If Thou Wilt
James 4:13-14 “Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and bye and sell and get gain
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeared for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”
Only God can say “So be it”. For it is His Will alone, that stands every test.
We, as Christians, may say, “If God wills”, we will do this or that.
How many plans have been destroyed or laid aside, because we have not considered what God wanted with our time?
That we should not walk through life “Willy nilly”: this way, then that way.
We should have a definite goal to head toward, and find out God’s way to get there.
Philippians 3:12-14. “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
Paul “followed after”; not knowing what lay ahead. But knowing that Christ Jesus did; and that whatever was ahead, was prepared for. Grace was laid up for him to get through each situation.
This should be the goal we are headed for: what Christ Jesus has saved us for.
We are to grow up into Him. For we are all called to go from babes in Christ to full grown Spiritual Adults.
We should ascertain our calling. (We are all called as witnesses, if nothing more. A witness is a personal testimony of what Christ has done for me.)
And this should be the way we go: forgetting those things which are behind me—really putting them behind me—failures and successes;
And reaching forth (in heart, in mind, and in will) to those things He has before me, today, tomorrow, and on.
We have family. We have jobs. We have friends. All of these, we are not to neglect—that is not God’s will.
But before all of these, as Christians, we have our personal duty to God, and His Will.
1 Corinthians 4:2 “Moreover it is required of stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
God’s stewards, are Gospel Stewards. Their duty is to live the Truth of the Gospel.
Truly, if we put God first, He will see to it, that all the others are not neglected.
Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
God never forgets our faithfulness to Him. Never.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 