Majoring on the Minor Things in Life

Posted on January 6, 2015 by Graeme Wilson in Freedom Fighters

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Majoring on the Minor Things in Life

10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:10-11

Majoring on the Minors

I am going to boast in the LORD for a moment as I reflect on another year coming to an end and another beginning.  As I say goodbye, to 2014, I must say that this was one of the quickest years (at least it seemed so) in my life.  It went by so fast.  I cannot believe that it was a week ago that we were celebrating Christmas.  Man oh, man where is the time going.  So, as I reflect on the passing of another year, I think about the year in review and asked myself some pointed questions.  How am I doing with the LORD?  How is my relationship with him really?  How am I doing with my wife, children and other family members?  Am I doing everything I can to live at peace with all men?  Notice that I didn’t say, am I getting along with everyone, nor did I say does everyone feel good about me or like me.  What about my other relationships, those who are my neighbors?  Am I doing my part?

Well, I think that many of us get caught up in the later relationships before we actually focus on the one relationship that matters the most.  I am not saying that family, friends, and neighborly relationships are not important because they are important but we spend more time on focusing on making those relationships work and forsake that which Paul said was most important.

As I look forward to 2014 coming to an end and beginning a new year, I want to make “knowing God” the most important thing for me this year.  I do not want to know how my finances are going to work out, how my future grandchildren come out of the womb (2 are being formed at this moment and are expected to arrive later in 2015), nor do I want to know if this is the year that my middle daughter begins to forgive those past hurts and move towards reconciliation (even though I desire that to happen).  No, this year, starting tomorrow, I want to KNOW Christ and the power of His resurrection.

I believe that this is where most Christians (including myself) have failed in their relationship with God.  We tend to focus on our problems rather than on the person of our all-loving and all-powerful God.  We get caught up in our troubles rather than trust our lives (including our troubles) to our faithful Lord and Savior.  If you watch the news for more than 5 minutes, you can get caught up in all the evil in the world (and there is plenty of evil) instead of understanding that our God is Sovereign and in control of all world events.  Doesn’t that blow your mind?  Is does mine, because when I think biblically, I react to the evils of this world differently.

You know, I have been a believer in Jesus Christ for 26 years (in May it will be 27) and I have not even scratched what Romans 11:33 states: “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!”  Will you join me this year, 2015 in committing to knowing and getting to know God better through his word and through His Son Jesus Christ?  Let’s make a commitment this year to major on the majors and not on the minors. – Doug Barger is the Director of Men’s Ministry at Bethesda Mission and a Keswick prayer partner and friend. You can write Doug at dbarger2030@comcast.net

Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 16-17; Romans 6

Think About This: Grace is not simply leniency when we have sinned. Grace is the enabling gift of God not to sin. Grace is power, not just pardon. —John Piper

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. Joshua 1:7

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