In-Re-Pro

Sunday’s Monday

In-Re-Pro

This title may not make a lot of sense to those who read it; however, it actually describes our progression through this life. This title is made up of prefixes, to a word which describes our preparedness to survive or live, life on this planet. The word actually has the power to control the mental, physical, and spiritual aspects of all human life. This all-inclusive word is ACTIVE! In which dictionary.com defines Active as; being in a state of existence, progress, or motion. Which each of these states of being are determined by one of these prefix’s, (IN)active, (RE)active or (PRO)active. Again dictionary.com describes Inactive as, sedentary, or passive; sluggish; indolent. Whereas Reactive is defined as react which is described as to act in response to an agent or influence: and then Proactive reads, serving to prepare for, intervene in, or control an expected occurrence or situation, especially a negative or difficult one. One word (active), three different ways to use it. We physically maintain on one world (earth) yet we find three different ways to manage, we exist, survive or live, our choice. Think for a few minutes on, exactly how In-Re-Pro applies to life as we know it.

In each of our beginnings we automatically fell into the Inactive category. Not because we chose to be there rather because we lacked the knowledge to be any different! The bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 3:2 (NLT), I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you were not ready for anything stronger. And you still are not ready! We all know this to be true, we are learn as you go creatures and each of us learn things differently because God has given us freedom of thought. However, our family and friends imprint things on us which may bend and distort our ability to make good moral choices. For example, our parents may have been good every Sunday pew warmers and as we grow, we fall into that same inactive pattern. We neglect what is written in James 1:22 (NLT), But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. Choosing to be passive and sedentary, allowing others to do God’s will. That is just one example.

On the other hand, there are those that grow to be reactive which is equally as sad in its own way. Reactive usually comes from being inactive toward an issue that finally demands our attention, to which we now overreact worsening the situation. We lose control because we are now responding to an agent or influence that is out of our reach. Ergo we compensate through fear, anxiety, and anger, which seldom lead to right decisions. Proverbs 16:25 (NLT), There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death. As our life continues to grow and gain knowledge, we make choices, decisions and judgements based on what we have learned, which becomes our moral disposition. Our bias and tolerance are learned behavior just as our personality and complexity are learned, but this is only a couple of our many earthly traits. Continuing in the journey of In-Re-Pro, I find a lot of us grew up in a reactive family atmosphere. Even our church families are filled with reactive members! Sadly, most reactive people never regained the power to get ahead of their problems! They have not gotten hold of Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT), 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Now we come to the best, the PRO! To live a proactive life is the best God has to offer but to do that we must first come to the realization of how little we know about anything and everything. Proverbs 16:1-3 (NLT), 16 We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer. 2 People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives. 3 Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed. This is being Godly prepared, after all God is the PRO in proactive! He instructs us in Matthew 6:33 (NLT), Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Live the good life of following Jesus!

My prayer this week is for all of us to choose to live a proactive life of following Jesus as explained in, 1 Peter 4:10-11 (NLT), 10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 11 Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

HAVE A BLESSED WEEK BY BEING A BLESSING TO OTHERS!

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