Look to the Son to walk in His righteousness
Ever feel like you need a vacation from being nice? Don’t you get tired of always doing the right thing? I’m ready for a break from smiling through my circumstances. Aren’t you? Other people don’t censor their speech, why should I!? Just once, can’t I strike back instead of turning the other cheek? Are you thinking I need a vacation from living right, right about now? Do you? It’s just easier to be nasty and mean, isn’t it? Doesn’t it take too much energy to be meek and humble? Living life as an ambassador for good and God is costly, isn’t it? Aren’t you ready to give up the fight? How about being the goody-two-shoes all the time? Time to walk away? Do you think, “I want a holiday from godly living.”? Has taking the high road left you drained and tired? Just this once, don’t you wish you could be the bad guy and get away with it? Maybe it’s time for us to take a vacation all right! We need to vacate the thought that living for God is a job. It’s time to live free from religious thinking and going through the motions of living like Jesus. Godly living is not a job or obligation. It’s a privilege. It is an honor to serve Him the way He wants to be served. Doing the right thing, loving others and correct living are joyful responses to the gifts of salvation, mercy and love God has given to us. We need to take a vacation from living under our own power. Time to stop relying on our own strength to make the right choices. Right-thinking, humbleness and strength doesn’t come from any part of us. It comes from reaching in and drawing on the power of Holy Spirit. If we could do it through our own capabilities, why would we need God? When you surrender yourself completely to Him (mind, body and soul) you come to realize you are no longer toiling and working hard to achieve the unachievable. When you rely on you, you’re bound to get tired of trying to do the right thing all the time. When you rely on God, you are at peace and don’t easily get tired.
You know it’s not your strength you are using, it’s His. It is time to take a holiday from putting ourselves first. We’ve got to start putting the requirement of fulfilling God’s requirements ahead of our own personal feelings and agendas. If we think about it correctly, it’s not about me and it’s not about you but it’s all about the Kingdom of God. Vacate self and live in Christ.So when you start feeling like living a Christ-like life is just too much hard work, remember it’s vacation time from the bondage of sin, shame and unrighteousness. It’s vacation time from obligatory and religious thinking. It’s vacation time from operating in your own strength.When you’re ready to throw in the towel, walk away and go on a “Get-away-from-Jesus” holiday, let God Himself remind you He never forsakes us or leaves us for any reason. He never takes a vacation from loving and having mercy on us.
Ever.
