Seek Your Refection

Matthew 6

Brian C. Collins

“Many of us refuse to grow where we are put, consequently we take root nowhere.” (Oswald Chambers)

It’s hard sometimes to look at your reflection in the mirror because all too often we don’t like what we see.  The same goes for our spiritual reflection.  We will never be satisfied with what we see no matter how much we grow in Christ.  The closer we come to Christ, the more we see our filthiness, the more we see a need for improvement.

At times I avoid looking in the mirror because I don’t want to see my flaws; so I just ignore the mirror and go on my way.  The problem with this is there might be some major issues with my hair, face, or outfit.  All too often we Christians just don’t look into our spiritual refection for the same reason, we don’t want to see our flaws.

Any who know me know I have many flaws, physically and spiritually.  After reading my devotional today, it was clear to me one flaw I have overlooked or perhaps ignored.  The flaw of refusing to grow where I’m at.  The above quote from Bro. Chambers really spoke to me.  It revealed to me to Consider the Lilies of the field, how they grow, they grow where they are.

Let’s not ignore our spiritual reflection.  How, you may ask, do I gaze into my spiritual reflection?  Well, unfortunately, my answer is always going to be the same as to many other spiritual questions.  Through a close relationship with Christ.  Lot’s and lot’s of prayer and much more Bible study.  

While it might be easy to tell you the solution, even I admit its not an easy endeavor to consistently, routinely, and devotedly come before Christ every single day.  There’s always something you’d rather do.  Sleep in instead of getting up for devotions, do a chore, watch TV.  Anything else.

Most times we just get pieces of understanding through hours of seeking but seek we must.  “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” 

His Eye Is On The Gosling

By Brian C Collins

1 Peter 2:2

I drive by the same small pond every day.  This spring when all the birds were returning from migration I witnessed a pair of geese land near the pond.  Eventually, after a day or two, I realized they were making that their home for a while.  I soon learned why, when a couple of young furry little goslings were waddling around mom and dad.

I remember thinking, man!  They weren’t there that long and they already have young goslings.

Driving by for one week and then another and another I had the opportunity to see the young goslings grow up.  Again I was surprised how fast those little ones grew from small furry creatures to large sleek beautiful Canadian geese in no time.  

I started wondering how those family of geese could be used as a teachable example.  The only thing I could think of is how we as Christians just waddle around trying to do what we think are very important things, and hoping to make some kind of big difference.  All the while God is going by watching us as we grow up.

Granted everyone’s life is different growing up as children, but I’m referring to our growth as Christians not children.  Think of mom and dad geese as our church, pastor, and the bread of life.  Growing does take time and to us running around this pond of life it seems to take forever,

Remember God exists outside of time.  To him, watching us grow and serve seams really fast.  Once saved it may be fascinating to God how fast we are growing to be like Him.  Or He may be disappointed that we are not growing at all.

Let us surprise God the next time he looks down at our little pond and show Him how much we can grow.

Worship All Three, Equally. 

By Brian C. Collins

I spent the bulk of my devotions in prayer and in the entire chapter of Psalm 25, My devotional booklet was more of an afterthought this morning.  The basic idea in the booklet’s lesson for today was that until we get all the “noisy questions” on our minds out of the way we cannot get close to God.

I understand this because when I am praying so much comes to mind it’s hard to stay focused and sometimes my mind wonders off and stops praying and thinking about needless stuff.

It is very hard to drop all the extra things on our minds and truly get alone with God.  Today I prayed a little differently then I usually do.  Usually I just start praying and simply address the Lord, The Lord in general, not specifically like the Lord Jesus, or Father God.  I don’t ever remember addressing the Holy Spirit directly.

So today I felt convicted that I never speak to the Holy Spirit of the Trinity.  They are Three in One; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost/Spirit.  So using David’s words in Psalms 25 Is read, prayed, meditated the entire chapter specifically addressing each of the Trinity giving equal respect, love, and time to all three.

I’m not sure how theologically correct it was to do so, sense technically God the Father can only here us through His Son Jesus Christ.  However, I still felt obligated to respect and acknowledge all three this morning.  I wanted to especially pay attention, respect, and love to the Holy Spirit today, because it is the Holy Ghost part of the Trinity that stays in me even when I sin and quench Him, He never leaves me nor forsakes me in all my transgressions.  So today I felt horrible for not giving Him his deserved respect. 

It is the Holy Ghost who speaks to us with the still small voice, the One Who impresses on our hearts to do or not do something, the One Who brings scripture to our minds when we need His Word for getting inspiration, resisting temptation, giving thanks and praise.

The Holy Spirit is the main reason why we can communicate with our Lord Jesus Christ and Jesus is the main reason we have the Holy Spirit and why God the Father will hear our cries.

Each are equally important, and each the key to the others presence.  Jesus Paid it all and made our relationship with God the Father possible again, and without all three we would have never been created.  So I was moved today to honor each, praise each, love each, and thank each person of the Trinity today.  I hope that it pleased God, it was not much but I believe it was needed.

Who’s Called?  You’re Called.

By Brian C. Collins

If you seek great things for yourself—God has called me for this or that; you are putting a barrier to God’s use of you.” (Oswald Chambers)

Full-time ministry is a matter of perspective.  Or as some refer to “The Calling” (echo– calling, calling, calling.)  If one like myself grows up in the Christian faith the leadership positions of Pastor, Evangelist, and Missionary along with others are respected but often misunderstood. 

While it is true that some are called to full time “vocational” ministry, most Christians are just simply called to full-time ministry.  What!  You may be asking.  Yes, the full-time ministry is for all Christians.  We are all supposed to live for the Lord every day, tell everyone we meet how to be saved, and spend as much time as we can in prayer with our Lord and learning from His Word.

It may seem like at first your getting a raw deal but its true.   Once you’ve devoted all for Him you will be eager to give God anything; the so-called raw deal will turn into the best deal ever when we all get to heaven.  However, here on earth, it will have its highs and its lows.  

Christians forget the life of a follower of Christ is a life of hardship and persecution. “For I am crucified with Christ never the less I live.” The life of a disciple of Christ is not “like a box of chocolates” where you can look under the lid for a diagram of what’s inside and just pick what you want. It’s a continuous battle with your sinful nature and “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds).”

We are at war.   The Christian life is a battle.  When we choose not to serve God fully we let our defenses down and defeat is soon upon us.  We need the “Whole Armor of God” not just a weapon, the sword of the Lord, we rarely pick up and have no skill with.

To be a great swordsman takes much dedication and practice.  If we do not master the sword, then we will not learn how to further arm ourselves.  “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” is not a weekend Adventure this is a lifelong study.

A Huge amount of people just near our homes and around the world are not saved.  To reach as many as possible as we can is not a one day a week visit, it’s a lifelong pursuit of striving to be a living example of Christ and letting our light shine before all men. 

“Be ye holy for I Am Holy” is an impossible task as humans.  This is why a consistent, persistent relationship with Christ is a must with no breaks no vacations.  This is one part of the Christian life you can never rest on.  We will mess up, we will sin, we cannot be perfectly holy.

In Christ, through Christ, with Christ we can keep up the faith, confess sin when needed, and not let the Devil drag you down in shame for “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  the pursuit of holiness is very much a full-time endeavor.  

So, who’s called? You are.

One More Day, Please

By Brian C Collins

I Peter 1:16  “Be ye holy; for I Am Holy.”

“Christ did not come to save men out of pity: He came to save men because He had created them to be holy.” (Oswald Chambers)

If we strip away all the trappings covering the different issues, circumstances, and difficulties we have in our Christian life and even what brought us to Christ in the first place it is the terrible revealing of our unholiness.  “For all have sinned, and come short of the Glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) 

This is why Paul wrote about Holiness in Romans 12:1 “…that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”  In Romans 6 Paul states we “should not serve sin” verse 6; in verses 12 through 14 Paul also tells us we are free from sin that we do not have to sin or yield to temptation.  To some Christians this may not seam possible.  However, I assure you from my own experience it is.  

It is accomplished by having a close and right relationship with Jesus Christ and God the Father.  This is done through faith, humility, and dedication of self to studying the Bible, obeying and doing what the Bible tells us and earnest humble prayer to God through Christ Jesus.  This and removing as much sinful influence from your life as possible.  

Given time you will find yourself thinking about doing something wrong and then realizing — hey!  I don’t have to do that, I can do something else.  This may not happen every time but being transformed by the renewing of our minds takes time and it will happen enough to start building up your confidence in Christ;  strengthening you in recognizing sin and being able to turn away from it more and more as we mature in Christ.

Just experiencing one day of being right with Christ, knowing that through the leading of His Spirit and the support of His Word; you can have a clarity of conscience and breath in the peace of God as fresh air, walking with a confidence in Christ.  Confidence that gives you hope and motivates you to grow closer and closer to Christ so that your entire existence is with God —  Just experiencing one day like that?  Trust me, one day will not be enough.