Points to Ponder

Thursday, March 17, 2011

(a post from an older blog, re-posted )

Points to Ponder

Qualities-Traits-Characteristics ~ Hold on to your thoughts for a minute while we discuss these, and some other words, that have been used to describe our 'Person~alities'.

Stubbornness: Defined as obstinate & Synonymous with, adamant, balky, bull-headed, cantankerous, determined, dogged, firm, fixed, hard-headed, head strong, inflexible, insubordinate, intractable, opinionated, ornery, persevering, persistent, rebellious, relentless, rigid, self-willed, single-minded, steadfast, stiff-necked, tenacious, tough, unbending, unmanageable, unreasonable, unshakable, unyielding, willful.

Now let's see how quickly the meaning behind these words seem to change as we take them in a new direction...for example:

Tenacious, which for our purpose here we'll say was originally intended to be a negative tendency we turn around and use for the LORD as Tenacity for the things of God...

Consider this if you would: I am using only one example here, but the sky's the limit with other characteristics or personalities. I think God created us with all of these, and so many more attributes, to be used for Him and His Kingdom.

I believe HE meant these characteristics to be a positive influence in our lives for the Body of Christ. Because we are born with a sinful nature our flesh automatically wants to be opposite from what God has created us to be. So then, that is why He tells us in Romans 12:1,2 to renew our minds and not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, that we might prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Let's use some of these synonyms for Stubbornness for HIS KINGDOM now, and see how it turns out.

FIRM, FIXED, PERSEVERING, PERSISTENT, SINGLE-MINDED, STEADFAST, UNBENDING, UNSHAKABLE FOR HIM AND HIS WORD, AND DETERMINED IN OUR FAITH AND IN THE THINGS OF GOD to DO HIS WILL AND NOT OUR OWN.

THINK ABOUT IT: DETERMINED NOT TO GOSSIP OR LIE, STEAL, COVET, LUST, SERVE OTHER gods, (anything that takes the place of God in our hearts, Anything that we put before HIM and spend more time with than HIM is Idolatry).

If we purposed ourselves to spend time with HIM each day to prepare us for the battle that the world has coming at us...WE WOULD BE READY HAVING PUT ON THE ARMOR OF GOD as it says in Ephesians 6:10-18 fighting the good fight as ambassadors for Christ.

Can you imagine what could be accomplished for the GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST IF WE USED the qualities that God gave to us for HIM; HE CREATED us for HIMSELF in HIS own image? We could set the world on fire with HIS HOLY SPIRIT... and really become ONE, in the UNITY of our Father, HIS SON, Jesus Christ and the HOLY SPIRIT.

Then we would see HIS return as He has promised and stated in John 17:20,21 "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in ME through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent ME."

Praise the Living God, The Almighty, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords!

Let's start praying for each other that first we would recognize our gifts for what they really are, and second, that we start turning them around, renewing our minds in the word, becoming disciples of HIS WORD and sharing our love for HIM and others not only by our words, but with our actions, as well. Let's pray like Jesus did for all those who WILL believe in HIM through HIS word; that they all may be one...that the world may believe that God sent HIM.

Blessings!
Until we meet again!
SZ