Note: We have been posting blog articles on the church app. However, we’ve decided to once again add them to our website.

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Our desire to control our circumstances and control our image may very well be one of the greatest threats to our relationship with God. The stronger our desire to control our circumstances and our image, the deeper pride and ego are rooted in our hearts! And it all goes back to the Garden of Eden!

What a high price we pay for this! It brings down everyone from Presidents to Pastors and Everyone in between! Thankfully, God is merciful to all of us!

Why is desiring control such a problem? Because it leads us away from a dependency on God. It leads us to a place where we are our own hope, a place where we become our own source of truth and life. Ultimately, it reflects fear that maybe God doesn’t know best or that He has forgotten us! Where our accomplishments take center stage. We draw glory to ourselves. Pursuing this path of control takes us places we never want to go!

It leads to:

· Loss of integrity- both how we view ourselves and how others see us

· Loss of relationship as we force others to bend to what we think is best

· Damage to our witness of Jesus to the outside world

· Sacrifice of the good God intended- to be a blessing to the people and the world around us

· And most importantly- We fail God by taking His place in our lives!

In the past- when life was easy, we often fell into right into our enemy’s trap! We made our hobbies extreme and our faith sedate! We were bold! …on Face Book ! We were brave! …on Instagram ! Too many times, we were just obnoxious- burning bridges and closing down conversation by forgetting to be kind, gentle, patient, and willing to listen more than we speak- particularly to those who do not know the deep love of our Lord Jesus Christ. Even writing this, I’m reminded of the times I’ve fallen so far short of what God intended.

Maybe during this time, God is resetting the church in America. Maybe God is resetting my heart. Is God killing off the American dream? Or is He just making us rethink how we live! The world says “Our hope is in a return to normal!” - That is the hope of those who don’t know Him! Our God says, “Our hope is in the faithfulness of Jesus Christ to us and in His Triumphant return”. (Titus 2:11-14) In days like this, where there’s much change and turmoil, we can run, we can fight what we can’t change, or we can rest in Him and watch him work through us.

So how do we live? The answer is found in the book of Romans. Read Romans 12 with me.

Paul wrote this during his third missionary journey in about 57 AD- during the time of Nero. Talk about a tough time to be a follower of Jesus! Rome was an influential city of about a million people from all over the world. Highly diverse, a center of commerce. Known as a place of worshiping multiple gods. It was also a place where the church was growing- where God had work for His people!

Romans 12: “1I I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. “

The great Apostle Paul presents three perspectives of life and these verses: 1- God’s View; 2- The World’s View; and 3- Our View.

God’s View is always the one to hold near and dear. We belong to Him if we claim to be His! The system of Old Testament sacrifices was completed in Jesus at the cross. He wants us first to live for Him before we’d ever die for Him. We’re now walking, breathing, living, offerings to God- set aside for His use, His purposes, and His Glory in the very places He has placed us. Our worship of Him means more than singing, more than knowing about Him and His ways. This means so much more than sin avoidance. This means more than the pursuit of holiness. As important as those are, being a living sacrifice means living a life which focuses on God’s Heart, His plan to reach a lost world instead of turning away from it, a life which sacrifices our own desires in order to be about the work of the Kingdom. Our job is to display His heart of love as well as presenting His truth. It’s a good reminder to look at our neighbors and coworkers as we would look at and treat beloved family members that are not Christ followers… and to be praying for them.

In contrast to God’s view of life, those who don’t know Him have a difference perspective of what life is all about. Those in the world often fight for recognition, honor, titles, and glory, believing only the elite few are wise. They may fight for money, security, dominance, riches, and pleasure.

But most likely, they are just doing the best they can to survive and thrive. Sounds like you and I before we surrendered our lives to Him, doesn’t it?

God says the “wisdom” of the world is foolishness (I Corinthians 1:25), but make no mistake, His heart breaks for those who don’t know Him- and ours should as well. It’s a tricky walk to be in the world but not of it. He warns us in verse 2 of Romans 12, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” This warning must have been important. Paul also warned the Colossians and the Ephesians about this very trap. How do we test and discern the will of God? By reading and absorbing The Word and through asking God in prayer, obtaining wise counsel. None of this will ever conflict with the truth found in the Bible but His answer may conflict with our own thoughts and preferences.

Our own view of what life should be may also conflict with God’s heart. The next few verses give us insight into human nature.

“3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”

It’s an uncomfortable truth, but in order to think more highly of ourselves, we must think less of others! We can fall into this easily! When we fall into demanding our own way, we’re then just like the world! This view is in contrast to God who gives each person different roles and places in life but the same value! I’m not always successful at thinking more highly of others- But when I realize it in the way I act or talk, I’d rather humble myself instead of being humbled by God! What about you?

Sadly, sometimes we have the opposite problem and believe God has failed in how He has designed us. We think we are without value and without the skills, gifts, and talents we need to make a difference in our world. Yet, the verses that follow , verses 6 through 9, remind us this isn’t so:

“6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads,[f] with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.”

Our good and loving God would not send us out into the world without giving us what we need and the companionship of others! Yes, His love and commitment to us is that deep.

We’re all gifted differently, and our church is a place where everyone has value and can get involved. Most importantly, we are to go about God’s business with His heart. And Paul ends the chapter with these words of wisdom:

“9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

True to plan, things won’t always go the way we want. When people outside and inside the church hurt us, we’ll have to choose to forgive, choose to bless, choose to pray, and choose to keep going. This may be the biggest test in the Control vs. Faith and Obedience battle we all fight. But it’s a fight worth fighting! God’s name will be glorified throughout all the earth!

Will we take control? Will we choose a lesser path? Or will we consent to God’s plan? I want to be part of that, and I’m sure you do. So, let’s lock arms and hearts as we do the work of His Kingdom in His strength and power and leading to reach those around us.