Simple Wisdom (James 4:14-17)

"14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
15 Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."     
16 As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil.     
17 Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins. "  (NIV)


When we first read this text it really sounds a little abrasive and harsh.  There is certainly no sympathy here and it is stated in a 'matter of fact' way and that is a way that most people do not like.  For the simple fact that emotions nor feelings are taken into consideration, but honestly you can get over your emotions...but you can't get over hell.  (I'm just saying)   

This text issues us several challenges:

1.  Don't assume that you will see tomorrow  
         Keep in mind that it is not the alarm clock that wakes you up every morning.  God has chosen to breathe into you all night long and He never stopped.  Sometimes I don't think we consider the fact that God is ordering and commanding our organs to function like they should.  We also don't consider the fact that disobedience opens the door for sin to attack us and we don't get to choose the attack.  As the old saying goes..."Sin will take further than you want to go and keep you longer than you want to stay".

2.  Submit to the will of God for your life
      When people are told this they look at  you crazy because they don't want to give up control of their lives.  PSA:  YOU DON'T CONTROL YOUR LIFE ANYWAY!   If we were to think about it, our jobs control our time, mental space, energy, behaviors and emotions for the time that we are on that clock.  Even if you are a model employee, you are doing the job you were hired to do and that is according to the companies rules...not yours.  If you are a parent, you model your schedule based on your kids schedule, which means they control your time as well.  So how much of your life to do you really control....ABSOLUTELY NONE OF IT!   So why not give your life over to someone that can at least lead you to the job that will allow to bless and receive blessings  AND lead you to a mate that you will allow you to live in a home full of God 's Word, His presence, and His love so that you can pass that on to your kids (if you have any).  There are major benefits to having God in control, but we are often under the illusion that we control something.  My thought is this...I'll be doggone if I am going to go through hell on this side just to be in hell on the other.  Sorry...can't support!

3.  If you are not obedient to the will of God you are sinning
        We often want to say that if you break the Ten Commandments you are committing a sin.  Well the truth is, everything that comes from God is a commandment and we are expected to follow it.  He is the HGIC (Head God In Charge).  There are some things that are for the collective body, such as the 10 Commandments.  And then there are some things that pertain to you and only you.  It doesn't matter if other people are doing it and it doesn't matter if you agree with it.  You were told to do it or not do it and that is that.  If you think about Samson...he was told to never cut his hair. Now his parents followed this commandment that was given by God, but when he got out on his own He thought he could be slick.  He was like most young people.  They get away from Mom and Dad and try to be slick. But there is always someone better than you at doing what you think you do best.  So please don't try it.  There is a price to pay for sin and like my grandmother used to say:  "Don't let your mouth write a check that your tail can't cash"  And that my friends is real talk.  Don't play with sin.  Obey God to the best of your understanding and whatever you don't understand, just ask and He will give you wisdom.  And if you notice, I didn't say to the best of your ability.  For the simple fact, that whatever God has required of you He has already given you the ability to do it.

Blessings and Love,

Pastor Nichica Melton

Doing It God's Way

There comes many times in all of our lives when we want to take matters into our own hands.  We have been crossed by all of the right people and the scars are still felt.  When we think about the situations and circumstances, we still feel ourselves getting tense or even  swelling up with tears.  But the Word of God is extremely clear in Romans 12: 17-21(NIV):

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 

18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 

20 On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

It is no longer about tit for tat.  If someone cuts your tires, you don't get to cut theirs.  The scripture says that if it is possible, live at peace with everyone.  The key there is "if it is possible".  God understands that everyone is not going to want to live in peace with you and they will make it their point to cause trouble with you and for you.  Those people are not supposed to be in your personal space and you are not to give your time to them.  The Word of God reminds us that we will know them by their fruit and we have to pay attention to that.  If they are producing things that do not want to give God the glory AND they do not want to yield to proper instruction, then we are to leave them alone.  Otherwise, they can provoke us to act outside of God's will and that is something that we will have to answer for.  

But then God throws something in there to really test us, Verse 20 gives us instructions on meeting the needs of our enemies.  OUR ENEMIES!  But even in that we are to use wisdom.  If your enemy is in need of shelter, it doesn't mean that you have to let them into your home and put yourself and your household in danger.  However, you can pay for them a hotel.  In all things we are still to use Godly wisdom and initiate Godly love.  By exercising Godly wisdom and love, we don't have to worry about any type of evil taking us over.  Not in our emotions, behaviors, nor thought life.  For the Word of God says that, "Greater Is He That Is Us Than He That Is In The World".  Understand  that Jesus was not a punk and he was not stupid.  He spent hours with the Heavenly Father and because of that Jesus was prepared for every situation and person that He encountered.  Even those that claimed to have a better education than He did.  He was still able to shut down their foolishness and their trickery with the wisdom and love that came from the Heavenly Father.  Jesus knew that Judas was going to betray Him, but Jesus did not treat Judas any different than the other disciples.  He followed the instructions of the Heavenly Father.  Why is that important you ask?  Because many of us hold on to people when God says to let go and we let go of people that God says to hold on to. We tend to work opposite of what God is saying and trying to do in our lives. 

We must get in sync with the Heavenly Father and that way we can really see the scripture, "All things work together for the good of them that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose" come alive and real in our lives.  This is not to say that things will not happen and that there will not be tragedy in our lives.  But there must be the mindset to do everything God's way as this is how Jesus was able to overcome every obstacle that crossed His path.

Blessings and Love,

Pastor Nichica Melton

Prayer:  Dear Lord, I come before you with a humble heart and spirit.  I need your help and your guidance because I tend to make decisions that take me in the wrong direction and lead me to the wrong people. There are many times that I do not realize this until it feels like it is too late and I am in way too deep.  So God I welcome your instruction, your wisdom, and your love in my life and in the inner most parts of my being.  I yield my tongue to you so that I can speak THE truth which is your Word.  I yield my ears to you so that I can hear you when you speak.  I yield my mind to you so that I can understand all that you are instructing me to do.  I yield my heart to you so that I will  have the desire to obey all that you command for me to do without any argument or hesitation.  I love you Lord and I realize that you love me.  Help me daily to do things your way.  In Jesus name, Amen!