The Best Pathway For Our Life 2

The world loves to show us the best life is one full of fortunes and riches and this makes one think of one as prosperous.   This worldly way of understanding can mislead one to chase after fortunes and riches and never be happy or at peace.   I know from experience that money causes more problems then not having money.  You have money- you have to put it in a bank that isn't going to charge you for using that money, you have to spend that money or it can be used against you, you have to protect what you spend the money on and then in a few months or years you have to replace what you bought for something newer and more efficient.

So what does God say prosperity. 

PROSPERITY

“Nevertheless, the time will come when I will heal Jerusalem’s wounds and give it prosperity and true peace.” Jeremiah 33:6 (NLT)

In the original Hebrew translation "prosperity and true peace" is translated into "abundance of peace and truth."

Being rich to God is you and I really understanding the depth of His love for us.   It is trusting God to a point you and I have a sound mind no matter the circumstances in life.  It's not about having peace because we are rich - it is about having peace because we have God who is all truth.  Riches "can" bring one under captivity of the world.  I say "can" because there were rich people such as Abraham and Job who were rich but they saw a relationship with God was more important then any amount of material wealth. 

"The name of the LORD is a strong fortress: the godly run to him and are safe.  The rich think of their wealth as a strong defense; they imagine it to be a high wall of safety.  Haughtiness goes before destruction: humility precedes honor." Proverbs 18:10-12

CAPTIVITY

"I will be found by you,” says the LORD.  “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes.  I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.” Jeremiah 29:14 (NLT)

Interesting enough the word “fortunes” is translated in the Hebrew word “Shebuwth” which means “captivity”.

"I will end your captivity and restore your captivity.....?"

Some might say, "That doesn't make sense" but in God's perspective it makes perfect sense.

We must understand in God's understanding that we can either be captive to the world or captive to God.   Remember Jesus saying we can't serve two masters both God and money? (Matthew 6.) 

Being “captive” to God is understanding we are his prized possession.  Is understanding our heavenly Father already knows all our needs and he will give us all we need from day to day if we live for him and make the Kingdom of God our primary concern. (Matthew 6)

“He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word.  And we, out of all creation, become his prized possession.”  James 1:18

“But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people.  You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession.  As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9

Being prosperous and captive in the Lord can be illustrated and seen in Psalm 23

“The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need.  He lets me rest in green meadows; leads me beside peaceful streams.  He renews my strength.  He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.  Even when I walk through the dark valley of death I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.  Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.  You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.  You welcome me as a guest, anointing my head with oil.  My cup overflows with blessing.  Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.”

KNOWING WHERE LIFE IS

John speaking about Jesus: “He created everything there is.  Nothing exists that he didn’t make.  Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone.  The light shines through the darkness, and darkness can never extinguish it.”   John 1:3-5

Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”  Johns 14:6

Jesus said, “Yes, I am the gate.  Those come in through me will be saved.  They will come and go free and will find good pastures.  The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.  My purpose to give them a rich and satisfying life.” John 10:9-10 (NLT)

Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.  I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”  John 10:10

“Abundantly” means to exceed our expectation in this life.  God wants to exceed our expectations in this life.  He wants to show us things that we didn't even think were possible in this life.  These are treasures no one can steal.

Knowing life is Jesus and Jesus is God.  What should that path of our life look like in him? 

It will reflect Jesus not the world

Look at the concordance with me.  Life defined by God's word.

A. Life is the absolute fullness of life both essential and ethical, which belongs to God, and through him both the "hypostatic “logo” and to Christ in whom the “logos” put on human nature. 

 B. Life- real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world to those who put their trust in Christ, and resurrected after this life in a more perfect body to last forever.

WANTS AND DESIRES

Some people do and some don’t want to hear God is the path for them.   People don’t want to hear they are captive to either this world or to God.  They want to believe they are "free spirits" but free spirits of what?  Free spirits of whatever their flesh wants?  Sounds great but what does it harvest in the end?  And to whom and what ideals are they really serving?  Love you free spirits but you are being tricked and into dangerous falsehood that endangers you very souls.

Jesus said to the disciples: "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross and follow me. If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it.  But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life.  And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose yours own soul in the process?  Is anything worth more than your soul?  For I, the Son of Man, will come in the glory of my Father with his angels and will judge all people according to their deeds."  Matthew 16:24-27

I was there once there myself and God is continually showing me His Path in Him (Life) for me.

People want to follow their own path, which is often directed, by their own fleshly wants and desires.   Those who follow such thoughts, wants and desires find themselves in a world that is never content or at rest.  And we cannot live with one foot in both worlds.   Our heart and mind will either be captive by this world or captive to Christ.   Either we will be content and not want in Christ or we will be not contented and continued to want in this lost hamster wheel world -- for you don’t have to look too far to see proof of that.   Those captive to Christ overcome this world in their trust and faith in God.

So you and I have peace and are rich and prosperous if our heart, mind, and soul seeks and trusts God for we will see God in our lives and know we are God’s very own possession.   You have true life if you are devoted to God and you overcome this world if you trust in God.