"It's just gotta be this way!"

He clearly knew that what he was doing was not the ‘right’ thing to do in God’s eyes.  It violated the principles of the Word and ignored all the godly advice from every Christian friend he had. But, he did it anyway.  His reason?  “It’s gotta be like this.” Unwilling to trust the Lord’s ability to take care of him if he put Him first, this man chose the way of expedience, doing what he felt he had to do in the situation. Sadly, time has proven that ignoring the Lord has been a terribly costly for his family. I wonder when he will realize that?

God’s ways and our world often collide. When they do, it takes real faith to choose the Lord’s way over what ‘common sense’ tells us is our only real choice.

By way of illustrating faith operating in today’s world, let me point to the story of Chick-fil-A, a restaurant chain. Everybody knows that Sunday is a big day for eating out, that no restaurant should be closed that day if maximum profits are desired. But every Chick-fil-A site is!  The founder of the chain, a devout Christian named, Truett Cathy, choose to put the Lord first 65 years ago when he opened his first restaurant in Hapeville, Georgia. Because of Truett’s faith, every Chick-fil-A employee has the opportunity to rest, spend time with family and friends, and worship if they choose to do so.  Could the restaurants make more money if they were open on Sunday? Probably. But, there is a higher principle involved than profit and the rewards for keeping the Lord’s Day are beyond calculating on the bottom line.

Where are God’s principles running into the ‘demands’ of life for you? 

• Perhaps it is in the area of your finances. You know that you should be generous in supporting the Lord’s work, but you look at your checkbook and argue ‘I just can’t afford it.’  Have you discounted God’s promises to provide or even made the choice to live with less so you can worship Him with the first fruits of your income?
• Perhaps it is your marriage. Your relationship has deteriorated to the place where you have concluded that the only solution is divorce, even though you know God hates divorce and permits it only in the most drastic circumstances. Will you trust Him to care for you keep your covenant?
• Perhaps it is your use of time. Your boss demands more and more time. You want to take the little ‘free’ time you have left to pursue your hobbies. “I just don’t have time to serve in a ministry right now,” you say. “It’s gotta be like this!” What will the Lord say when you stand before Him?

Here’s the word from the Word. Jesus urges us to re-consider the principles around which we are building our daily lives.  
"Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.

On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching."
(Matthew 7:20-28, NLT)

______________

Heavenly Father, I pray that you would increase my faith.
When I feel the pressure to ignore your will,
to excuse myself obedience because I think my situation is unique;
Help me to surrender it all, to walk out obedience,
to love You more than myself, my money, and my comfort.

I pray for wisdom to know what You require, and for
courage to embrace Your will, Lord Jesus.

Give me Heaven’s point of view while I walk earth’s pathways.

Spirit of God, glorify Christ in me, by helping me to
conform to the will of my Father - in every word,
every thought, each choice I make.
Amen