Love you all, praying for you.
I just love God’s Word, it builds character. What is character? What marks you and defines you. What you’re known for – that’s reputation, character is even broader than that. Character is who you are and what you do when no one is looking, whether at peace or under pressure. Your reputation eventually will match your character. Reputation without matching character will eventually alter your reputation. Time will make sure they match. When I was a kid, a popular candy was Now & Later’s - tangy flavors of little squares in a packet. But in life, most things aren’t now and later, they start with - Now or Later. First you decide that, and after you get good at the now, you will also get good at the later – as it just becomes the now, of a different time. One of the great choices that reveal character is now or later. What do you do now? and what do you leave til later? God is a now God, he’s also a later God. In life, timing is everything. There is a time and season for everything under the sun, just as there is a time and procedure for every matter. Jesus promised that he would return, that has not happened yet. It will come later, suddenly in the twinkling of an eye, when people least expect it. It will be as it was in the days of Noah. God’s promises are for later – in the fullness of time. But what about the things that are right now? When it comes to personal character and responsibility – what are you? Are you a now person, or a later person? Even the world has figured this out. It might have been Benjamin Franklin who said, Do not put off til tomorrow what you can do today. That is good counsel. God is a now, God. Today is the day of Salvation. Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts. God hates a perverse tongue. Perverse is not perverted, the latter address morality, the former address obedience. Perverse means to delay instead of obey. The first example of perversity in the Bible. The serpent asked Eve, did God really say that? When the resounding yes, returned, he then said, that’s because God knows that… and he followed it with a half-truth – the strategy of deception. God hates a perverse tongue – any words that put a delay in your obey. Turning it over in your mind, until you justify doing what God didn’t say, or God said not to. PiVAT before dinner – helps you get God’s plan for you for today. Do it – before dinner. But throughout the day, the Holy Spirit prompts you – He leads you and guides you. When that happens, how quickly do you obey? Is your character now or later? Do you obey now? or later... Not just big things… when something needs to be done, are you a person who does it now, or waits until later? Whether the trash needs to be taken out, something needs to be done before tomorrow. Do you do it now? or wait until this afternoon, or after dinner, and then - before you go to bed. Do you ask God when? Do you Do It Now? Abraham was a now person. Obedience is for now. Praise is for now – when times are hard, when you’re going through something. Abraham obeyed immediately, “Early in the morning, he saddled his donkey and took Isaac with him and started off for Mount Moriah. He didn’t think about it, he didn’t gather opinions, He did it now. Joseph’s character was now. He didn’t wait around – he ran - leaving his coat in her hand. Boaz character was now. Naomi told Ruth, Boaz? Don’t worry, it will be done today, he will not rest until it is done. Wow. Is that what people say about you? "Oh she’ll it do it now. He’ll do it today, don’t worry..." Did Naomi talk to him? Is that what he told her. No, she knew his character, there was no doubt as to what he would do. Is that you? Is your character that of Boaz? What do people say you are – A now person, or a later person? Proverbs said chapter 6: Let no sleep come to your eyes – do it now, get out of debt (it’s a curse). The Ethiopian Eunuch when He heard the gospel, said, is there anything stopping me from being baptized right now? Obeyers have the now gene, disobeyers have the later gene. Herod kept John alive because he liked to listen to him. He was offended, but he knew it was the truth, he liked to hear it, he just didn’t obey it. Festus told Paul – after being convicted of the truth, I’ll call for you at a later time. God said the sluggard turns over on his bed, like a door turns on its hinges. The sluggard has a later gene, not a now gene. What about you? What has God told you to do? He only tells you to do two things. What He wants you to do today, and what He wants you to do every day. What is your character? When do you praise? Now or Later? When do you obey, now or later? When do you steward, work hard, share with others, give to those in need, encourage a brother, walk in daily relationship, get God’s plan for you? What is your character? Now or Later? Praying that you will do PIVAT before dinner, to get God’s plan for you today. And if you didn’t, that you would do it right now, its never to late to obey. Most people need gene therapy, to replace the later gene with the now gene. It just takes one decision at a time. Just do it now. Every time you obey right now, every time you do what needs done now instead of wait til later, you are growing in obedience and resisting the devil, walking in victory – and joy always comes with it. Praying that your PRISM time with God would start with Praise the Word first thing in the morning. Praying that you would do everything that God told you to do today. My wife always has her clothes laid out the night before – so in the morning when it’s time for work – she is ready, not delayed. What do you do now? And what do you leave for later? What is your character and therefore unavoidably your reputation? Do you steward God’s things well? Do you put it away before you do something else? Or do you do something else before you put it away? Is it finished? Or is something always undone? Do you hear and obey? Or hear and delay? Praying that your character will be like Abraham – who did it now, like Joseph, and Boaz and Daniel, and Phineas, and Esther. People of character are now people, not later. Because if they are now, they will also be later. They know what needs to be done now, they do it immediately, so later – they are free to do what God tells them. If God speaks and you do it now, He can tell you something else. If not, He can’t. He’s still waiting on you to do what He told you. Most things aren’t big things. How many times did God tell Abraham to leave the Ur of the Chaldees, or sacrifice his son? Not many. If you’re faithful in the little, you’ll be faithful in the big. Do you make your bed in the morning? Do you praise even before you see the answer? Do you finish before resting, or rest before finishing? What are you known for? What is your character? Praying that every time people speak of you, it will be like Naomi spoke of Boaz. “Oh, he won’t rest until it’s done. He’s just like that”. He’s just an obeyer, He’s just excellent, she’s just completely trustworthy, dependable, you can count on him, you can count on her.” Now is the day of Salvation, now is the perfect time to obey, now is the time to move your feet, to say I will bless the LORD at all times, His praise will continually be in my mouth. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. And we will start right now! Praying that you will always be instant in obedience, that you won’t delay anything God will say. That your character and your reputation is now, not later. So you are always ready for what God will say next so He can use you - to do what He wants to do! Love you all, dad
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AuthorKelly Kamentz - Jesus follower, husband, father, and friend, helping others surrender time, thoughts, money, and testimony, to fulfill their purpose! Archives
November 2024
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