to complete the (God-ordained) plan you started a year ago.




It is RELEVANT to your life to speak words that meet the right needs and occasions.




It is RELEVANT to your life to avoid fornication, covetousness and uncleanliness.




It is RELEVANT to your life to submit to your husband.




It is RELEVANT to your life to teach sound doctrine.




Because God's Word will not return to him void (Isaiah 55:11), until the end of time, these five things will always be corporately allowable---relevant. That revelation alone should turn on some light bulbs for some of us because if we are spending our lives on things that take us away from the plan(s) God gave us; from speaking a significant and timely word; from being morally pure (and walking in love); from submitting to the priests of our home, and/or from teaching sound, biblically-based doctrine, then we are caught up in doing things that are "beside the point", not applicable and immaterial in relationship to what God has lined up for us.




However, there are times when God will be more specific with our lives. One of my all-time favorite scriptures is the Amplified Version of I Timothy 4:14-16:




"Do not neglect the gift which is in you, [that special inward endowment] which was directly imparted to you [by the Holy Spirit] by prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands upon you [at your ordination]. Practice and cultivate and meditate upon these duties; throw yourself wholly into them [as your ministry], so that your progress may be evident to everybody. Look well to yourself [to your own personality] and to [your] teaching; persevere in these things [hold to them], for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you."

God gave us all different personalities; that's what makes us individuals and so with some things, he will speak to us specifically based on where we are and what we are called to do. (James 1:5) Therefore, when it comes to seeking what's personally relevant for us, we should keep the following scriptures in mind:




"Just because something is technically legal doesn't mean that it's spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I'd be a slave to my whims."---I Corinthians 6:12 (Message)




"'We are allowed to do all things,' but not all things are good for us to do. 'We are allowed to do all things,' but not all things help others grow stronger. Do not look out only for yourselves. Look out for the good of others also."---I Corinthians 10:23 (NCV)




Did you catch the synonyms for "irrelevant" listed earlier?




Foreign: not related to or connected with the thing under consideration; strange or unfamiliar.




Inconsequential: of little or no importance; insignificant; trivial.




Moot: of little or no practical value or meaning; not actual; theoretical; hypothetical.




Nonessential: not essential; not necessary.




Unrelated: not in any relationship.




According to the Bible, there may be some people, places, things that are "lawful", but what we should ask is if they are spiritually appropriate. Will they help us (and those around us) grow stronger? ARE THEY RELEVANT?




I can't tell you how many relationships I've held on to that are not connected to what I am currently taking into consideration for my life.




I can't tell you how many internal arguments/rationales I've kept close that are so trivial when it comes to getting on with my future.




I can't tell you how many scenarios I've created that are hypothetical/not actual while rationalizing why I should/shouldn't try something new/different/atypical.




I can't tell you how many memories/habits/traditions have proven themselves to no longer be necessary for this season.




And, I can't tell you how many feelings, simply because I've been used to feeling them, no longer have any relationship to who God is now calling me to be.




Praise God for his grace and mercy! (Hebrews 4:16) You know, I've spent a lot of time wondering if I am living a sinful life, but never have I considered if it is an irrelevant one. It would appear that it's just as bad. As a matter of fact, it's in doing what's irrelevant that sin usually follows:




"Anyone who knows the right thing to do, but does not do it, it is sinning."---James 4:17 (NCV)




This week, take some time to think about your life and what it is filled with. How much of it is relevant to who you were vs. who you now are? How much of it is holding you back while God is trying to pull (well, gently nudge) you forward? How much of it, if you were really honest with yourself, is inconsequential, unrelated, moot?




I don't know about you, but with every passing day, I am seeing just how little time we really have on this earth (James 4:14) and I don't want to spend one more second of it on things that "have no bearing or connection" on who God wants me to be or where he wants me to go.




There's far too much God has given me---personally, professionally, physically, emotionally, spiritually and relationally (Luke 12:48) to waste it on what's irrelevant.




And, the same goes for you.




©Shellie R. Warren/2008