A Not So New World Order

When we say the word "order," I am sure a lot of things come to mind. I order food. I ordered him to do this. But, what I want to speak about is God's natural order -- His Not So New World Order.

God reminds us consistently through His word that there is an order to life that He wants to bring His children to. And, God is a God of order and of plan. For a moment, I want us to think about His order of life in general. I explain.

For example, there is an order to running -- you crawl, fall, walk, and then learn to run. It can't be bypassed. God has an order for His children. Work on the most important first and then the rest will come in time. For example, Prov, 24:27: "Finish your outdoor work and get your fields ready; after that, build your house." To be very practical, I think the message is, you have got to eat and put the work in first on your fields. Then, you build the house. To build the house and have no food puts the cart before the horse. No food, no need for a house (you won't be alive :-)).

Applying that very simplistic principle, our "outdoor work" as His children is our character. It's like a field because it has to be continually, tilled, plowed, checked for weeds, fertilized, and fumigated to kill insects (sin and self). But, there MUST be a commitment to our fields -- our hearts. If not, there's no sense in building a house. The house to me would be anything else that adds to life. Our tedency, however, is to go after, the car, literally the house, the spouse, etc. without making a commitment to the field. When this happens we put His order upside down. And, so, we must make a commitment to the HARD outside work of our hearts and developing our character. Now, here is the cool promise, as we make that commitment and we push we are told in Heb. 10:36 & 39: "You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. ... But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved."

We will receive what He has promised -- you put in what that means to you. For me, John 10:10b -- ABUNDANT LIFE.

Are you tilling the field? Do you have a commitment to the outdoor work? If so, take refuge in this -- you will receive what He has promised!