Giving God What Is Right, Not What You Have Left!
1 Peter 2:19-21 Amplified Bible (AMP)
19For one is regarded favorably (is approved, acceptable, and thankworthy) if, as in the sight of God, he endures the pain of unjust suffering. 20[After all] what kind of glory [is there in it] if, when you do wrong and are punished for it, you take it patiently? But if you bear patiently with suffering [which results] when you do right and that is undeserved, it is acceptable and pleasing to God. 21For even to this were you called [it is inseparable from your vocation]. For Christ also suffered for you, leaving you [His personal] example, so that you should follow in His footsteps.
Yesterday was one of those days, where the blissfulness of life was missing and I was screaming on the inside for God to do something to relieve the pressure that I so felt pressing my head and heart. There were moments yesterday that I wanted to say things and do some things that would have missed the target and the mark, for my walk (I am learning situations and people can take you there if you let them). Last night as I found myself deep in prayer trying to get my bearings I seemed to be in a place where I was saying to God “well Lord I have already endured much, and I have still loved and served you and did right by people even when they have not done the same for me.” I felt exhausted and felt like stopping my press to pray and keep it together. But instead I pressed in further, I began to pray harder and seek God’s wisdom a bit more, still not feeling this process at all, because I wasn’t seeing any change or feeling any relief.
This morning as I read through some scriptures this scripture in Peter jumped out at me, also one in Job. It is easy to give God what we think is acceptable when our life is bliss, our relationships are going well, and it seems the enemy has left the building and the air we are breathing seems like it is coming straight from Heaven. But what happens when it gets tough, what happens when people do not do what we want them to, what happens when we are down to our last and it seems that God has turned off His phone? How are we then? Are we lashing out at people, and God? Are we shut down, shut up and in refusal to do or seek God because He isn’t moving or answering? Are we in a mood, feeling some kinda way, and feeling as if we are in our right to act up, act out, have a moment to have a tantrum or to cuss, fuss and blow God off when He is asking us push, we tell Him, not today we aren’t in the mood? Think for a moment on the day that God told Christ that He must suffer, bleed and die for us, not himself but us; what if He responded to God with I am not in the mood today, or I have already suffered enough for one life time, where would we be? But in spite of what He was feeling He gave not only God what was right through His obedience but He gave us what was right instead of what we had left over or left after He had ministered and lived and exemplarily life.
My Husband and my Spiritual daughter are always fussing at me to take time down and away, because of the responsibilities that I have on me and the things that I carry, because they say that I don’t need to give what is left of me to my husband or in ministry scenarios. They are constantly telling me it is the right thing to do. Just as it is the right thing to do to minister to yourself, it is also the right thing to do to give God what is right in spite of who is doing you wrong, and what we are not getting from Him in those moments. Not what is left after our attitude is right, or we come out of a place. It is easy to do right for most people and God when the pressure is not one, but will we maintain a Godly posture, response, press and affection even when things are not roses and lilies, butterflies and sunshine? Give God what is right not what is left, even when it challenges your flesh and requires you to do what you don’t want to do. Christ did it for us, now let’s do it for Him!
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