January 1 (Mind Your Business) - Free Indeed - Abundant Living After Abuse

January 1

Several days ago I heard of a story of a pastor and one of his female parishioners. The story went something like this…there was a female parishioner who went to her pastor to tell him that she will no longer be attending his church because she has noticed that everyone is either gossiping, being hypocrites or being just plain mean. The pastor took some time to think and pray before he answered her. He then got the inspiration to ask the lady to get a glass of water and fill it to the brim. After the glass was filled, he asked her to take the glass of water and walk around the church making sure that she does not spill one single drop of water. The lady did not understand but, humored the pastor nevertheless and began to walk around the church with the glass of water. She was diligent and made sure to keep her eyes on the glass so that she does not spill a drop. After she circled the church several times, the pastor stopped her and asked her if she noticed anyone gossiping, being hypocrites or being mean to her. She replied with a resounding answer, of course NOT. I was not able to see what others were doing because my eyes were affixed to the glass of water.

You see, she was concerned about what others were doing instead of keeping focus on Christ. The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 4:11 (I call it the 411 of the Bible), “make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.”

My dearest sisters and brothers, oh how many times I have been guilty of this as well. As we approach the first days of a new year my question to you is what are you willing to look at this year? We are definitely in the wilderness and some of us are dying of spiritual thirst because of what others have done to us or what we have done to others and have not asked for forgiveness. Praise God that Christ is our living water and waiting for us to ask for the living water to quench our spiritual thirst. The scriptures say in John 7:37-38 that we should go to Him (Jesus) and ask as He himself told us to do “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

 

When we look at others and what they are doing or not doing to or for us our spiritual vessels begin to crack and little by little we lose water and in time we will be dried up. As long as we look at others we will not be any good for the Harvest. We must replenish ourselves with the living water (Jesus Christ) and only then we can be conquerors. The battle is fierce and we have an enemy who delights himself in placing individuals in our lives who will deplete us of our life force. 

Focus on Jesus for He will give us the willingness to press on when life takes its toll. As our ancient brother Paul, he understood the Living Water that gave him courage to continue the race. Let your conduct reflect a hydrated soul in Christ as Paul says “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” Philippians 1:21

If you are unhappy with others in your lives, your church, your job, your home the question that I pose to you today is are you looking at others instead of focusing on Christ? If so, surrender to the Life Giver and drink of His living water so that you may have a replenished life through Christ so that we may be more than conquerors.