Real Think Inc.

     After we’ve read a thousand books, and written some, and after we’ve heard ten thousand sermons, and sung a million words of worship,  and after we’ve “given it all” to Him again, and after we’ve been anointed six times and counting; there still came no end to our thirst.

     How, then, do I cast all my care on Him?  How do I drink the water he talks about so I will never be thirsty again?  (1 Peter 5:7––John 4:14)

     The answer really isn’t just an answer. Answers are different than a way. Neither is it much work on my part.  It’s easy, like He promised. And the burden is ridiculously light in comparison to all the oppression religion dumps on us.

     The devil loves religion. He uses it to condemn us. Sometimes our closest friends do the same. Jesus, our very closest Friend, does not.  Neither does the Holy Spirit. They love us through our difficulties and, they get us through them.

      Jesus said He is the way.  Oh brothers and sisters, we do need practical wisdom, but we won’t have arrived, not that way; not by the reasoning of the mind. 

     We will sacrifice, pay off our homes, and pile up some money or investments.  Those are a few ideas.  

     Some of us will be even more conservative; find employment that promises wealth for later, with pensions, and health benefits. We trust these ideas, but these are “unfunded liabilities;” which means that unions, government heads, and businesses have promised us a prosperous retirement.  Coming up with the money is their problem, not mine, right?  That is another plan.

     Lots of people won’t make it that far in life anyway; life is pretty fragile, but these are practical plans, and have nothing to do with faith–– in His care if us.  They are ideas which may or may not work. 

     Some do better than others, there’s little fair about it, and we die alone, maybe while others watch. If that were the end, it totally stinks, and each of us will come to the end.  

     I have to ask myself, and you, because it is rare, if any do it, that we cast our care on Him.

     How do we cast ALL our cares on Him?  Does this not require greater faith than we can muster? Maybe we should pray all night, fast all day, and give all we have to the poor. Is there someone out there who is doing this? Casting ALL always? If so, they must be very proud.   They are much greater than me.  I cannot. 

     So, Buddy what’s the secret?  The secret is to come to “HIM.”

     ‘It’s too easy,’ you say.   But this is the rest:  Listen.

     Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29-29). 

     I find my rest.  I lose my cares; when I come to Him. 

     Reader, let’s come unto Him.  We may not leave with plans, but we will leave with peace and the guiding principal: the Comforter who comforts us.

      We must and we may, “Come unto Him” anytime; any moment. When we feel our grip is weak––His is not. 

     Everything we read in the Bible, everything He did on earth, and His current preparation in heaven is for us, because he loves us.  

     There is no more a welcome place than Him.  “Come unto me,” he’s saying.

Buddy

We  have life because someone other than ourselves determined that we would be born. During our lives here, Jesus taught that we “Will have tribulation.” (John 16:33)

The most common way people deal with unavoidable suffering is to “count their blessings.” This seems to fit with the scripture saying that if there is anything good or of pure report, to think on such things. (Philippians 4:8)

Yet, if we encourage ourselves by comparing our good fortune to another’s misfortune, have we really taken hold of the foundation upon which thanksgiving truly rests?

In scripture we also read that we comfort others with the same comfort by which we have been comforted. Is it not better to find thankfulness on an equal base with all people?

Genetic propensity has it that my heart is healthier than a friend of mine. Again, I had nothing to do with this. If I base my thankfulness on that fact that I have a healthier heart am I not actually indifferent to him? Isn’t it like saying, “I am grateful that I am not as you?”

The truth is, we all will suffer tribulation and our reason for hope is that Jesus Christ overcame the world.   Seeing another suffer should not be the base for healthy positive thinking, it should be an eye-opener and should cause compassion to rise up in me.

The things that are pure and of good report are those thoughts, every one of them, founded in the Gospel––the amazing good news.

True thankfulness is never boastful or in comparing, but is always founded on God’s graceousness to us.  As Christians, we don’t ‘knock on Wood,’ or ‘thank our lucky stars.’ Those are just sayings.

Jesus reminded us not to “rejoice ever that spirits submit to us, but to rejoice that our names are written down in heaven.” (Luke 10:20)

I cannot be made happy by comparing my friend’s unhealthy heart to my healthy heart.  I am thankful with an ache in my heart wanting those, who like me will suffer tribulation, to know the reason we can ALL be of good cheer.

Buddy

     “RAP” is a wonderful, beautiful, talented––meek, but fierce advocate of the Lord through the word––woman of God we’ve been privileged to know.

      When I became a new Christian, I would sneak into the back of the room to hear her teach the area women the word of God.

     Early in the morning I would read my Bible. Then I would listen to Christian radio.  Stories of Great Christians and Unshackled would give me goose bumps.  The lives of men of God meeting challenge became embedded in my thoughts never to leave.

     When I worked second shift I enjoyed Tuesday Morning (the group name) with Ruth Ann Polston.  When I worked first shift I enjoyed Wednesday night church with Pastor Polston. They encouraged everyone to share what God was showing us.

     We didn’t need to be told to put off the old man and the ways of our former lives. We had found Christ at the altar the first visit to church. No one can ever understand the joy of salvation as the one who has also opened their heart to Him.

     It’s real; it’s really true that He loves us.   He did give His life for us, and He does come into us when we come to Him. The joy of salvation has always been an exclamation of believers.  In the Psalms David craved the return of that joy when he had gone astray.

     We are, as the Bible explains, like sheep. We graze here and there, not paying attention to where our grazing takes us. When we compromise wisdom in looking for happiness, we will find our happiness lost.

      The Lord is A Shepherd, He looks for lost sheep.  He restores the willing to Himself.  Most of us are unfamiliar with this kind of intense mercy until we experience His. To be “saved” by the Savior is the single most important factor in becoming a Christian.  

     It might take awhile, but eventually we begin to realize we must “Put off” the old, and “Put on” the new person ( Colossians3:8).  

     The devil will make that seem impossible, a burden too great to accomplish, a life with no fun.  He tempts us; we cave, and then he accuses us. (Revelations 12:10). 

     What then?  The Savior, like the Shepherd He is, comes to us. He is not interested in the shame we experience except to take it away. He took OUR shame on the cross.  This is the truth.  The devil is “the father of lies” (John 8:44). 

      “We are not our own, we have been bought with a price” (1 Corinthians 6:20).

     “The LORD your God in the midst of you is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over you with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17). 

     Friends, step forward with confidence in Him and Him alone.  He who saves the willing, keeps the willing, and continuously loves His sheep.

Buddy