When a little makes a lot

No, I'm not talking about Jesus feeding the multitudes. I was just thinking about quiet times. The more I choose to take a few minutes, the more time I seem to have to do them. I truly see that as a blessing from God. I try not to be a clock watcher. I'm not a "have to get 30 minutes in" type person....that just screams legalism to me. Personal view, other's might consider it "structure." But, I find that the more I choose to be in the word, the more time is provided to me. Just a thought.

On 1/24, I started re-studing Colossians 3. I was picking it apart, verse by verse. It led me all over the place. I'll highlite a few. My thoughts follow the bolded passage.

Philippians 3:13-14
13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Loving it in "The Message" translation:
12-14I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.

I tend to lose focus...I know, shocker. Anyway, I got the message to move on and remember what the real prize is.

1 Peter 1:13
13Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Ok, and again, "The Message:"
13-16So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that's coming when Jesus arrives. Don't lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn't know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, "I am holy; you be holy."

Here's that focus thing again. ;)

Then, I got into 1 John. WOW! My memorize, need to memorize list is getting long. I'd better get a crackin'.

Here's the key from there:

1 John 3:9
No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.

Message:
9-10People conceived and brought into life by God don't make a practice of sin. How could they? God's seed is deep within them, making them who they are. It's not in the nature of the God-begotten to practice and parade sin. Here's how you tell the difference between God's children and the Devil's children: The one who won't practice righteous ways isn't from God, nor is the one who won't love brother or sister. A simple test.

This hit me, deep. It goes back a couple weeks. Our home group is watching a series of videos on world vision. Specifically, a couple weeks ago was Dr. David Jeremiah. He was speaking on the parable of the sower. He talked about bearing fruit and how important it is to examine our lives- are we bearing fruit. It's stayed on my mind/heart.

1 John 3:13
Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.

Message:
12-13We must not be like Cain, who joined the Evil One and then killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because he was deep in the practice of evil, while the acts of his brother were righteous. So don't be surprised, friends, when the world hates you. This has been going on a long time.

Kind of a "well duh" moment...but applied to me toward being set apart.

1 John 3:18
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

Message:
18-20My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality. It's also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.

This was a direct answer to a question I posed to the Lord. I'm still seeking specifics. One of the things though that really sticks out is the "in truth." I will not enable. Still thinking....

The above crossed over to Romans 12:9
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

Message:
9-10Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

So, I kept reading and got to Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

11-13Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

This is where I'm planted right now. I'm crossing words, etc. God had a lot to tell me on this one. I've done the word cross on affliction and need so far and just don't feel done. I'll perhaps post more on that later this week, but thought I'd catch up for lack of posting.

Ok, and if you're reading going "why on earth does she use The Message so much?" Well, my main study doesn't. I typically pull it up either when I pull up the verse in Biblegateway.org or if I don't understand a passage/verse, I'll look at it in a few translations.

As I typed and looked at my notes, I think something I'm going to look more into is Laodicea. It's come to mind several times. I don't want to be a luke warm Christian and I don't want others to see me as such. Goes back to that fruit thing.

I need to read, and pray and probably read some more. We'll see where He takes me.