What Has Mastered You?!

Good  morning to all on this 1st day of Summer. Waine and I are in Hawkinsville and actually had time to walk together this morning. These times that we have where we can just focus on each other are very important. Energizes my batteries and I am  able to share myself with others more freely. Some exciting news for our family--Jason Jenkins, Ko's oldest son, was selected by the Japanese Consulate of Houston to travel to Japan for 2 weeks. His trip is being paid for by the Japanese government and they have spared no expense. Keep him in your prayers as he travels. Also our practice, ZOe, continues to be busy even though it is summer. We consistently provide services to 50+ patients a day and have not had to lay off any staff. Now I know why so many private practices close their offices during the summer. Continue to keep ZOe in your prayers!

 

I am continuing my journey with Peter in his second letter, Chapter 2 verses 1 - 22, "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.  For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment; if He did not spare the ancient world when He brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;  and if He rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment. This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority.  Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings; yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from the Lord. But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish. They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood! They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness. But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness. These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.  It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,”and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.” Amen and may the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

 

"For people are slaves to whatever has mastered them!" Truer words were never spoken. Whatever has mastered you--that is the god or God for which you will bear fruit. So what fruit are you bearing today?? This mantra has been convicting me on a daily basis. I have a weakness of being "quick to anger" and when my anger flashes I am consciously reminding myself that the Fruits of the Spirit is LOVE, JOY, PEACE, FORBEARANCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS and SELF-CONTROL. It doesn't do me any good to profess my love for God and not be able to demonstrate the Fruits of the Master that I belong to. Since making up my mind to manifest these fruits, I have opportunities each day to "exercise"  my commitment to bearing the fruits of the life I talk about. I am actually aware when God is going to give me an opportunity. He is so gentle and He knows my nature so much, that He gives me warnings. You may think I have gone off the deep bend, however what I am writing is actually events that have occurred this week. Humility is a spiritual muscle I am trying to build and God has given me countless opportunities this past week to exercise and build this  muscle. I would give myself a score of 60% for the past week and I am sure this week I will have more opportunities. At some point when my Master sees that this is no longer a distraction for me I am sure we will move on to other things.  His goal, my Master, is that my life reflect the Fruits that belong to Him and not to the world. His GOAL is that others would come to love and know Him because of the life I lead and that is the MOST IMPORTANT MISSION THAT I HAVE. My abundant life is a reflection of the life and walk I have through Christ with God and if I am a witness to that walk then my Life should bear fruit.

 

Christ "cursed" the fig tree because it was not bearing the fruit it should have. Likewise, God has brought   calamity and destruction to those who continue to be disobedient to Him and who continue to reject Christ as Lord. The false prophets may have people believe that its ok to be moral; or if you are a moral person then that's all that is necessary. Peter here is admonishing us to "GROW-UP" and start living the life we preach about. We, as Christians are to warn the world about these false prophets that would have you believe that you are the master of your own life and fate. We are to teach the world how to submit to the One and Only God, Jehovah not with outward rituals but through a submission of our wills and heart to Christ. This 2nd letter of Peter's is meant for mature Christians! We have to at some point reflect the Master that we have accepted through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. If you held a mirror to your life today, what Master would be reflected?

 

Now may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.

Stephanie