Daily WIsdom

“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Col 3:2

Caution… Don’t use the church as the spectacle to view God, use God as the spectacle to view the church. Many Christians and the world a like utilize church as the visual edifice/structure in defining their relationship with God, people and their own spiritual health.  The church itself will always have a scratched lens or a needed renewal of its prescription when it comes to its focus on God, because it relies on the eyes of man. The spectacle of God is his word in which we are to use concerning all things that we look at, especially the church/body. It’s too easy for man, be it a pastor, leader or layman to be out of focus, and if you depend or utilize such for your focus it’s going to be flawed because you’re trying to use a temporal resource to view eternal truths. View any and every aspect of life through the lens of God’s word. It will never be out-of-focus, scratched or need cleaning. Like electrical conduit, the church is a source for truth to hopefully pass through to each other and the world. But, the power/truth itself is in the wiring (God’s word) that runs through the conduit. When the conduit gets broken it can disrupt the truth, but only in its flow; it never stops the truth itself.  Don’t be more focused on the conduit than the power that runs through it. Remember the church is only a semblance of the truth, don’t get out of focus and project on above the other or you’ll miss what God wants you to see.

If you try to view God through the church, both the church and God will be out of focus!

HSAY… Todd 

Daily Wisdom

“Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.” 1 Cor 4:5

The most faithful of Christians can make decisions and create circumstances that appear questionable to others. From the prodigal son to King David himself, we are all prone to find ourselves in a position that draws criticism and judgment from others. A prodigal life is easy to cast judgment on, illustrating their mistakes and magnifying their situation. But, Paul states he knows nothing by himself and is not justified to judge what only the Lord is able (vs 4). Judging others by your standards does not define them, rather it defines you. It’s one thing to feel you’re on the right path, but it’s another to think yours is the only path that’s right.  There’s only one who can judge freely, and he will in his time concerning hidden things we’re not entitled to or aware of.  Judging others often only points out the obvious, rather try offering optimism instead of opinion.  Remember God stated King David was a man after his own heart, even though at times David's heart was covered by a dirty cloak.

Don’t look down on others, only God is allowed to sit that high.

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

“For this cause i bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (16) That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man.” Eph 3:14; 16

The perfection of the “Inner Man” (Eph 3:16) will only occur when the fire within you burns brighter than the fire around you. Just like a fire that is fanned its heat intensifies, but the question is which flames are you fanning. Remind yourself, God has not called you to do or worry about what everyone else is doing, if you desire to be used by God you can’t spend all your time with others. The perfection  of the “Inner-Man” requires daily strengthening (2 Cor 4:16), empowering yourself in the riches of Christ and his armour, and taking of the word in all faith and prayer. (Eph 3:8-9; 16; 6:10-20).

Focus on the “inner-man” and the outside blessings will manifest.

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

“…And all the people shouted with a great shout, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. But many priests and Levites, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice…” Ezra 3:12-13 (excerpts)

The cares of comparison… the flower doesn’t think to compare itself to the flower beside it, it just blooms where it’s planted. For the older Jewish leaders, they were more focused on Solomon’s original temple than they were the re-built temple; causing them to weep, comparison robs you of your joy, amongst the shouts of praise (vs 11). Comparison will consistently cloud the clarity of God’s purpose and puts you in a constant state of change in trying to keep up with the crowd; though you change a thousand times, HE has not changed once. Comparing oneself to what lies behind or to who lies before are meaningless compared to what lies within you.  Rather be consumed with the creator of all things instead of comparing yourself to the things HE created. Your worth is not valued in comparison, but in your worth to God; that makes you priceless in comparison!

Before you compare understand the character of that in which you are looking at; if less than Christ, why compare?

HSAY…Todd