Living On Purpose

Have you ever thought about if you could have been born in another time and place, when and where would it be? If you put too much thought into it though you will realize that if “you” could be in another time and place you wouldn’t be you. It took all the ancestors from the parental bloodlines of your parents to make you who you are. So, if we were born at different times and places we wouldn’t be the persons we are today.

I recently have been doing a study and then turning it into a preaching series as well based on a book written by the Kendrick brothers called, “Defined; who God says you are.” The first lesson is to focus on how we each are uniquely created and that God knows each one of us from the moment of conception when He gives life to us.

We are created in His image as it is recorded in Genesis 1:27, “He created them in the image of God; He created them male and female.” Many believe that God has been from the beginning, because He created time and made the beginning. Psalm 139 lets us know that God has been there since our own individual beginnings as well. “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You. When I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed and in Your book they all were written…How precious are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! (Ps 139:13-17).

To be fearfully made is to be made with respect and reverence. To be wonderfully made is to be made in a way that it inspires delight and is seen as extremely good. When something is made with skill it is being created with a purpose. This is how the Creator has masterfully sculpted each person. For Him to have “precious” thoughts about us means that He sees us as valuable.

Too often many will discount their beginnings and not realize the value of their life. We were created with intention and purpose; on purpose to become a light bearer of the One in whose image we are created, yet with our own uniqueness in that no two people have ever been, nor will be completely alike.

Take time to thank God for your beginning and seek to live for Him on purpose.

~TRS 10-27-24

The Dangers of Favoritism in Relationships

We all may have a favorite ice cream, or a food to eat. We might have a favorite car to drive or a favorite place to visit. However, it is not good to have a favorite person. You may enjoy someone’s company and have a great love towards someone, but if we choose to treat some better than others we could fall into the entrapment of favoritism. This practice is continuing to give unfair preferential treatment to one person or group at the expense of another. This type of treatment though the one getting it may like it all the others may feel treated unfairly.

Showing favoritism is the opposite of being in unity which the best selling book of all time, The Bible teaches. In Galatians 3:28 it reads, “neither Jew nor Greek, male or female, slave or free, but all are one in Christ Jesus.” One can also read in several instances of those who were called of God but then chose to do the opposite of what they knew to do and showed partiality and reaped the consequences of that. Abraham favored Isaac over Ishmael, Isaac favored Esau over Jacob, and Jacob favored Joseph over his brothers. In each one of these cases the outcomes had devastating impacts on others.

The apostle Peter once said as recorded in the book of Acts, “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality, but in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.” In the book of Romans it is encouraged to “let our love be without hypocrisy. To abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good and be kindly affectionate to one another, in honor giving preference to one another…be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all. If it is possible, as much as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”

“If it be possible as much as it depends on you” is a choice. It could be a very difficult choice that is why it says, “if it be possible.” But, with God’s help He will give us His mercy and grace to at least not show partiality and treat others unfairly. We are to be the “hands and feet” of Christ and if our faith is placed in Him we will be moved by compassion to help those in any need, whether it be physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. The best way to do that is to never show favoritism or partiality.

~TRS 10-6-24

Letting Maturity Shine

I had recently written about joyful tribulations and that seems impossible to ever refer to a time of trouble as a time to experience joy. It’s because most may see joy as just a “feeling” when it isn’t really that, but it is a fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22 states, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” These are all evidence of living in the Spirit, or walking after the ways of God.

For most, as the older we get we are able to look back over our lives and see the good and bad times. Some may have more of one than the other, but no matter how many “bad times” they can learn to be endured. We keep on keeping on and learn through those times we can’t wait to get out of. The half brother of Jesus who came to faith in HIM after His death and ascension became one of the first writers to the early church as most historians will tell to encourage the early “beginning” church to walk the walk and talk the talk if you are going to call yourself a believer in Christ.

In James 1:3 he writes, “you know the testing of your faith produces endurance and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” In our society and culture to hear the word perfect is a standard that none can really live up to and a belief that some mistakenly think they are without spot or blemish. The Word lets us know that there are none who are perfect, but we all fall short of God’s glory. God has a certain standard and we none can reach it. This is the reason for salvation and yes we all need it, but it is a choice. You don’t have to receive it. Yet, it is still a gift that is offered to all.

Once the gift is accepted then we can be made perfect, but not in the way we see the word. The word can actually mean becoming mature. As children grow we hope that they get more mature. I’m sure we all know some that no matter their chronological age they are not so mature. Maturity is something that takes effort to demonstrate.

As we live through the good and bad times and learn how to navigate through life we can only hope that we learn to be more mature than we were the day before. Even Google explains that maturity is being able to take responsibility for your own actions, having the ability to listen, being willing to have accountability, and respecting others. All of these are also evidence of walking in the right Way and along with the fruits of the Spirit we can gauge our maturity and growth in Christ. The closer we are to God and living in His light the brighter our lives will shine.

~TRS 9-14-24

Wisdom Creates Positive Perspectives

Rays of Hope ~ Tim Stockton

Some may say that they see the glass half empty while others will say it is half full. Those who see it almost gone are typically labeled as more pessimistic. They tend to believe that things will always work out negatively for them. However, those who see the glass half full are said to be a little more optimistic and hopeful. They try to see how some good possibly could come out of bad things that have happened.

In the book of Job we can read about a righteous man that had some very traumatic events happen in his life. He became very distraught and full of grief, yet he kept his faith and belief in God. His wife even told him to just “curse God and die,” but he knew that was a foolish statement and he would not give in.

Another person who suffered horrendous and unfortunate events was Joseph. He had a belief from a young boy that God would use him in some great way but I’m sure he never thought that he would have to endure terrible things in order to get to the place where God then did use him in mighty and powerful ways.

His brothers hated him and wanted him gone. They threw him in a pit and eventually sold him into slavery. Then he was a slave for a time until he was falsely accused and then thrown in prison for years. Being human there had to be times as he was sitting in his jail cell wondering why such atrocities had happened to him.

However, even through the bad things he had to endure he realized that God was with him and was blessing him. The day finally came that the impossible happened. A former slave and prisoner who had been hated by his brothers and wanted dead was now second in command over all of Egypt.

When Joseph finally revealed his true identity to his brothers he made a statement that needs to become a perspective we choose to live by. He explained that what they had meant for evil, God was able to use for the good. When things don’t seem to be going well in your life, or in the world just continue to trust in God. Realize in His timing we will be able to look back and see how His hand and His will was able to work through all the negative things that others or Satan himself tried to destroy us with. When we trust in the Lord and place our faith in Him then we will be able to look at life from a Godly perspective that will help us have rays of hope.

This was true a couple of years ago when I originally wrote this and it is still true today. A few more positive quotes, “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude” (Maya Angelou). “Keep your face always towards the sunshine, and shadows will fall behind you” (Walt Whitman). “I never lose. Either I win or learn” (Nelson Mandela). “Remember, no one can make you feel inferior without consent” (Eleanor Roosevelt). “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you figure out why” (Mark Twain). “In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity” (Albert Einstein).

God explained that when Solomon asked for wisdom when he could have asked for anything that no one before and no one after him would be as wise as God made him to be and he said, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.” These will be the ones who are always pessimistic and never learning, nor making opportunities.

7-24-24 ~TRS