1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 NLT
Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.
If you are a Christian, we are commanded to “make it your goal to live a quiet life.”
There is a lot of noise in this world, especially nowadays. We have information flowing at rates we have never seen before, and that rate of data is increasing daily.
How do you keep up?
And not only that, we live in a society where everyone is screaming to be heard. We find ourselves in a place in history where no one seems to be willing to listen to the other person.
If someone does something wrong to someone else, we seem to be called to make a public acknowledgment of condemnation of that act. And nothing short of that will be accepted.
Strange.
We are continually being bombarded with things that are being called right that are wrong, and this message is getting bolder and louder every day.
Isaiah 5:20 NLT
What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter.
And what does this have to do with being a Christian?
We need to start here:
Romans 12:2 NLT
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
As we move forward in our faith, we should be separating ourselves from the customs of this world.
Our minds should be changing, and our focus should be shifting from our desires to the needs of those around us. And we should be ministering to the needs of those around us, our family, our coworkers, our neighbors, and our church.
Living like this should be done humbly and with little fanfare.
Matthew 6:2-4 NLT
When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
Our reward is what we receive when we move from this life to the next.
But we live in a world where we are told we can live our best life now. Unfortunately, this thinking will be leading a lot of people to hell. This was not the promise we got from Jesus.
2 Timothy 3:12 NLT
Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
I would suggest if there is no level of persecution in your life in one way or another, you may want to bring this before the Lord.
If we are properly living a life submitted to God, our lives will bend the noses of those around us, and some will line up in opposition to the way we live and the message we carry.
For us, we live our lives humbly, doing what is right for the glory of God, not in an “in your face manner.”
To what end?
Revelation 21:4-7 NLT
He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.
Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your promise. I love You.
I pray for mercy for this world. I pray that You provide us with what we need to make it through these times.
But above all else, I pray that Your Will be done.
I thank You for the people You put in my path and I pray that with every breath and every word that comes from my mouth, glorify You.
In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen!! 🙏❤️
