1 TIMOTHY 3:16-17

"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us...God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work."

Sunday, February 19, 2012

DEUTERONOMY - The Checklist

I've been with out-of-town guests this weekend.

My cousins!

It's been great fun. We've talked, we've eaten, we've laughed, we've hugged...

But I've been super-busy.

So, will you allow me to do another re-post? (I didn't hear anything, so I'm going with YES!!)

This was originally posted on July 26, 2010:



It’s a competitive world, isn’t it?!


It seems like everyone is caught up in the "rat race" – always trying to get ahead, make more money, be more popular, look younger, beat the other guy – WIN, WIN, WIN!

There's a lot of pressure to succeed.

I once saw a license plate frame on a fancy sports car – "He who dies with the most toys, wins!"

Can you imagine a more futile life purpose?

Unfortunately, that's how most of the world operates. Thinking they're in control, people only look to fulfill their selfish desires. It's all about "me" – and being better than "you."

As Christians, we're supposed to be different…right?!

But are you like me?

Sometimes I get caught up in my own form of spiritual "rat race." I put a lot of pressure on myself to DO more for God – and then I chastise myself when I fall short and fail.

Am I dotting all those saintly *i's* and crossing all those godly *t's*?

Sometimes I run through a "checklist" – Bible Study, check…prayer, check…go to church, check…tithe, check…oops, could do a little more serving – oh man, I'm such a failure as a Christian.

Just the other day, I was feeling a little frustrated. Couldn't escape the feeling that I wasn't doing everything God wanted me to do. As a matter of fact, what DID He want me to do? So, I turned to His Word – "Lord, speak to me…"

And He did!

Today's "Bible Pick 'Ems" comes from Deuteronomy. And these verses told me exactly what God wants from me:

"…what does the LORD your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the LORD your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul…Look, the highest heavens and the earth and everything in it all belong to the LORD…And he chose you…You must fear the LORD your God and worship him and cling to him…He alone is your God, the only one who is worthy of your praise…Show love to the LORD your God by walking in his ways and holding tightly to him."
(Deuteronomy 10:12, 14-15, 20a, 21a / 11:22b)

The checklist just became really easy…

Fear the Lord.
Live in a way that pleases Him.
Love Him and serve Him with all your heart and soul.
Worship Him.
Praise Him.
Cling to Him.
Walk in His ways.
Hold tightly to Him.

Lord, I can do that!!!Check!


Are you *measuring* yourself by the right yardstick?


Linked today with Peggy at SOAKING ON SONDAY


"When in doubt, search God out!"

3 comments:

  1. Blessings Sharon,

    Glad you are enjoying time with CUZINS!!! But you really do need to REST not be more BUSY!!! (but I've already belabofred you with this point)... so on to the repost of a great CHECKLIST and verse (and I don't have time to go back to the original this time).

    I guess I dropped out of the competitive world... long ago!
    (at least I think I have).

    This part resonates with me the most:
    "I put a lot of pressure on myself to DO more for God – and then I chastise myself when I fall short and fail."

    I feel frustrated also... "Couldn't escape the feeling that I wasn't doing everything God wanted me to do." And then you really reveal a profound pick'ems that answers this and you pick it apart very well... but you are missing the "rat race" part (even though this originally was written last year)

    I don't think I measure myself by the right yardstick. However you have outlined some very great ones that HE requires... and confirmed that you can do them. And these do PLEASE Him... I think that He has called you to something specific and you are on a detour right now, or avoiding it.
    Yes, many times, life and our own wants/will gets in the way of accomplishing His (we put it on a back burner).

    I removed and cut out more specifics... but copied and saved it so this is a re-write (let me know if you want the part I removed)...

    Love you and miss you, sending hugs, blessings and prayers,
    Peggy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. typo...belabored (who knows how I got the f in there?) But I won't proof read anymore and remove again...

      Delete

"So I have been greatly encouraged in the midst of my troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives me new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How I thank God for you!"
(1 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

Thanks for your comments - it is such a joy to be sharing my journey with friends like YOU!