Don't Leave it up to Chance
Text: 2 Corinthians 5:9
So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. (NRSV)
John Wesley once said something along the lines of, “There are some things that are too important to leave to chance.” I believe that Paul is saying something similar here. When we make something our “aim”, we are certainly not leaving it to chance.
We must be intentional about our devotion to God. Peter writes that “Satan is roaming around like a roaring lion.” (1 Peter 5:8). If we are not intentional, if we do not make pleasing God our “aim”, then certainly Satan will stop roaming around and pounce on us with no mercy. I’ve read way too many stories of Christian leaders who left their relationship with God up to chance. Maybe they simply thought that God was the only one responsible for their relationship with God. But whatever was going on, because their aim—their intentionality—was not to please God at all times, they fell from grace and back into sin.
Each morning before rising from our beds, we must talk with God and renew our relationship seeking to please him with all we do that day. At mid-day, we must refocus our aim and adjust our fire if we are missing the mark of pleasing God. And each evening, we must again talk with God about our day and seek forgiveness for our failures and offer God thanksgiving for our victories.
Don’t take chances with your relationship with God. Focus, take aim, be intentional about pleasing God in each and every circumstance of your life.
Pray with me:
Lord God, thank you for reaching out to me through your Son, Jesus the Christ. I pledge this day to focus my life on pleasing you no matter where I find myself, home or away. AMEN.
So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. (NRSV)
John Wesley once said something along the lines of, “There are some things that are too important to leave to chance.” I believe that Paul is saying something similar here. When we make something our “aim”, we are certainly not leaving it to chance.
We must be intentional about our devotion to God. Peter writes that “Satan is roaming around like a roaring lion.” (1 Peter 5:8). If we are not intentional, if we do not make pleasing God our “aim”, then certainly Satan will stop roaming around and pounce on us with no mercy. I’ve read way too many stories of Christian leaders who left their relationship with God up to chance. Maybe they simply thought that God was the only one responsible for their relationship with God. But whatever was going on, because their aim—their intentionality—was not to please God at all times, they fell from grace and back into sin.
Each morning before rising from our beds, we must talk with God and renew our relationship seeking to please him with all we do that day. At mid-day, we must refocus our aim and adjust our fire if we are missing the mark of pleasing God. And each evening, we must again talk with God about our day and seek forgiveness for our failures and offer God thanksgiving for our victories.
Don’t take chances with your relationship with God. Focus, take aim, be intentional about pleasing God in each and every circumstance of your life.
Pray with me:
Lord God, thank you for reaching out to me through your Son, Jesus the Christ. I pledge this day to focus my life on pleasing you no matter where I find myself, home or away. AMEN.
Recent
Archive
2021
January
Christ In MeIt's A StruggleLiving Out the MessageWhere is Your Heart?Why Give?Do Not be AfraidBlessed AssuranceDon't Leave it up to ChanceIntentional Self-CareTrust and FaithHave I been Crucified with Christ?Burning HeartsSolid FoodTo God be the GloryThe Friend of the BridegroomPure HeartsSeeing God EverywhereIs There No One to Intervene?Teach Me To PrayRedeeming the BadIncomparable GloryCare for God's CreationLife that is Really LifeOperating out of LoveBroken ChainsGod's Gift of GracePay it ForwardFrom Alien to CitizenRooted and Grounded in LoveDoes Jesus Still Weep?
February
Welcomed with LoveFaith DemonstratedLove When I Mess-UpWhat is the Source of my Words?Healing Found in ConfessionExperience is BelievingHoly LivingFrom Fall to GloryGrowing into our SalvationMy Life as a Beacon of LightJoining the People of GodExiles from the Broken WorldLet it GoDon't Get EatenTo Know or to KnowRepetition of the WordMyths or Personal ExperienceGod's TruthEyes to SeeLooking God in the EyeSelf-DeceptionForgive Me My SinWhat Makes Jesus Tick?Don't be Drawn AwayChild of GodJoyous Extravagant GenerosityActing Out TruthLove Restored
March
No Fear in LoveDon't Worry be HappyWorries and DistractionsDon't Be SuperficialSimplifyWorshipDo No HarmSpiritual HealingWhy Not Bring Them to Jesus?Self-CareLooking for JesusWhat's NextHunger for the WordGod Knows BestPrioritiesStaying CenteredThinking Outside of the BoxThe Impact of My Faith100% + 100% = 100%Seeing Strange ThingsAll Are WelcomeThrow a Party!Worthy of Receiving and Giving LoveLOLRecreating With New ClothRulesTake it to the LordTotal DependenceWhat Spills Out of You?Enough SaidThe Faith of an Ousider
Categories
no categories
No Comments