Compromising

I know, my God, that you examine our hearts and rejoice when you find integrity there. 1 Chronicles 29:17 (NLT)

I’ve mentioned recently that I have a big decision to make and I’ve been praying through it. God has been talking. I don’t have a definitive answer yet but I wanted to share something that really stood out to me.

As I look at what I think God is calling me to do, it seems impossible. Like, really humanly impossible. My initial reaction is to look at the all the reasons it won’t work. And then I remember that No Thing with God is impossible.

Then, my brain starts trying to figure out ways that I can make it work. Have you ever come up with ideas that you know are somewhat unethical? I did. My brain started thinking of ways I could do what seemed impossible by walking the very fine line between being unethical and not technically being unethical.

And then God said “What are you doing?”

You see, what I am trying to do is make this work in my head. I am trying to figure out how to be comfortable with what God is asking. I am trying to figure out something that is not mine to figure out. I am trying to not be scared.

If God is calling me to this thing, then God will work it out. That is his job. Not mine. When I begin to compromise the way God is calling me to live so that I can be in control, then I have made the wrong choice. That choice is to trust me and not God.

My job is to obey the call and trust that God will work it out even if it seems impossible to my limited human vision. God’s job is to do all the rest. And let’s face it. When I obey and God works it out, who will get the glory? Certainly not me! I am struggling to get past thinking it’s impossible. God will get the glory. And that is exactly as it should be.

The real question becomes “Do I trust him enough?”

A Minute In It - What Does Your Character Look Like?

A minute in God’s Word will change your life. Take a moment to read the text below and then answer the questions at the bottom of the post.

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me. Philippians 2:1-18 (ESV)

As you read through this text, what character traits does Paul say followers of Christ should have?
What character traits should define our churches?