What Really Matters

 Happy Sunday!

"Don’t tell lies to each other; it was your old life with all its wickedness that did that sort of thing; now it is dead and gone.  You are LIVING a brand new kind of life that is continually LEARNING more and more of what is right, and trying constantly to be more and more like Christ who created this new life within you.  In this new life one’s nationality or race or education or social position is unimportant; such things mean nothing. Whether a person has CHRIST is what matters, and he is equally available to ALL."(Colossians 3:9-11 Living Bible).

What really matters to you?  What things are important to you?  I've seen people being asked if they had to evacuate what items would they want to take from their homes.  Many times it's mementos or keepsakes, pets, valuables, and of course, family members.  Things are changing quickly in our world. Jesus described the times we live in.  He said, "You will hear about wars that are being fought. And you will hear stories about other wars beginning. BUT DON'T BE AFRAID. These things must happen before the end comes. Nations will fight against other nations. Kingdoms will fight against other kingdoms. There will be times when there is no food for people to eat. And there will be earthquakes in different places. These things are only the beginning of troubles, like the first pains of a woman giving birth."(Matthew 24:6-8 Easy-to-Read Version).

Don't miss the best part of all that Jesus said!  Don't Be Afraid!  It would be deceitful for Jesus to tell us to do anything that we couldn't do.  If he says we can live fearlessly, then we can live without fear!  Timothy was a young pastor in Ephesus. He faced many obstacles. His father in ministry, the Apostle Paul wrote to him saying, "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control."(2 Timothy 1:7 Amplified).

How can we have a calm and well balanced mind in any situation or circumstance?  Great Question! I'm so glad you asked.  Isaiah 26:3 says, "With perfect peace you will protect those whose minds cannot be changed, because they trust you."(GW).  Keeping our minds on the Word of God will keep us in perfect peace.  The Dake Annotated Reference Bible says this about this scripture, "This is a promise for all men of all ages who meet the condition of keeping the mind stayed on God, and who trust Him at all times, in all things, and in all places".  We can keep the Word on our minds by hearing it, reading it, memorizing it, speaking it, and meditating on it.  The Psalmist said, "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."(Psalm 119:11 KJV).  Just like the precious treasures we would grab if we needed to evacuate, the Word should be something we can't live without.  It should be the thing that matters most.

Love and prayers, Cynthia