“The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.”
Proverbs 29:25 (ESV) Anyone who has ever tried to do anything great has, at some point, come face-to-face with naysayers.
If these people had let the naysayers discourage them, imagine where the world would be today! While some naysayers have evil plans, not all naysayers are bad people. Some may truly want what’s best for you. They may even love you. But they’re not God. So don’t treat their opinions like you would God’s opinions. The Bible says, “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.” (Proverbs 29:25 ESV). Some of you have been disabled by the opinions of others and you don’t even realize it. Others have become addicted to the approval of others. But consider another translation of Proverbs 29:25: “It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you, but if you trust the Lord, you are safe” (GNT). Other people’s opinions can sidetrack you from God’s purpose for your life. When you give more weight to the opinions of others than you do to God’s opinion, you stay on the sidelines when God wants you in the game. You stay locked up in a prison of self-made fear. Don’t let that happen. Let go of your fears and trust God’s vision for your life. He’s your biggest cheerleader. He wants you to succeed, and he’s working in your life so you will.
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“We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV) God created you to live in heaven with him for eternity. Heaven is your home—not Earth. That’s why you sometimes experience discontentment and dissatisfaction in life. You’re not completely happy here because you’re not supposed to be! If you were totally happy on Earth, you might think you could live without God. But God created you to long for something much better—a home in heaven with him. A fish would never be happy living on land, because it was made for water. An eagle could never feel satisfied if it wasn’t allowed to fly. You will never feel completely satisfied on Earth, because you were made for more. You will have happy moments here, but it’s nothing compared to what God has planned for you in eternity. This is also why some of God’s promises seem unfulfilled, some prayers seem unanswered, and some circumstances seem unfair. This life is not the end of the story. When you realize life on Earth is just temporary, it radically alters your values. Eternal values, not temporal ones, become the deciding factor for your decisions. The Bible tells us to “fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV). The next time you find yourself longing for more than this life offers you, remember that’s just evidence that you were made for something more! “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
Matthew 25:37-40 (NIV) Just before Jesus died on the cross, he said, “I am thirsty” (John 19:28 NIV). That moment shows his humanity, that Jesus was God living among us as a man. The Bible says that the Roman soldiers soaked a sponge in a jar full of wine vinegar and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. The sour wine was meant to relieve his thirst. Wouldn’t you like to have been there to be able to give water to Jesus for his thirst? In fact, you’d probably have considered it a privilege and blessing to serve him in that moment. But that moment is long past, and you can’t help Jesus in that way. On the other hand, you can help those around you on behalf of Jesus. People everywhere are spiritually thirsty, searching for purpose and significance. They want to know what to do with their lives and if their lives have any meaning. People need to know that Jesus can quench their thirst, that he is what they are looking for when they hop from one thing to another. They need to know that he meets them in their depression, discouragement, and despair. Jesus says, when you serve others, you’re serving him. So, when you want to do something for Jesus, look for people around you who are in need. Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40 NIV). Whenever you give a drink to someone who is thirsty, you are giving it to Jesus. The same is true when you lead those who are spiritually thirsty to Jesus. Love in action is when you meet the needs of other people in their thirst—physical, emotional, or spiritual—out of love for Christ, who endured thirst on the cross for you. The only way you can serve God is by serving people and helping others in his name. Who are the people around you who appear to be spiritually thirsty? Ask God to show you who they are and the best way to lead them to Jesus. |
AuthorTaken from Daily Hope by Rick Warren. Categories
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