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Wait A Second, You Mean To Tell Me That Actually Matters?!?

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When it comes time to really show how much that we care about one another, the actions that seem to make the biggest impact in the long-run are the small things we do.

Oddly enough, there is a very large connection between why we do not perform the small things and how busy we get about taking care of the business side of life. I am sure that at some point in time we have all been in the same train of thought. Have you ever thought or said that “I work hard all week long and don’t have the time or energy” or the classic “you know I care about you”. This almost sounds like something all too familiar, right? You see, no matter where it hits home for you (marriage, friendship, church fellowship, family relationships, work colleagues) there is a great lack in the actual demonstration of Godly love and compassion. Another big reason there is a great lack in the efforts made for others is that this would actually pull people out a state of single-self-consideration (i.e. selfishness). Having an “what’s in it for me” attitude ALL the time tends to lead towards a general disregard for the needs God wants to use us to help in.

I cannot stress this enough, especially as someone who is a devoted advocate for the small things: if you take the time for the small things in obedience, people will receive the witness of the love of God in you. Churches often times try to demonstrate the love of God in a church by how many show up and how great different parts of their services can be, but in doing this are in turn being single-self-minded as a group to only think about the church itself. Please always remember that Christ dwells in you, and your temple is the REAL church that people attend every day. It is by how you carry and conduct yourself through good and bad that people are drawn by the power of God; for they are drawn by how you let the strength of the spirit of God keep you!

So in conclusion, do the small things. Hug someone and tell them that you love them at church. When someone steps out in church or is making a stronger commitment, give them encouragement and a role model. Be at peace with your enemies as God will work the peace in them for you! Be benevolent and give as God leads you. Write your companion a love letter. Lead people to a merry spirit by your joy and laughter! Be that person who stands up first to worship. Surprise people and start participating in outreach ministry. Give that testimony and break the ice! When someone is in need as God shows you, be bold and tell them that you will go with them. Say something nice to your boss even though you feel like you deserve it. The list goes on and on. Learn to prefer others before yourself, and realize the answer to the title of this message!

“Wait a second! You mean to tell me that doing the small things matter?” Yep, it sure does.

 

Through The Fire

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Everyone seems to be going through some sort of trial in their life. Whether it be from sickness, finances, marriage struggles, or addictions, people are all facing serious issues or know someone who is going through it.

Today, I’d like to offer a message of hope and encouragement to everyone who is finding themselves in this place.  Even those who seem to have everything going for them, it could be tomorrow that even you face something of this magnitude.  We are never ‘ready’ per say to face these things, but I want to give you some of God’s Word so that maybe in your moments of despair, you can draw strength from God’s promises and know that He can take you through the fire.

As God’s Children, we know that if we just depend on him to help us through our troubles, that He will be a very present help, and will, indeed, see us through the fire.  I am reminded of three Hebrew boys that were thrown into a fiery furnace.  They literally went into the fire.  They believed that God would take care of them and that the outcome would be victory because they had God on their side.  Sure enough, they found themselves in the middle of a hot fiery furnace, and who do you think was there with them?  Only the three of them had been thrown in, but yet, there was a fourth man walking with them in the fire.  Praise the Lord!  Jesus was there walking with them right in the middle of their trial!  And when the King called for them to come out of the fire, they walked right out without any evidence of being burned.  Their hairs were not singed.  Their garments were unchanged.  They didn’t even smell of smoke.  So, God literally took them through the fire!

Isaiah 43:1-3 says, “But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

So God’s promises tell us that not only will He take us through the fire, but no matter what circumstances are in front of us, that He will bring us through them victoriously.  His power is so mighty that he can even bring us through our troubles without any evidence that we even went through them!  We do not have to be tainted by the things we’ve been through.  God’s love, grace, and mercy is more than enough to wash us white as snow and make us new once again!

His word says that His children have an expected end.  Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Praise God!  If we can just keep the faith and trust in God, He will see us to a time of victory in our lives! Psalm 9:10 says, “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.”

I know it is easier said than done, but don’t be afraid to face your trials if you’ve got God on your side. He is faithful and true.

David said in Psalm 23: 4, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Deuteronomy 31:6 says for us to “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, He that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”

And remember, that we as believers always have people watching us as we go through our trials.  People who are lost and desperate; they are looking to us to see how we handle our troubles.  Do we put our faith in God?  Do we really let Him work in our lives?  In our circumstances?  Does God really give His people victory?  Does our lives show victory and God’s Glory or do we show defeat?

It is important for others to see us believing that God will take us through the fire.  They may not be able to physically see God’s presence in our lives like the King saw Jesus walking with the three Hebrew boys in the furnace, but they will see the effects of God’s presence!  They will see victory.  They will see us brought through the fire without being burnt!  Do you know that the King believed that day on the true living God after seeing Jesus in the fire with the Hebrew boys? In today’s society, people are so desperate to find something that will help them cope with their daily struggles.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could just live our lives in a way that people could see the victory even in the fire!?

We know that we all have our own problems and God didn’t say that we wouldn’t have them.  But I encourage you to just remember, that He said He would bear our burdens and give us the help and victory that we need!  He is an ever present help in a time of trouble.  Don’t try to go through the fire without Him!