~ "Right or wrong..."

Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (Luke 12:13-15)

The pastor of my church records his sermons and they are available to the congregants. Since I am a new member there, I got a few. There were some messages he'd preached before I started attending there. When I tell you I have yet to hear a sermon that didn't make me sit up and take notice, I'm not exaggerating! Before going to work yesterday I sat and listened to another one!

His sermon was titled "Right Living". The message he brought held a few key notes - the most profound of them is to "live for the Lord with as little regret as possible".

It's not about who gets what, who has more or even who does more. It's about doing it for the right reasons! Psalm 51:10 reads "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." When we approach the throne with requests, the first request we should have is that it is "right". We can make wrong requests for the wrong reasons, or we can make right requests for the right reasons! Confusing? Not really.

The reason I go to the Lord in prayer is because I can't do it on my own. I try to go to him with thanksgiving and gratitude, but I am not always successful. And many times, as I've stated in my book, it's a very simple "God, please help me".

A lot of our "needs" are really "wants". God always meets my needs. Sometimes he meets my wants. Sometimes it takes someone else to show me that I am more blessed than I can see at times when my heart is heavy. Sometimes it takes a lonely and broken heart for me to see how surrounded by love I am.

I do what I do because it pleases God and because of what he has done for me! He has opened the gate of heaven for me to enter into when my time on this earth is finished. He has poured out his mercy and grace on me, his servant and a sinner. I make the best effort I can to be a lighthouse and bring His message to the people who I interact with. I screw a smile on my face when the pain is so unbearable that all I want to do is cry. I try not to let my fears show through in the midst of impending doom. I'm not always successful but I'm trying because Christ is never more glorified in me then when I am glorified in Him!

(taken in part from "Right Living" - sermon given by Pastor Charles Brooks (3/10)