Encouragement

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I awoke this morning with the word “tradition” in my mental focus. There are many things going on in my life currently, and I took a few minutes to examine where I was really following God, and to see if there were places where I was slipping into the traditions of what I knew from the world. I do this often, to make sure that I am in forward motion.

There are times when we rely upon our own ability and stop trusting and believing in God to see us through; although we may not be aware that that’s what we’re doing. For instance, I have a great passion for writing and for teaching. The vision statement for this ministry is to preach, teach, evangelize, and to grow ministries. In other words, helping other people reach their full potential through Christ Jesus. God has taken the things of my past, even since early childhood, and molded them throughout my worldly experiences into something useful for kingdom building.

Many times, we believe that when we receive salvation we are going to get brand new and awesome gifts and suddenly become something or somebody we have never been before. God takes what we have been and uses them for His glory and our good. The sin of the obsession or passion is removed, and the basic gift or skill can remain. For example, one of my gifts is in administration and organization—leadership. My secular bosses have seen this in me and used it to their advantage in business. God, however, gave me those gifts and the opportunities to hone the skills and then use them for His kingdom. When I received salvation, I had one foot in each domain—one in the world, and one in the Kingdom of God. It was necessary for me to keep my secular positions while I was drinking the “milk” of the Word. I couldn’t understand dependence upon God for my every need.

I was caught up in the traditions of man. They had been my source of strength and support.

“But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols: I am the Lord your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them; And hallow my Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God.” Ezekiel 20:18-20 KJV

God has given us an exhortation of how we can be free from the worldly traditions, while at the same time living in the world; and to show him that we mean what we say with our mouths and actions—keep His Sabbaths that it will be a sign between us individually and as a body, that we will gain the further testimony of God being who He says He is.

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.” 1 Peter 1:18-21

Who is your trust in today—if it is still in your boss and corporate paycheck, I encourage you to know that it is the Lord your God who meets your needs. If you’re still with one foot in and one foot out of His Kingdom, jump into the Kingdom with both feet.

And finally, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Colossians 2:8

PRAYER: Lord, I seek Your face; let it shine upon me today. Cut away anything that would keep me from your perfect will. Thank you for giving me passion for the things that bring you glory. Help me to increase in the ways that are pleasing to you, and keep the traditions of man away from my mind and heart. I desire to become a new creature in you. Even though I have been on this walk, each day I am new in You. Thank you, Jesus. Amen

Shalom and greater journey,

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