One of my thankful blessings for today is the wisdom that comes from moments with Andy Andrews. Every single book I've read of his doesn't exactly give away the "Aha" moments you find inside the cover but it is a discovery that each of us makes on our own.
Last night while sitting in church, I happened to wind up third row from the front and gained an interesting perspective. In fact witnessing and experiencing it myself enabled me to understand the answer of a man I questioned about why he was moving further and further up in rows closer to the front in church. He answered simply with a smile, "Less distractions up here. When I sit further back I am easily distracted by people talking, late comers walking in, and even what some people are doing instead of simply paying attention. When I sit up here, I don't see them. I can experience a closer connection to God during my time here."
Simplicity that I understood last night when I too, found less distractions having the people we normally talk to before service sitting behind me instead of in front of me. I had to admit the closer you get to the front, takes you back to school, where no one wanted to sit in front. You can't hide anything by sitting in the front. Maybe that's the point as well. I don't want to hide in church, I want to separate myself a bit and simply draw into the presence of God alone. That is just what I got last night along with a lesson in fruit inspection and along with Andy's message today, I think they make for the perfect blog message today from God.
The Bible states that we are known by our fruits. In fact, I even came across a book titled "Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart," which as a believer definitely garnered my immediate attention. I mean why often times do we continually question whether our salvation is genuine. Is it the enemy simply placing seeds of doubts in our heart or do we really wonder if we are saved. I mean, I want to know for sure, because if I should die I want to be immediately in God's presence being ushered into Heaven.
In last nights message, it became as clear as day! It is by our lives that we will know if we are truly saved. It's the fruit that we bear as believers. I'm sure you can remember back to your life before you came to know God. Has your life changed from what it was before? Are you still convicted by the Holy Spirit when you are about to do something wrong or you have sinned? Then those are the proof you need to begin taking a hard look at and realize that no matter how many times you question whether or not your saved, you are!! You don't have to ask God into your heart again and again as if you have doubts. Believe and have faith! If your life clearly speaks a profound change in your life since God took residence there, you are Saved! Now you just need to address your belief a bit more and accept the power of the Holy Spirit in your life.
1 Thessalonians 1:4-10 ~ "For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath."
I was challenged today by Andy Andrews and asked the question, how do you set standards in your life and are there really standards we can accept and follow or is that simply a myth and left to everyone's perception? I'd love to know your thoughts on standards for parenting, finances, marriage, etc if you care to share them, and I encourage you to stop by tomorrow and learn more about what people had to say and what I believe we can learn from it all.
"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." ~ Proverbs 16:3
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