God Leads Us (1 Corinthians 13:13)
Priority
Share your faith/Give someone hope/Show God’s love
“God leads us” why would we want it any other way? He knows us better than we know ourselves. He is the one who can make the impossible, possible. The ordinary, extraordinary. So why would we want it any other way.
He can guide us through anything, tackle the biggest monsters in our life, He an calm a stormy sea, and he can gently lead. All we need to do is follow.
How many here have or had a dad? How many here are sons? How many here are daughters. I was told a little interaction helps.
I remember as a child looking to my dad, thinking wow he can do anything! He was a hard working business man providing for his family of four adopted children. His passion was working in his workshop. Why he build his first house. I loved to watch and learn from him. He’d guide me as he taught me to run the circular saw, or make sure the drill bit was straight as I made a hole. He even pulled out a sliver in my thumb, where just five minutes before I smashed it with a hammer.
My mom was also hard worker right by his side, she is the one who would write up the plans for all of us. A to do list. We always didn’t see this as important so it didn’t get done as soon as she wanted, but it got done.
Priority, it is different for everyone. What we see as the main concern, others would put on the bottom of their list. God had a priority list as he tells us in Corinthians 13:13 ” …and now these three remain; faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
EXAMPLE
My husband Art is retired and receives a “to do” list. Not everyday, just when I see things that he does not. I will start with the things that I feel need to get done toot sweet and it’s funny how that list will change. His main concerns are what he’ll get done first and the list also grows. He’ll add chores that he sees needs to get accomplished, that I wouldn’t. Then what isn’t possible to accomplish will role over just like the minutes on a cell phone. But in the end we are both happy with what was completed. From 1 Corinthians I should learn to be specific what the main concern is, just as God has.
Romans 12:1-2
Paul tells us brothers and sisters, to give of ourselves to God. Let us be a living sacrifice. When you think of what he has done for us, is this too much to ask? Don’t copy the behavior and customs of the world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. Then you will learn from your own experiences how his ways will really suit you. We are instruments. And an instrument is something that is useless without direct leading. We must surrender ourselves to God’s leading to perform his will in our lives.
He created each of us so unique and individual that how could we go about anything the same? But the ultimate priority is Love. It is out of our love we are able to give ourselves to God.
Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 13 as he taught believers how to live for Christ in a godless society that the greatest of three is love. Here Paul points out the main concern, the priority.
When we think of what God has done for us….
It’s a subject that we will never ever be able to fully express with the human tongue. It’s our actions that allow God to Lead Us. We become Jesus with Skin on as we …
Share our Faith: In the work place, the neighborhood, or share God’s promise with those around us. It’s not always the most comfortable thing to do, but by pushing yourself each day (or challenge for the better word) to share God and his love, it will become easier and you won’t be able to stop yourself. I have a dear friend Mary who is a super volunteer at my old church and we’ve worked together for almost 20 years. She is the Supervisor and Trainer over 33 employees at Faegre and Benson and I’d like to share some words from her:
“ I think I’m in the Word and prayer so much that it just bubbles out of me to talk with people. It’s so much a part of my life I don’t really have anything else to talk about. I do ask the Lord every morning to take my sins and my dirty rags and fill me with His Holy Spirit, so when you’re filled, you can’t help but leak out. I have a hard time not speaking out. It’s kind of a no no at work and I occasionally get into trouble, but Jesus said, “If you acknowledge me before men, I will acknowledge you before my Father in heaven. If you deny me before men, I will deny you before my Father in heaven.” That makes me share my faith even at work.
A retreat center for upper elementary kids in Lorretto we teach the children about heaven, and what the Bible says about how we can live with God forever. Then we help the children understand that God wants all his people. So it’s up to us to share this message. We then had the kids make laminated signs that say “Be There.” They came back to church and posted them all over. When people would ask, “Be Where?” the children could share the good news with them.
Give someone hope: Without God there is no hope! Without God leading us how can we possibly answer the question from someone who is going through a major life-change with “I hope so?” We need to continually seek God so that we know and see the hope first. Then with confidence we can guide that person with prayer. It tells us in Philippians 4:4-7..4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Some people feel weak and we can give them vs from
Phil 4:13 ”I can do everything through him who gives me strength”!
When someone is hurting or shares a concern or need, listen, then stop everything and pray. Always asking first if you can pray with them now, then pray. God will deliver to you words that they need to hear. When God does a work in your life, he empowers you to help others through tough trials.
Show God’s love: The love of God shines through us. We find it hard to keep his love inside. God is so awesome, and he knew that when he brought his son home to be with him, we would need continual strength and guidance. So he left us his Holy Spirit. Once God has hold of us we can accomplish anything. Our actions of charity helping at Feed My Starving Children”, or CROSS, or going on a mission trip are only a few ways of showing God’s love. Going out of your way for a friend, caring for someone who is sick, dog-sitting and not asking for a dime. These are some great visuals of God’s love.
We pass people everyday, and we have no clue what is happening in their life, and we can show God’s love with smile, a nod, or hello. We become Jesus with skin on and carry an attitude of gratitude. Giving him thanks.
As you go day by day in this world, be careful, don’t copy the behaviors and customs of this world, keep your priorities lined up.
Everything is aimed at our main concern, GOD. The God who Leads Us.
Pray
9And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.