What Really Matters

Don’t let them waste their time in endless discussion of myths and spiritual pedigrees. These things only lead to meaningless speculations, which don’t help people live a life of faith in God.

1 Timothy 1:4 (NLT)

How much time is wasted arguing over things that really don’t matter? Probably a lot. We sometimes get into some interesting “discussions” that end up doing nothing more than cause hard feelings that sometimes result in broken fellowship that is never quite restored. How sad!! We need to be careful about what issues we choose to get defensive over. As much as we would like to think otherwise, our opinions really don’t matter all that much. What does matter are those things which help us and others to grow in faith.

We need to focus our attention on things that edify the soul and the source of those things is the Word of God. The Word of God should never be argued over. We can have different understandings on interpretations and applications, but they should NEVER be allowed to sever relationships in the body of Christ. We should agree to disagree agreeably on our different understandings and move on to how we can help each other grow in faith.

If we truly love each other as God loves us, we will work very hard to live peaceably with each other and work together for our common good and Christ’s glory on earth. Loving each other ought to disarm those things which divide us. As long as Christ is the focus of our faith and we rally around the cross, we should accept one another as brothers and sisters in Him and help each other become a holy people, a people after God’s own heart.

What Are You Other Than A Servant Of The Lord?

“Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood.”

Isaiah 10:15 (KJV)
axe in wood

‬What are you other than a servant of the Lord? What have you other than that which He has given you? Can you indeed say anything in your life is not that which God has ordained?

It is foolishness to think than you are the successor of God’s work. You are His tool and implement, designed by Him for His use. No tool can boast in itself and put itself to the task it was designed for. Only God can wield that which He ordained for the task!

Nothing you have is your own; all is for the glory of God! Your talent, your wealth, and your blessings are utter vanity/meaninglessness if not put under subjection to God’s will.

Take stock of what the LORD has given unto you and consider how you are using it to glorify Him. Glorify God with what He has given! Do it now, for the LORD gives and He takes away!

  • Jonathan G Ettrick

Stand Firm

With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and by letter.

2 Thessalonians 2:15 (NLT)

Paul had been reminding the church that the Lord is coming back to right the wrong. Judgment is coming on the earth against those who reject God and His Word. It is going to happen and Paul reminds them here to stand firm and hang on tight to the Lord and His ways. There are times in which it means we desperately hang on. Doubts, discouragements, defeats, disillusionments, and despair are all part of life. We must never stop hanging on, no matter what comes our way. Eternity is at stake.

person wearing black boots standing firm

We live in a very unstable and unsteady world. People are lost and are staggering around trying to find some semblance of meaning and purpose for their lives. People are grasping for whatever their depraved minds tell them will bring them a sense of pleasure and enjoyment in their desperate lives. People everywhere are without hope and are seeking whatever reason they can find to keep on living.

Stand firm on the solid foundation of God’s Word. Trust in what God says. Live diligently by its precepts. It is the only truth there is in the world. Don’t listen to the opinions of men or trust what they say. Listen to God and what He says.

Keep a strong grip on everything you have been taught from God. Don’t let go of what you know is from God. He will never lead you astray. He will always tell you what you need to know. His only desire for you is that which is good for your soul. We live in a very perilous time and it is imperative that we cling tightly to the Lord.

Stay focused on Christ. It is when we lose our focus that we lose our grip, stumble, and fall. Don’t let anything in life distract you. Eternal life with Christ awaits those who stand firm and don’t lose their grip.