Reflections, October 9, 2011

Reflections October 9th, 2011

“Life & Death”

“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39

Scripture Reading For This Week: 2 Corinthians 4:11-13; Philippians 1; Romans 5; 2 Timothy 1; 1 John 3;5...

We may not always see the consequences of our actions right away...but believe that there are consequences to all that we do and say. The things that we do and say are either bringing life or death to us,someone around us, or to a situation.

God has granted us a very special gift: the gift of choice. We have the ability to choose each and every day between life and death. Life and death for us, and for those around us. It is one power that the enemy wants to desperately rob us of. Because, if he knew that the crucifixion of Jesus would mean eternal life for us—no doubt he would have tried something else. He's been kicking himself ever since, and trying to make us choose death each and every day.

It is my sincerest prayer that this week's Reflections will be a source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind and body. I hope that you will choose this day to be conscious of the choices that you make, realizing that it may very well be the difference between life and death.

Sadly, there have been some deaths today already. Deaths that could have been prevented. Deaths physically, spiritually, emotionally. There's been some deaths to some dreams and visions, as well.

Each day that God grants us life, we have an opportunity to tell someone about the love of Jesus. We have the opportunity to share with someone about the goodness of God. We have the opportunity to let someone know that there is hope and indeed a light at the end of that seemingly dark tunnel that some call life.

One of my favorite movies is the Shawshank Redemption. I can watch this movie over and over again and see something I did not see before. One of my favorite scenes is when the characters Andy and Red are in the yard, and Andy says to Red, “You either get busy living or get busy dying.”

Get busy living or get busy dying. I don't know about you, but I want to get busy living. I will openly admit that I spent to much time dying. Yes. Dying. Dying because of what someone else had said. Dying because I did not believe. Dying because I was choosing to please man and not God. Dying because I was not loving me.

Let me tell you something real quick before I go any further. You are dying each and every day you do not love yourself. You are choosing death over life when you cannot love you. When you have lost sight of who you are, or do not understand the greatness that is you, just because God created you—you are slowly dying.

Know this: You are wonderful You are beautiful. You are deserving. You are worthy. Why? Because God said so. God does not create junk. And He created you with a purpose. Now, stop dying and start living and seek out the purpose that God has ordained for you. How? By seeking the face and heart of God each and every day! Do not accept the lies of the enemy that say you are not worthy. Do not accept the lies of the enemy that will try and convince you that God does not care about you. You are here, right? You are alive and breathing, right? Then start believing it for yourself!

Okay. That settles that! Now...

Each day we are making choices that will either bring us life or death. Whether it is spiritually or physically. Physically speaking, we can look at the things we do and the things we eat. If you know that you are a diabetic, then why do you insist on eating sugary foods and starches that will only increase your insulin levels? Why would you choose to ignore the instructions that will help to keep you alive and healthy longer?

Why do we insist on playing Russian Roulette with our lives? We eat things we shouldn't eat. We get involved with people we shouldn't be involved with. We take risks and chances that we shouldn't. Then we get mad at God when things go bad, or we are at deaths door for the actions we have done.

Spiritually, we say we want the things of God. We want to please God. Yet, we do not even know God intimately. We do not spend anytime in the Word of God. Our prayer life is lack-luster. We don't fast. We do not witness. Some people wouldn't even know you know who God is judging by the way you live your life. But we want God to bless us! We want God to save us from the calamity that has become our life.

Choices! Each and every day we make choices and it is having a profound impact on the quality of our lives. Someone each day is dying. Not even knowing that things could have been better, had they made a different choice, because those of us who call ourselves believers have not been living a life that produces life. We have been perpetrating a fraud, and slowly bringing death to not only ourselves, but those around us.

For many, the enemy doesn't have to do anything to stop us or hinder us, because we are doing all the work for him! He doesn't have to trick us into giving up our authority or life. We have been handing it over to him by our actions. The favorite place for the enemy to hang out is no longer the bar, the club, or some other worldly hangout. Nope. All he has to do is go to church!

Who persuaded you to be separated from the life and love of God? Who persuaded you, that a little sin was okay? Who persuaded you that sin does not necessarily lead to death? Who persuaded you that you didn't have to pray that much or read your Bible that often? Who persuaded you, that the lives of those around you did not matter? Who has persuaded you, that your testimony is not important? Who has persuaded you that money is more important that souls? Who has persuaded you that being a servant in the house of the Lord is beneath you?

Who has persuaded you that a grand church building is more important that the people in the building? Who has persuaded you that the widows, orphans, and prisoners don't deserve a second chance? Who has persuaded you that living for Christ 100% is not necessary? Who has persuaded you that Jesus is not soon to come? Who has persuaded you to believe that God is winking at your sin, and that His mercy will last forever? Who? Who has persuaded you of these things?

The enemy is having a field day in the house of the Lord! He is sitting back and while so-called believers are doing the work for him. All he has to do is wait and sure enough, we are making choices that will bring about death to people's lives, dreams, visions and hope.

We have forsaken time with the Lord, and being in His presence for what? What is more important than getting to know the heart and mind of Christ? Getting to know who God is, and who we are in Christ? It's not the world. For, we can understand why they do what they do. They have no knowledge or relationship with God. It is the Bride of Christ that has been adulterous, lying, deceiving, and deplorable in behavior. Giving room for the enemy to come in and wreak all kinds of havoc.

We have been struck deaf, dumb and blind. And as a result, have been bringing more death than life to a hurting world. It is time to live again. It is time for death to lose its sting once again, and for life to be given to a dying world. And the only way this is to happen is by the choices that we make.

It's time to repent. It is time to confess our faults. Return to God. And start making choices that are governed by the love of God. Christ came that we may have life more abundantly. The enemy is only here to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). But we have the power. We have the authority. And it is time to start using it again, for the glory of God.

It's time to kick the devil out of our midst. It's time to evict him from our lives, and the lives of those around us. He has spent to much time sitting in the pew next to us, singing in the choir, and preaching form the pulpits! It is time that those who are in Christ to stand up, and step on the enemy's neck and destroy him. And we do this by choosing God today. By choosing His ways over ours. His will, not ours.

I pray that you are filled with hope and joy today, and a determined mind to choose life over death. May the spirit of peace and of prosperity find rest in your lives: spiritually, physically, emotionally, mentally, socially, and financially. Let the only death that occurs be the death of enemy. Rise up in God, and live. Choose today to serve God with all of you, and watch what the Father makes happen for you and yours! You are more than blessed! Now go...and be a Blessing!

©2011. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.