So What does God Want


Matthew 6:33     “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Matthew 22:37-40       Jesus replied: “Love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all your should and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.  All the Law and the Prophets hand on these two commandments.”

John 6:29      Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

John 15:13      Greater love has no man than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Luke 6:27     But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great.

Acts 16:31      Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved—you and your household.

Colossians 3:23-24      Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive and inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Philippians 2:3-4     Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.  Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.

Hebrews 13:16      Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

James 1:27      Pure, unstained religion, according to God our Father, is to take care of orphans and widows when they are distressed and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

2 Peter 3:18     But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

I think we all wonder at times what God wants from us.  We know He wants us to “love” others; but what does that really mean?  I mean we really have to love our neighbor who continues to walk by the house daily and let his dog use my yard as the toilet?     Even after I have asked repeatedly to please pick up the mess?  

And what about this woman who continues to talk nasty about me to others when I have never done anything to her or had many dealings with her?  Why is she able to do that behavior and I am not even supposed to defend myself? 

And then there is this peer who does not finish her own tasks for her job, and it is up to me to finish her job.  It seems like all think she is the ‘golden girl’ and yet I am doing my job and needing to finish hers.  Is that right?  Does anyone see? 

I believe in helping another—two often get a job more completely and easily accomplished.  I used teamwork a lot when I was working and it was easier to turn patients and give good, and better, skin care when I could hold the person in one direction—the other did back care and changed one side of the bed, then we turned the person to the other side and made the other side of the bed.   Ease and comfort for all in half the time. 

I like that Jesus sent His disciples out in pairs—they each had company, could share ideas and decisions about direction, which town to head to next, how it was felt their message was received, and of course one could take care of the other if an injury or illness should befall one. 

But we have work to do in the world.  Our first directives are to love God first and only; then we are to follow and obey His commandments, and be kind to others, give to others when they have less than us, teach about the love and obedience of Jesus and the fact He, by His act of love, freed us from facing a life full of sin and loss. 

But God wants us to not be complaining about others and wants us to forgive.  He will take care of any who sin against us.  We are to do the best of our ability, no matter the job, and do it with a heart for Him; we are to do our chores as though they were directly for God.

That’s not always easy.  It is difficult to be with someone who refuses to finish their own work and asks you to complete, and yet the person takes all the credit; it’s difficult when a pet owner does not clean up after their pet—even after the fact the issue has been addressed.  It’s frustrating when you would not treat another in such a manner, but they do to you.

But God sees all, and He will deal with the matters of slight and insult you have to deal with.  It is your responsibility to just do the work He asks of you—loving Jesus, searching to know Him deeper, loving others and treating them with the respect you want to be treated with, being kind and giving to those less fortunate, reaching out in love to help no matter the request, and teaching others, by showing, what the love of Jesus looks like.  There may be times you are dealing with a person who will not give and remains stubborn and acting unpleasant, but we are not to sink to that level.

I don’t always succeed in being the best I can be—my temper can show when I feel I’ve been dealt an unfair hand.  But I can recognize that I have grown some and continue to move forward.  I am thankful I am walking forward, that I can see progress even though it’s small increments, and I remember that all is God’s to deal with and He will.  So as much as I would like fairness in the work force, and respect of my yard and taking care of one’s pets—that is not the way others think.  God’s got my back, and I may be somewhat disgruntled, but He is judging my behavior and outlook, and He will deal with the other person in His time and manner.  That is NOT for me to worry about.  I am just supposed to worry about my own ‘p’s and q’s.’ 

Thank You God for guiding me down this slow growth in Your path, for Your patience and guidance.  You have always been there for me and ‘mybellaviews.’

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