Tag Archives: Faith

Working Hard for Jesus?

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“Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace” 1 Peter 3:14

How many of us have this as a theme scripture for our lives? Really, how many of us seek to work hard so that we can be undefiled, blameless and at peace upon Jesus’ return? For most of us it’s “work hard to get that pay check” or we do so for a personal sense of pride. I don’t think many of us are thinking about Christ’s return when we go to work every day, when we work on that special project or even when we are raising our children. Our minds may be far from Scripture when we go about our routine tasks even though the Bible tells us of other reasons we should work hard:

1. He becometh poor that dealeth [with] a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich (Proverbs 10:4).

2. The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute (Proverbs 12:24).

3. The soul of the sluggard desireth, and [hath] nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat (Proverbs 13:4).

4. The thoughts of the diligent [tend] only to plenteousness; but of every one [that is] hasty only to want (Proverbs 21:5).

5. Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean [men] (Proverbs 22:29).

6. Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, [and] look well to thy herds (Proverbs 27:23).

Being rich, in charge, and otherwise prosperous (1-5) are great benefits for us being hard workers, but we are also required to work hard for the benefit of others, as item six tells us: We should work hard to know how well those we are given charge over are faring and to do what we can to help them. We shouldn’t work hard just to reap earthly benefits but so that Jesus will find us the way He expects upon His return for us. This is the great challenge for us but one with an understanding of Scripture that will be easier to achieve.

Copyright by Rhonda J. Smith

Spiritual Grooming Tips

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When I attended a fundamentalist church, the women were required to wear head coverings. Most women wore lace doilies but being the quasi-fashion conscious maven I am, I refused. I bought a number of stylish hats so that I could be in compliance with the practice and not compromise my look. But many Sundays not compromising my look cost me time; I would build my outfits around a hat or search for the perfect hat to match my outfit. My focus was off. I wanted to get glory for my look instead of seeking to give God glory for following the standards set in that house (1 Corinthians 11:3-16). So please understand that I am well aware how we can easily be drawn into vanity when trying to give God glory. I think a look at 1 Peter 3:3-4 and Isaiah 3:16-4:1 will help us have balance.

“Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is incorruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price” (1 Peter 3:3-4). This scripture teaches that a woman’s focus should be on a heart (mind, will and emotions) that strives to express meekness and quietness. Meekness acknowledges that someone has power but that she has it under control and quietness suggests tranquility, that she shows no signs of anxiety or agitation; she is composed. So in addition to striving to be neat and clean a woman must strive to be meek and quiet. Her appearance and attitude should reflect a heart that doesn’t need to take physical control or express that she is upset because she was unable to take physical control. As we know, some Christians have misappropriated this scripture, requiring women to be homely, forcing them to be ascetics. Others have suggested that these verses are passe’ but these people are in danger of being like the Israelite women in Isaiah 3:16-4:1.

The Lord said: Because the daughters of Zion are haughty and walk with outstretched necks, glancing wantonly with their eyes, mincing along as they go, tinkling with their feet, therefore the Lord will strike with a scab the heads of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will lay bare their secret parts. In that day the Lord will take away the finery of the anklets, the headbands, and the crescents; the pendants, the bracelets, and the scarves; the headdresses, the armlets, the sashes, the perfume boxes, and the amulets; the signet rings and nose rings; the festal robes, the mantles, the cloaks, and the handbags; the mirrors, the linen garments, the turbans, and the veils. Instead of perfume there will be rottenness; and instead of a belt, a rope; and instead of well-set hair, baldness; and instead of a rich robe, a skirt of sackcloth; and branding instead of beauty. Your men shall fall by the sword and your mighty men in battle. And her gates shall lament and mourn; empty, she shall sit on the ground. And seven women shall take hold of one man in that day, saying, “We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothes, only let us be called by your name; take away our reproach.”

If we don’t seek balance, we end up homely, threatening to repel people from us and God or we end up flashy, being a hindrance for people’s true salvation and shaming God. To have balance, we must ask ourselves questions: Why am I wearing this? Why do I want to wear this? Why am I not satisfied wearing this? How does dressing like this make me feel? How does dressing like this make me act? Who will get the glory from me wearing this? Does wearing this make me look homely? Would wearing this make me act haughty? Once we can be honest with ourselves we are able to make the necessary adjustments so our look reflects godliness and a woman striving only to give Jesus Christ glory.

Copyright 2009 by Rhonda J. Smith

The Power of One Another

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I hope you’ve had a chance to ponder on the “One Another” scriptures I posted on Wednesday. I don’t know what they did in your heart or what you observed about them, but this is what God was screaming to me: We have to fulfill these scriptures because we are commanded to and the only way we can fulfill them is to be in close relationship with others. I know if we all understood this—not just in our minds but in our hearts, Christians’ lives would be more unified, more mature, more powerful and a lot more stress-free.

Unified—brought together to form a single unit or entity* (John 13:35)
Jesus said the world would know us Christians by our love for each other. When people see us loving on each other through the “One Another” scriptures, it will be clearly evident that we are not just moral people doing good things but that we belong to Jesus Christ, that He is the one who brought us together to form the single unit of the body of Christ.

Maturity—the state of being fully grown or developed (Ephesians 4:11-13)
Being in relationship with others striving like you provides the space to challenge any stagnation. As we fulfill the “One Another” scriptures, we help each other to examine ourselves and move beyond our immaturities, be they emotional, social, mental or spiritual.

Powerful—having or exerting great physical or mental strength; possessing the strength or qualities to produce a fast and effective result; able to produce a strong effect on people’s ideas or emotions (Acts 1:8).
Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit so we’d have power to live impactful lives. Living out the “One Another” scriptures causes us to allow the Holy Spirit to lead our lives, thus making dramatic change for the better in our and others’ lives.

Stress-free—free from mental, emotional or physical strain (James 5:16)
When the “One Another” scriptures are in effect, we have the support of other Christians and know we aren’t alone in our battles. Sure God is our ultimate help, but He placed us in each others’ lives to be able to combat opposing forces together.

I know many of us have not had positive experiences being close with others, even other Christians. Because of these experiences, we may be hesitant to fulfill the “One Another” scriptures and allow others to help us through them. Please know this: your bad experience shaped your past reality but through faith Jesus can control your current and future realities. You must believe that by following the commands of His scriptures you will reap the good that God intends for you to reap (John 10:10). “Oh taste and see that the Lord is good” so you can be on your way to a unified, mature, powerful and stress-free life (Psalm 34:8).

Copyright 2009 by Rhonda J. Smith
*All definitions taken from the Encarta Dictionary English (North America)

Hypocrite No More

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She was convinced that her friend did it on purpose, even though the friend denied it. At first she believed her friend, but the evidence against her was mounting and was now overwhelming. Instead of talking to her friend, again, and even bringing a mediator to the meeting, she decided that she would be cordial when she saw her at church, simply smile and speak. That would be it. “I’m still going to be kind to her,” she told me. “I have nothing against her, but I’m just going to smile and speak and keep going.”

I understood her reaction, having done as much myself. It takes a lot of energy to mend a situation that 1) you didn’t cause; 2) came about because it seems like someone lied; and 3) ranks on your list as trifling, and those you choose to do without. Yet the Scripture tells us to be good, which speaks to being useful in your disposition, expressed through the way you speak and what you do. This goes beyond the motions of speech and act but comes from a heart that seeks to be like Christ.

“By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35).

“Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32).

The goodness that we are called to is based upon these scriptures. Our behavior is not about us going along (going through the motions of speech and action) to get along (appearing that all is well amongst us). It’s about showing the world who we, Christians, belong to. Going beyond the appearance of good to actually saying and doing what is useful gives credibility to Christianity and Christians who call on the name of Jesus Christ as lord and savior. Judgment begins at the house of God (1 Peter 4:17). And what better way to begin this process than with self-examination? We must seek true transformation in our interactions so the good we do is contagious and truly reflective of a heart seeking to be like Christ.

Copyright 2009 by Rhonda J. Smith

Know What's at the Gate

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This is the first year that my oldest son will be attending a public school. My husband and I educated him at home for preschool and the first two years of elementary school. I had relatives and friends who questioned the merit of our decision to home school. Because I took my job as a gatekeeper seriously, I didn’t let people’s opinions deter me from doing what I knew we were called to do. Now that he will be attending a public school, I still am not allowing people’s contrary opinions to deter me from putting my son where I know God would have him to be.

To be an effective gatekeeper, you must know how to keep the good in and the bad out.

Know the expectations—The Word of God tells us how to live. Therefore, set family goals based on the commands of scripture for husbands, wives, and children. Not only have individual goals, but create ones for the family to meet together. For example, to fulfill take care of the poor, twice a month the family could prepare and deliver a meal to a family in need (Psalms 82:3-4, Proverbs 31:9).

Pray and fast—You need spiritual insight to direct you through what you see and don’t see. There is always a war going on in the spiritual realm that we cannot see, but God sees and directs our steps (2 Kings 6:15-17; Ephesians 6:12 and Proverbs 16:9). There are also things that God will reveal to us in the natural through prayer and fasting. And then there are those issues we observe with our own eyes. Whatever is revealed or not revealed, we still need God to direct us so we guard the gate appropriately to defeat the enemy and protect our family.

Filter entertainment—What the world rates as acceptable family entertainment many times goes against goals a Christian family may have. For instance, my children can’t watch The Flintstones or Popeye because of the sexist (both) and objectifying (Popeye) behavior in them. Sponge Bob is off limits because it’s crude. And media with gratuitous sex, violence and bad language are off limits, not just for the children, but also for me and my husband. We had to avoid two constant household favorites—The Sopranos and Sex in the City—before their series ended. I still have to make sure not to linger too long at the video section at the library so I’m not tempted to rent what I missed (1 Corinthians 15:33).

Assess family and friends—There is a saying, “Everyone who’s blood is not relative.” As a gatekeeper, you need to know which relatives are relative to your spiritual growth and which are not. Based upon your family’s goals, you know what the limits are of interaction with certain family members. Maybe the family members that like to get drunk and talk trash start cutting loose at the end of the family gathering. Make sure you come early and leave around “pumpkin time.” As for friends, the ones challenging you to do opposite of what you know to be right should be eliminated or kept at a distance. To help your children in this area, make sure you interact with families who have similar goals for their children and expose them to activities with goals that meet, or at least don’t contradict, your family’s goals.

Choose solid spiritual connections—Attend a Bible-believing church and hook up with Christian groups that have similar interests (like a book club, sports league or quilting bee). These are great ways to stay encouraged and focused on your goals.

When you have a plan, you can fulfill the job of gatekeeper and lead your family to the best God has for them.

Copyright 2009 by Rhonda J. Smith