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by Gary Sims
08/14/03
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Week’s End Meditation – Conviction!
Reflections:

In our verses in 1 Kings, Solomon’s prayer, asking that God provide him with the wisdom to govern and lead his people, illustrates that we all receive blessings from God in order that we can, in turn, be a blessing to those around us. Solomon developed a deep understanding of this promise through his love and fear of God that he had inherited from David. In addition, he was sensitive to God’s will as a result of removing himself from the busyness of everyday life for a few days in order that he could focus on and listen for God’s voice and guidance.
In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul continues to teach us that, in response to God’s magnificent love, we are to wisely choose how we live our lives. That everything we do should be a reflection of the Holy Spirit that is residing within us. When we give ourselves over to God’s Spirit, our hearts become filled with praise and song which we lift up to God in thanksgiving.
In Psalm 111 we learn that everything begins with praising God. As we become mindful of His glory, He leads us to understanding and creates within us a willingness to follow His laws and guidance. As we draw closer and closer to Him our lives become aligned to His perfect will. Through this foundation all the world opens before us and His awesome holiness is furthered revealed. And then, in the presence of His Glory, we, once again, lift up our hearts in praise: “Praise the Lord!”
In the Gospel of John we discover that God’s love is revealed to us through the life of Jesus who He sent as a living sacrifice for our sins. The gift, in and of itself, becomes meaningless unless we respond. When we accept and believe in Jesus Christ as our sovereign Lord, when we allow Him into our lives, when we respond to His guidance, we are then transformed by His love. This transformation is not an illusive or meaningless change. Christ becomes enmeshed into our entire being, His body with our body and His Spirit with our spirit, in order that God’s purpose for our lives can be fulfilled.

Points to Contemplate:

How did you first learn about God? Reflect for a few moments on your life and consider all of the times where God used other people to draw you close to Him. Think of the quiet moments of reflection when you were able to listen and hear His “still small voice.” Where were you? Do you ever try to go back to that place or recreate that moment in a way that He can speak to you again? Is it a matter of God choosing to speak to you or do you need to find ways to still your mind in order to be more sensitivity to Him?
Have you chosen to follow God? Paul, in Ephesians, and the Psalm we read outlined that we have the choice to follow His guidance and to live our lives according to His will. How are you doing? Are you spending more time with God in prayer and study? Do you talk to others about your faith and about the questions you might have? Do you seek out ways to find evidence of God’s activity in your life? Can others see Him working through you? If you feel you are not growing closer, if you are having difficulty finding evidence of Him in your life, why do you think that is? Are you living your life according to His teaching? Are you lifting up songs of praise to Him at every opportunity?
What is your purpose in life? Do you wonder where God wants you? Do you question His guidance? If you are having difficulty is it possible that you may have too narrow of a view like the Pharisee’s and scribes? Do you recognize God’s love for you is real? Can you focus on that love and allow Him to lead you? Do you have the faith to hand your life over to Christ and let Him take charge? If you did, what kinds of things might happen? Would He eliminate a temptation in your life? Could He cause your checkbook to balance once you began tithing? Perhaps He will open new possibilities of ministry in your life that you had never imagined to be possible? Do you recognize that in God – ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE?

Prayer of the Week:

Sovereign Lord: We come to you today asking that you grab our attention. That your still small voice shouts to us through the din of our busy lives. Once you finally get our attention, we pray that you never let go. Keep us and inspire us to follow you wherever you may lead. Convict us to put aside the issues in our lives that take us no where and only cause us grief and sorrow. Lord, you are the Way, the Light and the Truth – we know that but we tend to lose our focus so easily. Flood us with your mercy and then burst open our hearts so that the whole world can see your glory. Lord, all things are possible through your grace. Give us the faith to truly believe that and to allow you to take charge of our lives in order to fulfill our destiny as your devoted disciples. We pray this through your son, the Living Water. Amen.

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