What do you think of when you think about being successful? Often times, we think that being successful means to be rich and to have money, to be on the top, to do really well in school, to be married with 2 children by a specific age...etc. These things in and of themselves are good things. There is absolutely nothing wrong with them. In fact, we should always be striving to be a better version of ourselves. We should desire to be successful. We should have dreams and goals for our lives. We should want to live well....etc.
Pinky Promise Sisters
However, for the believer (those who believe in Jesus) there is a specific key when it comes to being successful here on this earth....and that key is obedience. Obedience can be a key that is used to open so many different doors for us. If we don't do what God is calling us to do or don't go where God is calling us to go, we are missing out on SO much...and so our those around us. Our obedience to Jesus doesn't just affect us....it affects those connected to us. As believers, we are often the link to connect unbelievers to the God who created them...the God who formed them inside their mothers womb...the One who promises to be with them always...to never ever leave them nor forsake them...the One who forgives sin....heals hearts...renews minds....gives sight to the blind...and so on. We may also have the answer to someone else's prayer...or better yet we may be the answer to someone else's prayer.
I specifically think of Saul's (aka Paul's) conversion in Acts 9:1-19. This man knew the bible, but he did not know the God of the bible. He had a lot of religion with absolutely no relationship. He spent so much of his time here on this earth killing and persecuting Christians in the name of religion...so, Saul set out on a mission toward Damascus where he had planned to arrest any of the Lords people and bring them back to Jerusalem in chains, however, on his way there....the Lord met him in his sin, in his brokenness and invited him in. The Lord told Saul to go into the city (Acts 9:6), and so Saul went. While there in the city, the Lord spoke to a believer named Ananias and gave him very specific instructions on where to go and what to do. (Read below)
Celebrating Marj's Birthday!
Acts 9:11-12
"The Lord said, 'Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again"
Ananias questioned the Lord because he was afraid. He was afraid of Saul. He had heard about this man who was persecuting and killing Christians and now he is being told to go to this very person. I don't know about you, but I most likely would have been afraid too. But, Ananias chose faith over fear. He trusted that the Lord wouldn't lead him into a dangerous place...that His grace would be sufficient. He trusted that the Lord would protect him from any harm....so he went and did as he was told to do. The obedience of Ananias was the key Saul needed to see again...not just physically, but spiritually.
Black Lives Matter
As believers, you and I may be the key to someone else's eyes being opened to see that there truly is a God out there who loves them, cares about them and genuinely wants the best for their life...that He has plans to PROSPER them and not to harm them....that He forgives ALL sin....that He sets people free...that they don't need to allow their past to identify them...or whats been done to them consume them...that they don't need to try and fix up their lives before surrendering their hearts...that they can come as they are with all of their baggage...that they will make it through whatever storm they are in...that every strand of hair on their head is numbered by the Lord and that He hears the desperate cries of their heart for peace and rest. Our obedience is the key to unlock doors not just for us, but for others....so just do it! Don't let fear override your faith. Push past how you feel because you just don't know what's on the other side.
Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for them declares the Lord, 'Plans to prosper them and not harm them, plans for a hope and a future"
And no, being obedient won't cause you to earn your salvation or earn Gods love, but it could be the key to your success and the success of those around you. Trust that His grace is sufficient....sufficient means "adequate for the purpose"...His grace is sufficient for whatever purpose He is calling you to.
Xoxo,
Beth
Forever totally obsessed with Jesus
