Yesterday marked the one year anniversary since my dad departed this earth. It wasn't a hard day, really.... I talked about him alot, reminiscing on the precious days that the Lord gave us, not really thinking about the bad. One thing that I have realized since losing my dad is that He knew me very WELL. When other people didn't seem to get me, HE DID! He also believed in me, He believed that I was so gifted, he pushed me to walk in Gods freedom in my gifts, and to shine for Jesus' glory.
He is the reason that I started this blog. Each time I put myself out there, I hear him say "quit pleasing people Nina, your aim is to please God". I find it very difficult not to get caught up in the trap of people pleasing. If your not pleasing people, truth is, they usually don't like you. Now hear me out, I am NOT advocating that you run around acting like a jerk, intentionally hurting people. What I am saying is that if you are following the Lord, as a Spirit filled believer, putting Him as your first priority and you happen to offend someone by just being yourself, is that a sin? If your actions were sinful, the answer to that would be Yes in which case you would probably be aware as the Spirit would be convicting you. If not...then NO!!!
The bible is clear in our instructions of how to treat one another:
*We are to consider one another better than ourselves.
*We are to love one another.
*We are to restore one another with a spirit of gentleness.
(There are many more great verses to read on this subject)
What happens when we start killing the parts of ourselves that are not sinful, or doing this to others? What happens when we deaden our personalities, numbing who God made us to be? What happens when we listen to every little dislike that someone has about us...or they try and change things about us, to conform us into someone they like?
What happens is that we fall into a performance based cycle that focuses more on pleasing man than pleasing God. It creates a higher fear of man and a lower view of God. Fear of man is a snare...I believe that a proper response would be to honestly point out these things in a loving way to anyone doing this in your life and to ask yourself if you have done this to others. I have walked in such condemnation and people pleasing in my life that Satan has tried to use these things to snuff out the beauty of the GOSPEL!!!!
The truth is, I was dead in my trespasses and then by Gods glorious Amazing Grace...He saved me...He changed me...He is transforming me. I am a speck on a speck; a sojourner passing through this world...being prepared for GLORY. God made me. He gave me specific personality traits and gifts in His sovereignty, to serve and glorify HIM!! I want to shine for HIM with JOY!!! I don't want to hide in fear and condemnation. You know what I find really amazing? My father taught me these things.....His voice still echoes in my heart and mind...
My prayer is that as I grow and mature in Christ, that I will live and shine for Jesus more each day in the freedom that HE bought and payed for!! I also pray that I would make it my aim to propel people forward in their ministry to Him and their faith in HIM. That I would notice the beautiful things that God has gifted and crafted each person to have, to bring Himself glory...
Those were some of the beautiful lessons that my Dad taught me.....
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