In The Spirit...

No, today's TTT is not about intelligence, and there are no IQ tests. So put your pencils away! Instead, I wanted to post about how the world sees us.

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe (Phil. 2:14-15 NIV)

Umm, the last time that I checked, I wasn't shining like I should. Yes, I am a Christian, and am confident that due to the grace, love and patience of God, one day I will spend eternity with him and all Christians. But I also have my shortcomings. I can be impatient, rude and quick-tempered among other things. I complain, and if you ask my wife, I bet she will admit to you that I argue! Yikes.

So what do I do? I ask Jesus for a continued renewal of strength and for his help when I am weak. He has already given us the ability to withstand temptation, so it's up to me. Thankfully, Jesus is there to pick me up when I fall. But I need to strive to be the best Christian that I can be. As I spend more time in his word and in prayer, I will grow closer to him. James 4:8a says "Come near to God and he will come near to you." In doing so, I will become a brighter shining star to those who are not yet saved.

To think about: What's your brightness level? Do you see room for improvement? Ask Jesus to show you how you can be a better servant of his, and resist temptation when it comes.



8:36 AM by Darryl