| The Answer By Shawn Ray |
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| The Answer I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Ephesians 4:1 NIV As we move into the New Year, we all have something we are looking forward to or possibly turning away from. We search far and wide for the Answer to the questions we have related to our lives and careers. Sometimes, the Answer is right in front of our eyes but we miss it because we are looking in the wrong direction. Other times, we miss the Answer because we were walking in the dark and relying on our own abilities to distinguish right from wrong. Every New Year, it seems we all have the desire to be better than we were, more productive than we are and progress beyond what we have already achieved, fitting Jesus Christ into our lives when and where it is covenant for us. Hopefully, one day we’ll wake up and realize that Jesus Christ IS our Life! "I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." Revelation 1:8 When we look inward and search our hearts we quickly realize the space left unfulfilled containing Questions and not the Answer, is actually the space that is reserved for Jesus Christ awaiting an invitation from us to come into our lives. The measure of a life, after all, is not its duration but its donation. God's word never comes back void and it is certain that with God nothing will be impossible. Luke 1:37 The empowerment of knowing that we are walking with Jesus Christ will bring a peace and joy into our lives that is incomparable. "We rejoice in our sufferings because we know that sufferings produce perseverance, character; and character hope." Romans 5:2-4 When we did things our way we had a certain measure of success to be sure however, many of us called that "Luck." In some cases we claimed victory in our "Hard work!" On the surface these self serving observations made us feel better about our achievements when in actuality, this self serving point of view shows out own ignorance for the price the Jesus paid for us on the Cross at Calvary that we may have life through Him. "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men." Timothy 2:5 Sure, it is easy for us to forget that without studying the word of God, we rise and fall on our own abilities but it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one." Romans 3:10 When we walk in the dark and rely on our own abilities, we are certain to wind up searching for answers to questions we come across in our daily existence. These questions will have "some people abandoning their faith and following deceiving spirits and things taught by demons." Timothy 4:1 In Christ we are saved through His grace. We are protected by His word and His promise: "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5 A constant reminder that my way is not always the best way, which is why Prayer guides my every step. Having put my trust in Jesus Christ, knowing that He will guide my every step and light my path with His grace, keeps my life in order. A reminder to me as questions creep in my mind when Satan is at work, "The only thing that matters is faith expressing itself through love." Galatians 5:6 In this way, I know I am following the Lords instructions, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." Mark 12:30 Self reliance will get you only so far and even then I was blind to what sustained my life. Moving ahead into a New Year means reminding myself of where I was and where I want to be. Continually in His Grace is where I want to be. "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near." Matthew 3:1 This was written for us, so that we may have instructions on what God would have us be like and how we should live our lives. Waiting to accept Jesus Christ is something we can ill afford to do when we have read His living word of instruction for our lives through the Holy Bible. He instructs us to be prepared, while others "Exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator." Romans 1:25 Pray, "but when you Pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:6 For what we do in public is not always a true reflection of who we are in private. We should "set examples for believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." Timothy 4:12 When we study Gods word for us we learn we cannot walk to the beat of our own drum for we do not belong to ourselves. "Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come." Matthew 24:42 "So be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." Matthew 24:44 In our finest hour, we would love to think we have things under control and are capable of dealing with the struggles of life. Sadly, we are not capable on our own, as the Lord sustains us through His grace. "And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Acts 2:21 The Answer becomes clear when studying the written word of God. "I who speak to you am He." John 4:26 said Jesus, to the woman at the well. He revealed himself to us and laid His foundation of Scripture for us to study to find His Answer for who we are to be in this life. He who has ear, let him hear: "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done." Rev 22:12 The Answer is not hard to find when questions arise that we need resolution to. Search the Scripture, then your heart. God will reveal all things in His time. He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Rev. 22:20 "The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen" Rev. 22:21 Reprinted with permission from Shawn Ray |
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| For more from Shawn Ray visit www.shawnray.com | |
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