Right part 1
The message I have for this Rant series it pretty simple: The right thing isn't always the easy thing, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't do it. In fact, what that means is... you SHOULD do it. If it was easy, everybody would do it. And for a memory verse I have Romans 4:5 in the Message Bible, "But if you see that the job is too big for you, that it's something only God can do, and you trust him to do it--you could never do it for yourself no matter how hard and long you worked--well, that trusting-him-to-do-it is what gets you set right with God, by God. Sheer gift." And, listen, let's make something clear: I'm not talking about "Get right or get left." I'm not talking about "shape up or ship out." I'm not talking about a supposed God who would supposedly punish His children forever in eternal, conscious torment. I'm talking about how wonderful it is when all is right in the world. When you're right exactly where you're supposed to be, doing right exactly what you're supposed to be doing. That's how I feel, most of all, when I'm writing. I'm a pretty quiet guy. Most of my words come out of my fingers. That's what's right... for me. And I know we're all different. I'm not saying you should be like me. I'm saying you should be like YOU. The real you. I read somewhere that the two most important days in a person's life are the day they're born, and the day they find out why they were born. And I'm here to tell you... its too big for you. Your EPIC (Eternal Purpose In Christ) destiny is much too big for you to accomplish... on your own. That, of course, is where God comes in. Look at 2 Corinthians 12:7-9, "And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." I like the idea of not getting too big for your britches. But I like the idea of God's strength being made perfect in my weakness even more. When I can't (and most of the time... I can't), God will. A preacher said it like this: When you work God will rest, but when you rest God will work. That's what trusting in God IS; its resting in His arms. Letting Him carry you when you can't walk anymore. Not trying to walk in Jesus' foot steps, but letting Jesus make His own foot steps in your feet. "Trusting Him to do it." That's such an important phrase. Such an important concept. Because that is the RIGHT way to do it. Don't try to do it yourself. You can't. And, even better, you're not supposed to. If you could do it yourself, where would God fit into the equation? Especially when its what He wants you to do. If He wants you to do it, then its perfectly good and right to put it on HIS broad shoulders to do it. He can. He will. He does. And then its all good. Then its right.