Stop It! Then Start.
Stop It! Then Start…
There is a scripture in 1 John that just might rock you a little. It certainly has me. It is so easy to be distracted by this world we live in and get so caught up in the little details that simply do not matter, that we lose sight of what our life is meant to be all about. We forget what really matters.
We need to stop focusing on the here and now and start having an eternal perspective.
Time is short. It flies by. Before you know it, your children are grown, gray hairs are popping up and years have passed. What are you doing with your life? What impact are you making that will last for all eternity? Are you focused on the here and right now? Or are you considering what God has asked you to do? Is your life pointing others to you or is your life pointing others to a relationship with Jesus?
We need to stop living for me and start living for Jesus.
The best way to change our perspective is to get into God’s word for ourselves. It is alive and just as relevant today as the day it was written. It provides us with the opportunity to get to know who God is and to learn how to have a personal relationship with Jesus. It takes us beyond the “Hi. Nice to meet you” phase and into the “I long to know you more” stage.
We need to stop going through the motions and start experiencing an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.
In I John, we read that in order to have fellowship with God we must understand His true nature. We must study God’s word and know the truth so that we are not deceived. John shares about eternal life, knowing God and abiding in faith. In Chapter 2, we read about the test of knowing God – walking in obedience to His word. He warns us to not love the world or the things in the world. He tells us to let truth abide in you. What is truth? As believers we know that God’s word is truth. Jesus is truth. Feelings, opinions, assumptions – those are not truth. Be careful what you allow yourself to believe is true.
We need to stop listening to our feelings, opinions and making assumptions and start seeking God’s truth.
Here is the verse that just might rock you. Are you ready for it? It is hard truth…
And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. (I John 2:28)
Jesus is coming soon. We don’t know when – maybe today, maybe in two years, maybe in ten. The date doesn’t matter. We will stand before Him and give an account of our life. My study bible explains the above scripture this way, “If we abide in Christ, we will avoid embarrassment when He returns. The shame is the result of not having had a lifestyle of obedience when Christ returns.” Wow. What is our lifestyle? How do we live? What do we do that would cause us shame to talk to Jesus about it? We can be set free from that shame, by repenting and choosing to put Jesus first in our life. Now is a great time to do that.
We need to stop living like the world and start living in obedience to the Word.
Let’s read that one more time…
We need to stop living like the world and start living in obedience to the Word.
Have you read 1 John lately? It’s a short book – only 5 Chapters. Why not invest some time here? Pray and ask God to reveal to you what you need to change. Don’t live in denial, live in complete surrender to the One who came to set you FREE.
Here are some things you will read in I John…
“Keeping God’s word is the proof that we love God.
When we love our brother, we will live without stumbling.
We are not to love the world or the things in the world.
We cannot love the world and love God also.
God’s love prompted Him to make us His children through the death of His Son.
Loving other believers is a fundamental requirement of the Christian life.
A failure to love other Christians raises serious questions about the genuineness of our faith.
Genuine love always results in action – not merely sentimental words.
God is the source of all love.
Mature love does not produce fear but instead imparts courage.
Long before we loved God. He loved us first.”
We say we love Jesus. We say we have a relationship with Him.
If that is true, we need to stop __________ and start __________.
(You fill in the blanks.)
Hi friend!
Thank you for reading this today. It means the world to me.
I have no words to express how honored I am to get to chat with you. I believe we were created to be in relationship with one another and to encourage each other on our journey to intimacy to Jesus. You see, I lived many many years as a believer who lived for myself, not for my Savior. God got my attention and I am so thankful that I now know Jesus in a way I never knew was possible. And… I know there is still so much more. So, let’s invite our friends to join us. We just never know who might need to know Jesus has more for them. You can help me share just by Liking, commenting on and sharing this post. It makes a difference when you do.
Let’s stop worrying about all the things that don’t matter and instead, focus on what matters most - Jesus! I have created some resources to help you do just that and there are some new things on the way! So if you haven’t signed up for our Blog/Newsletter, be sure to do so here.
We need to keep nudging each other to look up and keep moving forward in our relationship with Jesus. If you are looking for a resource to help you grow more intimate with Him, check out my book, Saved by Grace, Now What? It is available on the MWM Marketplace along with some pretty cute faith based tees.
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I love you and am thankful you are here.
P