One Or The Other

Love you all, praying for you.
 
I just love God’s Word – it’s simple, straight forward, but it leaves some things for you to seek out.  It shares truth in principles, and specific commands. Sometimes it speaks plainly - Ten Commandments.  Yet Jesus spoke in parables.  Have you ever noticed the human tendency to argue about what it more important between two things?  Most people are more interested in winning the argument, than applying the things.  Even in spiritual issues.  I remember arguing when I was younger, Prayer or Worship – which is more important?  Is this an argument?  Both are needed.   Sitting in His Presence? Or doing the work He told you?  What changes you the most?  Is this a competition?  Are not both needed?  The work of God is to believe in the One he sent.  And yet.  Jesus said, I have come to do the will of the one who sent me.  God didn’t say, I’ve found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, He will believe everything I want him to believe…  No, it says I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, he will do everything I want him to do.  God said He is always working.  God’s Word says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.   And then it says in James 2:20 – How foolish!  Do you want evidence that faith without works is useless?  Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?  You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.  And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.  And he was called God’s friend.”  So not everything is one or the other.  Whether worship or prayer, sitting in his presence and being changed, or obeying what He told you and being changed.  Whether without faith it is impossible to please God or faith without works is dead.  The things we might think are one or the other, either-or, are perhaps more often both-and.  Praying that you won’t debate in your mind, or with others, between things both needed.  But that you would put on the whole armor of God, use all the tools that God has given you, to do everything He wants you to do – PiVAT before dinner will help you – it’s how you know what He wants you to do.  PRISM throughout the day will help you, it’s how you know what He wants you to know.  Praying that you will be in his presence, exercise the faith He has given you, and do every thing He tells you to do.  So that you grow up together in him to become the image of God in Jesus Christ.  What a journey!  Every choice of His presence, every choice of obedience – will bring you closer to Him, a better reflection of Him, and full of the joy He brings.  His love for you endures forever, and the command He gives?  Love One Another.  Praying that you will grow in wisdom, stature, and favor, unity and maturity in Him – so your testimony overcomes, and your joy abounds…
 
Love you all,
dad