Am I living furthermost from uttermost?

Sunday’s Monday

This has been a great week of business with us. I accomplished a lot and seen a lot of prayers answered. Our friend and neighbor is home from the hospital, after a scary ER trip. Enjoyed a fantastic BOB (Band of Brothers) meeting this week, it gets more up lifting and spirit filled each week. We spent some time playing with 2-year-old great grandson Brian, he is so much fun. Then today we had lunch with our pastor and his wife, which is always a welcome treat. We love doing life with these two!

This subject has entertained my thoughts from time to time for a good while now. That is until this past Tuesday when a friend helped me to find the direction to channel my thinking into words. I know firsthand, being a long time Christian how easy it is for Satan to put the thought into one’s head, you can never be perfect, so why even try. Most of us turn to Jesus and He helps us control our doubt, yet I couldn’t help but wonder why Satan likes that “particular” question. My way of thinking is, Satan must know that I know, I’ll never be prefect in this human flesh. However, I have a perfect brother, “Jesus” who is standing in the gap for me as long as I’m trying my best to follow Him, while residing in this flesh.

Now with this in mind, please, help me to help you, understand where I’m coming from. Some time ago, one of our military branches used the term be all that you can be, without realizing this is a proverbial double-edged sword, it contains a positive as well as a negative connotation. Example: I was a department manager for many years and one of the first things I would tell a new hire is, “I can be the best manager you’ve ever work for or I can be the worst boss you’ve ever dreamed of; the choice is totally up to you! Your perfection will never be required or requested here! In order to merit favor in this department, one must be here when required, with a good attitude, doing your best at whatever your task and willing to learn.” To which I consider myself equal to a new hire with Jesus and I try hard to follow these same guidelines in my Christian walk.

We all need to start each day with a couple of simple questions in truth; what am I seeking or expecting? Do I seek to follow Jesus under my own terms, motives and desires or am I faithful to follow His? Truth is, our churches are filled with Christian’s who are missing the boat (so to speak) and the majority have been there for years. They know the book from cover to cover and yet have never met the author! These people chose to live the spiritual experience to the furthermost! Look at what I found in dictionary.com, furthermost, adj., most distant; furthest. People lose the fire for Jesus (if they ever really had it) due to distance and become complacent allowing Satan the perfect opportunity to convince them that all Jesus requires, is for them to fill a church pew (when the doors are open), give a tithe (of their choice), run the church through the influence (over) different committees and be content that you’re in God’s will. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (KJV), 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. I believe that my comfort, clout and acceptance by man will be in vain, as I read John 15:6 (KJV), If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

Furthermost means distance and that is absolutely the worst place for one to be with Jesus! The availability of His great wisdom is removed, peace and hope are unachievable. One is blind to all spiritual concepts and deaf to the voice of God. One has no or has lost the understanding of 1 Corinthians 10:6-10 (KJV), 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

For me I am constantly grooming myself through prayer, study, this blog, the people I hang with, serving where God leads and spiritual inventory. I believe Acts 1:8 (KJV), But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. The difference being KJV Dictionary: uttermost, a. utter and most. Extreme; being in the furthest, greatest or highest degree; as the uttermost extent or end; the uttermost distress. Ut'termost, n. The greatest. the uttermost we can do is to be patient. The only thing greater than uttermost, is God! I know in my heart of hearts and believe Hebrews 7:25 (KJV), Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. God has saved me to the uttermost (highest degree) because He loves me and has a plan for me that only He knows and even though I don’t know what He plans, I know it’s good for me. I believe this and furthermore I believe it true for you! You see; we are so much more than God’s creation once we truly become believers, “WE BECOME” brothers and sisters of Jesus, children of God. 1 John 3:1 (KJV), Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore, the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. How can we not get excited about that?!!!!

As followers of Jesus, we must (I repeat MUST) heed 1 Thessalonians 5:19 (KJV), Quench not the Spirit at any time. We are to always listen for instructions from God, in an attitude of thanksgiving to God our Father. Our service to others should always be at the forefront of our daily lives. Let’s face it! We are marked for great things in God’s kingdom, as long as we do our best to obey His will! I honestly believe, that God’s concern isn’t in our perfection, rather in our rejection (of Him). He promises in Mark 13:27 (KJV), And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven. No follower left behind as the angels will search to the uttermost for those not living to the furthermost. Should you believe as I believe say a silent prayer for me.

HAVE A BLESSED WEEK BY BEING A BLESSING TO OTHERS!

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