God rewards our ‘worthless life’ when sacrificed for Him with a ‘new life’ worthy of any sacrifice!

Good Morning! Recently, I was reminiscing with some old high school buddies about our days as members of the North Love Lancer basketball team.  During our conversation, one of the first memories recalled were the grueling preseason “camp weeks” that occurred each summer prior to the commencement of the school year.

Oh, friend, how I loathed those weeks of my life!  You see, our coach, Ron Greene, loved to watch his team run.  And run we did!  I’m not talking about a few sprints at the end of practice, oh no, I’m talking about running around the perimeter of the church lot for large chunks of the day.  Without exaggeration, I would guess we ran enough to complete at least two marathons during each of those “camp weeks”.

Each time my teammates and I completed a “circuit” (45-min run), we would stand bent-over gasping for breath as Coach Greene assured us, “sacrifice for me one week now, fellas, and you’ll thank me when you’re hoisting-up that championship trophy!”  Well, we never did win that trophy, but we were, in fact, a better team for our effort.  More importantly, each man on the team learned a valuable character lesson-sometimes one must give something away in order to gain something of far greater value.

The morning following my chat with these old friends, I awoke early to meet with the Lord.  Soon I found myself fixed in the book of Romans.  Upon finishing chapter 11 and proceeding into 12, I froze… it felt as if the Holy Spirit had just leapt from the pages of my Bible into my heart.  In verse one, the Bible says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.”

Although I have previously extracted an untold amount of truth from this verse, the Spirit of the Lord sought to show me more…  Man, I love when He does that!!  Anyway, I slowly began to crystallize a fantastic thought that had never registered before-one which made me appreciate those dreaded “camp weeks” of my past all the more.

In Romans 12:1, Paul is begging us to lay down our worldly lusts and surrender completely to God-why? Because it is only reasonable we do so for the ONE who saved us from eternal death. But with only this verse to go by, it appears we are indebted to God, and this is the sole reason we should sacrifice our lives for Him. This is, of course, only half the truth.  Nonetheless, many live frustrated Christian lives thinking this way.  My friends, there are even more GOOD reasons to give our lives in sacrifice to God.  One of which is it’s reasonable, but the second of which is because it is rewardable!

I often see this mentality in our schools of discipleship.  Men and women (mostly baby-Christians) often arrive at our homes thinking, “I will live for God …it’s the least I can do for Him in return for Him saving me from my sin.”

What these students fail to realize when they initially arrive here is that there are two benefits to their recent salvation experience.  There’s justification-God saving us from an eternity in hell, and then there’s our sanctification-God saving us from the power of sin while we enjoy, in victory, His “championship” here are on earth.

However, as our students mature, they eventually realize living for God provides them with much more than just the satisfaction of “reasonable service”; for they learn  that by dying-to-self they place themselves under the “spout where His blessings come out”, so to speak.  What I mean by this is by the time these men and ladies graduate, they clearly see life is much better living IN Christ then it ever was living outside His will.  In other words, they have learned to internalize and thus capitalize on both benefits of their salvation!

Jesus, Himself, explains this reality in Matthew 16:25, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”  He is saying that in order to experience your best life (His life), you must first give up (lose) YOURS!

Remarkable!  Just as my teammates and I sacrificed dearly by enduring the stresses of rigorous training so we could become the best team possible, God wants us to sacrifice what we are now so we can ultimately have (His life), which is our best life possible.

And, there’s more.  While it took an inordinate amount of effort and sacrifice to be apt basketball players, it takes absolutely no effort on our part to sacrifice our lives for God.  Oh no, friend…He does all the work; all we need is FAITH coupled with simple submission!

Tell me this, if a 16 year-old boy could muster-up enough faith in his coach to labor until near meltdown because he told me I would be better off, why would I ever lack the faith in my Christian life’s Coach when He tells me by that by trusting Him I will be much better off as well?

Maybe it’s because sometimes I’d rather be good at “the game” than in glorifying His name.

Have a great day IN the Lord!
Steven Curington

NevertheLess I Live: Living Freely in a Bound WorldBuy Bro. Curington’s classic book, NevertheLess I Live, at our new RU E-Store for $18.00.
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Our Stinking Thinking is at the beginning of our sinning!

Hello and good morning!  My friend, as we begin our day may I ask you a question?  HOW IS YOUR MEDITATION PREPARATION?  HOW HAS IT BEEN? My prayer is that you have spent some time in sweet communion with our God this morning, for dwelling on God’s goodness during this special time of dedication with Him will indeed keep our meditations pure and holy throughout the day.

If you are like many of those with whom I work in Rockford and those I have met from chapters around the world, you have most probably gained a great victory over a majority of the external sins that bound you prior to coming to Christ.  But now, our Savior is focused on everything we have framed in our minds. The Bible tells us it is what’s on the inside of man that will ultimately defile him (Matthew 15:11). All throughout Scripture, we see all sin originates in the mind. God views a sinful thought, which we have chosen to frame in our minds, just the same as if we choose to engage, or act upon, that thought. Remember in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus called us to a greater accountability when He concluded that it is our motives that define our true level of godliness.  This is a truth that takes a measure of faith to accept; but accept it we must, friend!

Yes, indeed, Jesus equated sinful thinking with actual participation in the sin itself when He said: “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matthew 5:28)..

So we surely can see, we are defiled by what is found within-that is the origin of sin!  The Bible warns us to protect this because that is where the Spirit of God lives.  First Corinthians 3:16-17 says, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”

It is quite amazing to meditate on the fact that the Spirit of God dwells within us!  With that said, it is ever so important that we do not defile or ruin by moral influences the place where God lives.

Remember the Reformers Unanimous principle that says, “It is easier to keep the heart clean than it is to clean it after it has been defiled”?  Our ultimate goal as Christians should be to obtain holiness just as Christ Himself is holy.  We are to be like Him.  But, how do we achieve this desired goal?

If He abides inside, then we have His ability within us to think right thoughts.  We must listen to the Holy Spirit within us and use His motivational meditation preparations throughout the day.  He will tell us when we are wrong.  When He speaks, we are to yield to Him; and the more we yield to Him, the more we will be yielded to that which is holy, which means we will be Christ-like.

As this happens, we will find those thoughts that are framed in our minds are thoughts that are acceptable in His sight.  So, friend, spend time with Him so the battle you will win.  Let Him abide inside and be our Guide to stem the tide from the one who lies!

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The Umbrella of Protection: not to maximize your life but to magnify His life!

Note: the following blog is a small excerpt of Steve Curington’s newest book to be released in September, Recovery through God’s Fire.

The Protective Fire Feeding of Our Government Leaders

Managing our spiritual flames under our umbrella of protection (preacher, parents, teachers, employer, and government) will take a spirit of cooperation on our part. The word cooperation means “the act or instance of working together for a common purpose.” Will you allow others to manage your fire? Will you allow them to make decisions for you with little or no information about your preferences? Will you trust them with your spiritual and interpersonal fires?

The leadership God places over us will, if we allow them to make the decisions for us, keep our fires burning. But this type of sacrifice of your life’s decisions will take cooperation—advance meditations that promote cooperation with those who are working with you for a common purpose. What is that purpose?

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.” (Titus 2:11-15).

First, God wants us to become like Christ: to live soberly, righteously, and godly. This is the crucified Christian life. Secondly, He wants our lives to bring Him glory. He wants us to live a peculiar people who are zealous of good works. Finally, He wants us to reach more people for Him. To speak and exhort these things to those who need to learn the same. These three goals require cooperation. Not only with God, and His indwelling Spirit, but with the commands of His written word and the pressure of His ordained authorities who have Kingdom priorities as their guiding principles. Leadership is not here to make decisions that maximize your life; but rather that will magnify the Christ life!

The Protective Fire Feeding of Our Government Leaders

Our governmental leaders are not just our elected leaders, but they are God’s ordained electorate! I live in the land of Lincoln, the state of Illinois. I reside in Machesney Park, work in Rockford, and worship in Loves Park. I am a citizen of the greatest country in the world—the United States. If it were not for the justice system of this land and the leadership of our local and state governments, I would be a criminal behind bars with little hope of ever being a free man. I thank God for my country, my state, and my city. The greatest investments they have ever made in me were to enforce her rules on me as a juvenile delinquent. These are all things we cannot take for granted.

Whether you voted for them or not, agree with them or not, you are to be in subjection to them. Romans 13:1 teaches “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” Paul went on to teach in verse 2, “Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same.”

God wants to use these choicest of servants. But when we reject God-ordained leaders, we will always embrace an alternative. Like children who reject parents and embrace their friends, members who reject their pastors and build ties that blind and bind, students who choose infamous people over un-famous teachers and employees who are insubordinate to the chain of command, those who hate their government will often reject these powers as evil and try to refuse it. When that doesn’t work (which it won’t because you “can’t fight city hall”) then they move from a desire to refuse it to a manipulative desire to use it. They figure out how to get the system to work for them and they use if for their own benefit. The devil’s alternative to governmental sponsorship is personal entitlement. Instead of being a government of the people they want the government to be there for the people!

I believe it is the abuse of governmental social systems has been the primary reason for the lack of revival in America. If government can be leveraged for maximum personal benefit, why create your own fire and cook your own food on it? This ought not to be. Paul said that our governmental leadership “…is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil” (Romans 13:4).

This is the conclusion to the spiritual logs of umbrella theology. It is part of the protection God has created for us and part of His three-fold cord: internal persuasion of the Spirit of God, written proof of the Word of God, and external pressure (or, outside pressure) from God-ordained authority.

I am a man most fortunate. It may have taken me many years to fully understand what God has granted me. But, I now clearly understand this wonderful gift. I now use this gift to protect me from the dangerous elements that would damage my spiritual fires. This umbrella of protection has been the outside pressure that God has used to bear witness with His inside persuasion of the Holy Spirit. With this dual influence at work in my life, I have been able to make spiritually wise decisions. These fire protectors have helped me choose my life’s mate, Lori, and they have also helped me to develop our marital relationship for our benefit and for the benefit of our children. They have helped me make good decisions concerning my career. This umbrella has taught me the value of protecting my income. Through wise counsel, I have been brought from enormous debt to full payment of all former creditors and a debt-free lifestyle, while at the same time enjoying my position in Christ as a “cheerful giver.” Using this umbrella of protection, I have learned to walk with God during the most difficult days of my life.

Preparing for PeaceCheck out Bro. Curington’s classic book, Preparing for Peace, at our new RU E-Store for $8.40.
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The Umbrella of Protection: not to maximize your life but to magnify His life!

Note: the following blog is a small excerpt of Steve Curington’s newest book to be released in September, Recovery through God’s Fire.

The Protective Fire Feeding of My Employers

Managing our spiritual flames under our umbrella of protection (preacher, parents, teachers, employer, and government) will take a spirit of cooperation on our part. The word cooperation means “the act or instance of working together for a common purpose.” Will you allow others to manage your fire? Will you allow them to make decisions for you with little or no information about your preferences? Will you trust them with your spiritual and interpersonal fires?

The leadership God places over us will, if we allow them to make the decisions for us, keep our fires burning. But this type of sacrifice of your life’s decisions will take cooperation—advance meditations that promote cooperation with those who are working with you for a common purpose. What is that purpose?

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.” (Titus 2:11-15).

First, God wants us to become like Christ: to live soberly, righteously, and godly. This is the crucified Christian life. Secondly, He wants our lives to bring Him glory. He wants us to live a peculiar people who are zealous of good works. Finally, He wants us to reach more people for Him. To speak and exhort these things to those who need to learn the same. These three goals require cooperation. Not only with God, and His indwelling Spirit, but with the commands of His written word and the pressure of His ordained authorities who have Kingdom priorities as their guiding principles. Leadership is not here to make decisions that maximize your life; but rather that will magnify the Christ life!

The Protective Fire Feeding of My Employers

You may think, “My employer doesn’t seem to have my best interests at heart! I can promise you they do not. Though this might sound counterproductive, my friends it is not. Having leaders who do only what is best for you is a rather juvenile way to look at your umbrella of protection. God has not called them to be your umbrella of cooperation! Just like the preacher is not necessary considering only your best interest at heart, but rather the things that are Christ’s; the employer should have the overall good of the organization as his primary goal. If he does so, your future looks bright. And friend, if you were to calculate it yourself, you would find that if your organization fails, you future is looking pretty bleak, too!

The passage in Ephesians 6 tells us to be obedient as servants to our master. These words are old English for the modern English terms employee and employer. They are intended to be our employee and employer relationship guidelines. It is God’s intention that where they lead, we follow and what they feed, we swallow! Is that blind obedience? No. It is simple obedience. If God does not like what your employer is doing, He won’t lead you to disobey the employer, He will get you a new job! Trust God to lead through flawed and even unsaved man in the area of employment and you will be surprised what God will do for you even spiritually.

Though most of this area deals with the character of the soul – hard work, obedience and respect remain lost traits on many employers. Listen to how Peter, an avid, hard-working fisherman, viewed employee and employer relations. This illustration, given by this failed fisherman turned sheep feeder, would be quite alarming in today’s circle. Surely this behavior could lead a born again believer to justify walking off the job with no notice; but not so in the day of our Lord.

“Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:” (1 Peter 2:18-22).

Christ’s example was to accept wrong responses as well as poor and flawed leadership willingly and respectfully. This led to power on His humility and it truly glorified God. My friend, this is no better way to claim fame from your flame than to be an employee that will shine in every aspect of productivity and performance. But how much less promotable are we when we are proud and persistent in our selfish motives for advancement and give dogmatic demands for personal respect.

Respect from those over us is not something we demand. It’s something you gain when you obey their commands. When we reject God-ordained leadership in the workplace (like our alternatives for parents, preachers and teachers,) our rejection of that leadership will lead to embracing of another philosophy. Usually the philosophy of rebellious and proud personnel is to resist authority and embrace a negative and pessimistic personal perception. This leaves the employee un-enjoyable, un-promotable, un-manageable and eventually un-employable. The worse among us will usually become self-employed part-timers coasting from career to career trying to fool our spouses we are hard workers when really we are just hard-headed! The devil’s alternative to employer advocacy is individual monarchy, where you are the one and only person in charge, or want those in charge to do as only you would prefer.

NevertheLess I Live: Living Freely in a Bound WorldBuy Bro. Curington’s classic book, NevertheLess I Live, at our new RU E-Store for $18.00.
Become a Fan of this book on Facebook!  Find us on Facebook

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