What Are You Doing? 8-23–26

Welcome to the word for the week. Growth does not just happen. It is intentional. The flowers you plant in your yard take effort and time to grow. If you plant vegetables in your yard it takes effort and time. If you want to expand your vocabulary it takes effort and time. If you want to increase your knowledge of the word of God it takes effort and time. If you want your spiritual life to blossom it takes effort and time. When you and I do these things it takes effort and time. Now let’s look at how it is with God. God simply speaks and it is so. Those flowers in the wild were spoken. The birds in the air and the fish in the sea were spoken. The separation of land and air was spoken. But, when it came time to create you and I, God handcrafted us. There is a point this week. Anything you do takes a lot of effort and time. Anything God does is just a matter of waiting on Him to declare it as so.

That brings about the next point. You and I are the mouthpieces and vessels for God to use in this earth. Some things He uses us to speak. Some things He uses us to accomplish. We are not here for the sake of being here. We are here for His purpose in the earth. Of course there is a question and here we go. Do you not only know what that purpose is, but do you know how God wants to use you to accomplish that purpose? The next question is do you know your part in all of this? It is easy to say God wants to use you. It is easy to say Lord if you need anyone here am I. But there is a strong point that needs to be considered. Would you really do whatever God is telling you? Everything He commands for you to do is not going to be easy. You want to be that vessel but are you obedient? You want to be used but are you faithful to Him? You want to reach others but do you even study to know how to properly give out His word?

The point this week is readiness. Readiness takes time and effort on your part. Then it also takes total faith in God. They work together. You do not have one without the other. As the bible says, show me your faith by what you say and I’ll show you my faith by my works. The point in that verse is anybody can say anything but not everyone can actually do something. There is a balance in all of this. You and I may water and plant but it is God who gives the increase. We want to see loved ones saved but are we willing to live the life of Christ before them? Jesus said if any of us are ashamed of Him before men then He will be ashamed of us before God. Who are you when you get around your loved ones? Do you carry yourself around them with the same boldness as you do when you are in a room full of other believers? Do they respect “your” walk enough to not speak foul words around you? Do they respect the God in you enough to refrain from evil ways while you are around? If they see you and everything is business as usual for them what does that really say about you?

Time is running out. This world is already in the birth pain phase. All you have to do is read your bible and it is crystal clear. There are rumors of wars and countless earthquakes in divers places. The question is what are you doing with the time that is given to you? The bible says if your eye is single then your whole body will be full of light. The question is what are you looking at? Are you looking to God or to this world? Are you hot, cold, or lukewarm? When God looks at you can He say well done as we speak? Are you like Adam in the garden and God has to ask where are you? The time you have right now should be spent growing in Christ. You should be praying, studying, changing your ways, walking in obedience, and keeping yourself spotless from this world. This is not the time to hang out with the same people who do not know God and be comfortable. This is the time to come out from among them and be separate and not touch the unclean thing. Everything on this journey still comes down to one thing and that is choice. What is yours?

May the Lord continue to bless and keep you in His grace,
Bishop Carlos J. Lennon