One Size Fits All

I’m sure most of you are familiar with this term and you may have been subjected to it. I would think that you also know this statement isn’t true. A one size fits all type of clothing usually doesn’t look like it. It’s usually baggy or too loose. However, if you pull it up here or adjust it there then maybe it will be functional. What is the purpose for this? It makes things easier and it cost less.

This same attitude is carried on into churches, businesses and schools. The truth is one size doesn’t fit all. People are the most complex beings on the entire planet. We all come from different places, born with different temperaments, have different families, social economic backgrounds, have different experiences and many more factors.

The truth is even though we may share similar traits and experiences all of us are unique and special. There is no one on this planet that truly knows who we are, not even ourselves.

Many of us have attended seminars to end all seminars, went to the best marriage classes so we would never need help again, went to success seminars that promised us we will never be in need again, soul winning classes that assure us this is the best program on the market and we have been taught the perfect technique for praying to capture God’s ear.

Jesus is the only truth in the entire universe and He knows us better than ourselves. This is why I don’t understand why we go to others to define us. For some odd reason we allow others to tell us who were are and we put way to much value on what they think and how we are perceived. We need to go to the One who knows.

My dear friends, don't let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith. James 2:1Message

The Joy of Agreement

Several years ago when I worked at Love Field in Dallas I worked second shift. The shift started at 2:00pm and I as well as most people arrived 10 – 15 minutes early. However, there was one man who came in at 12:30. Finally I asked someone why he came in so early and they said, “He liked walking throughout all the hangers talking to people until he found someone who would agree with him.”

We all love to be around people who agree with our thoughts, beliefs and opinions. These are the people we are drawn to and develop friendships. For those who don’t agree with us will cause friction and most of us don’t like friction. It has nothing to do with who is right or wrong, we are just drawn to others with like opinions. This is the joy of agreement.

Imagine if you will a sports team that couldn’t agree on anything. You are going to see a lot of friction and chaos. There have been churches split over the color of carpet for the auditorium. When there is no agreement chaos is sure to thrive. Some of the most controversial topics is concerning God’s Word. I will discuss the Bible, but I will never argue with anyone concerning interpretations. Most people already have their minds made up on certain topics before they ever get into a discussion and they are not planning to change their mind. The only mind you can change is yours.

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. 2 Chronicles 16:9

What God is saying here is that He wants us to be in perfect agreement with Him. Stop justifying ourselves by changing what His Word says so we will feel better. We can’t let our own morality dictate our philosophy. He knows we will never be perfect, but our heart can be perfect towards Him when we are in total agreement with God.

Gifts, Talents and Abilities

God has given all of us special talents, gifts and abilities. Some of these were given to us at birth and others have been given to us at our birth in Jesus Christ. These gifts and abilities were given to us for one reason and that was for worshipping God, edifying the church and each other, not for personal profit, gain or fame.

Imagine if you will a house that was to be built. The contractor started assigning jobs based on his relationship to a person, their looks, their wealth and personality, but not according to their abilities and skills. He had the carpenters doing the electrical work, the plumbers doing the carpet and electricians doing the painting and so on. There is no telling what this house would look like when and if they got finished.

It’s sad to say this very thing occurs often in businesses and churches. You have people who can’t teach teaching, people who can’t sing singing, people that can teach attempting to play and instrument and those who are musicians teaching. It’s usually based on the circumstances listed above. Naturally all this leads to chaos.

This is not God’s plan. He gave each of us talents, skills and abilities for His purpose. Many people have taken these God given gifts and sold them to Satan by using them to glorify themselves, self indulgence and fame.

All of us have been given special gifts and abilities and you may not be using them or you’re not being allowed to use them. This verse depicts the very thing I’m talking about.

And he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— ³² to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, ³³ to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts. ³⁴ And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. ³⁵ He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers. Exodus 35:31-35

Each of these people was given certain abilities and skills to do what they were designed to do. I know I have had desires to do things that I wasn’t skilled or talented to do. I had to learn to accept my limitations. However, God has given us all special gifts and abilities, but it is our responsibility to hone them, learn and attempt to perfect them.

Some of these gifts are spiritual gifts that God gives us at the moment of our salvation.

1 Corinthians 12

Encouragement – Exhortation

Mercy

Giving

Shepherding – Leadership

Prophesy – not telling future, speaking truth

Discernment

There are several more, but the purpose of these gifts were for edifying the church not ourselves. It’s sad when these gifts are neglected or restrained by those in leadership. Many are more concerned with control or popularity than truth. My encouragement to you is to allow God to continue to grow you and learn how and where to use these gifts.

The Boogey Man

I know that all of you around my age remember being told the stories about the boogey man. “Watch out for the boogey man” or “You had better do this or the boogey man will get you.” Adults or parents used the boogey man as an attempt to create obedient behavior with their children. Every generation and culture has one.

Another word for boogey man is manipulation. Governments, religious organizations, churches, businesses and other entities have their own type of boogey man. The main one our government has been using for the last 30 years or so is called “Global Warming.” The one they have been using for the last 10 years is called “Terrorist.” These 2 scares have given our government a blank check to do just about anything they desire. Before this it was “Communist” and it there is one for every generation. It’s amazing how many freedoms we have lost concerning these boogey men.

We are never going to stop all these boogey men that are used against us, but we can have the advantage of knowing. Such as, global warming theory is ridiculous. The earth is not ever going to be destroyed by water such as it did in the movie “2012.” “I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.” Genesis 9:11

I don’t know about you, but I have a lot more faith in God’s promises than scientist predictions. Many people have been lead down the path of psychopathic cult leaders due to the fact of their ignorance of God. Many people have believed so many lies simply because they didn’t know the Truth. I’ve heard many say, “I have to admit I don’t know too much about the Bible.” In this country the only one to blame for that is ourselves.

We have to be on our guard because a person that doesn’t believe in anything will fall for everything. There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. Proverbs 16:25 I have much more to say on this matter, but not enough time.