Without God I am Nothing

It is remarkable to me how people that once tasted of the Lord; having experienced the ‘new birth’ of the ‘born-again’ experience through Jesus Christ; and finding peace with the God of all creation; how they can act like toddlers that know they are not to touch the knickknacks on the coffee table, but persist in pushing the envelope with Mommy and Daddy to see just how far they can get. 

The little guys know they are going to get in trouble, but something inside them causes a rebellious streak to rise up to test the authority of their parents.  They want their own way; it’s as simple as that.

I believe that people try to hold onto the things of the world with one, hidden hand, while the other hand attempts to grasp the things of God.  Like a child, they straddle the line of demarcation between good and bad.  They want to be a Christian, but a strong force draws them like a magnet to do things that they know are wrong.

Weak Christians have not yet seen the complete picture of the blessings that disobedience is taking from them and others.  They understand the concept of God’s grace that He is faithful and just to forgive sin when He is asked, but they fail to see the value in keeping themselves pure and holy, without blemish before God at all times.

Christians that insist on pushing the envelope of self-will, inevitably become anemic; weak in faith.  They find themselves living far below their privileges as joint heirs with Christ.

I believe that God, because of a person’s stiff-necked living, puts them on restriction from privileges that would otherwise be theirs to enjoy, thus, affecting not only themselves, but everyone around them in negative ways.  When a Christian’s eyes become focused more on worldly things than the work of the Lord, their ministry dries up like dead men’s bones.

Those that are watching the wishy-washy lifestyle of “Born-again Believers” often become disillusioned when they see them for what they are—hypocrites.  The joy of the Lord, which draws people to Christians, hence, to Jesus, loses its fervor.  Smiles are no longer present, because of bad behavior.  We are not an island unto ourselves; people are watching and listening.

(Matthew 5:14-16), “You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.”  vs.15 “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.”  vs.16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

When living too close to the line that separates godliness from sinfulness, sooner or later their responsibilities and positions held in the church are forfeited.  I believe God says, “Enough is enough.”

It takes time to regain lost ground of a personal testimony in Christ after it fades from view.  When a person finally comes to their senses and falls prostrate before God to repent and rededicate their life to Him, a new day dawns.  Nothing is impossible with God.  He can restore what the cankerworm of careless and carefree living has destroyed in one’s life.  Limitation (restriction) is cancelled, because of good behavior and submission to authority.

(Luke 16:10-13), “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much, and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.”  vs.11 “Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?”  vs.12 “And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?”  vs.13 “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and mammon.”

It is my purpose in life to strive for the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus.  I endeavor to walk each day according to the statues of God and His holy ordinance.  Though I fail from time to time, God reminds me, in love, that His strength is my strength.  He teaches me through each trial to lean more upon Him in all things.  I have learned that His hand is not shortened when it comes to helping me succeed in Him.  Without God I am nothing other than sounding brass and clanging cymbals.

(Isaiah 59:1), “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy that it cannot hear.”

I believe that I have a grave responsibility to those that read my writings.  I want the words they read to be blessed of God; with His approval and anointing on everything that is written.  How can I live straddling the line and expect God to send readers my way if my writings are not of Him?

How can anyone expect God to bless their talents and ministries, in church or elsewhere, when they are holding onto things that are Satan based.  The person next door or down the street deserve more than a façade or pretense of a Christ filled life.  They need Jesus! 

Family members and friends are watching; including those at church.  We are not an island unto our self.  We affect those around us, whereas, in my case, those that read my writings.  My vertical relationship with God must be in right standing, such, that the horizontal efforts of ministry can be blessed of the Lord and go forth in power and the might of God’s Spirit.

Written by,
Papa Boyd