365 Days with God - Day 139: An Admonition

I'm giving myself a challenge. Read the Bible each day for a whole year, following the ESV Study Guide 1-year plan. Each day, I will post whatever God has revealed to me in His Word, and how it is changing me. A friend of mine once said that nothing has changed her life as much as reading the bible each day - and I'm excited for how this will change me. Join me on an adventure into the heart of God - and day by day, we can learn more about who He is and what that means to us!

- Andy Catts

Day 139, May 8, 2014

Readings: Psalm 138, Numbers 22, Isaiah 59, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22

We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:12-22)

Distinctly missing from this passage is "Go to college, get a good job, support your family, buy a safe car, pay for your kid's college, make sure they marry the right person who can support them and don't forget your 401(k)!"

But isn't that what most of America thinks a "good Christian life" is all about? I sure did. I had it all mapped out. I was going to do all those things. And life was going to be good. And safe. And comfortable. 

And none of these are bad things.

But none of them are things that God has tasked us with doing. Unfortunately, we have made these ideals the main goal of life, and Christ's mission as the add-on, for when we have time, for when it's convenient, for when our conscience prods us enough.

But God says it should be the other way around. 1st Thessalonians 5 says that God and His mission should be our main goal in life. All that other stuff is the add-on. Make sure we're doing God's mission, then start tacking on the others.

But even if you've prioritized the wrong things, it's not too late. Take the life you've made for yourself, and give it fully up to God. Where does he want to take you? How does he want to see you grow? Instead of holding back, instead of clinging to the security of the life you've added Christ on to, ask Him what he wants you to retain. And trust that he will give you what you need.