Mixing up ‘rights’ with gifts

The young man kept repeating a phrase, “I have my rights.”  He resisted authority, broke rules and the law, and was facing some stiff penalties.  He could not or would not understand that his refusal to act responsibly was creating his misery.  He is convinced that people owe him respect, support, and unrestricted freedom but he has proven, again and again, that without supervision he will fail. He is his own worst enemy, but he is blind to that fact!

Do you believe that God owes you blessings, healing, salvation, peace, joy? Do you consider these things your ‘right?’ Many Christians do! But, like that young man I met last week, they do not live where they can enjoy His blessings.  I am not saying that we can earn God's rich blessings by being good enough!   But, we do have a responsibility to accept His rule, to obey Him, so that we can enjoy all that He has prepared for us.  He does not owe anything, but He loves to give us all things.  

Read the opening line of this Psalm. "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty." (Psalm 91:1, NIV)   To dwell means to live, to stay, to be at home.  The rest that we can know in the Presence of God comes when we choose to live near to Him.  "If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your dwelling." (Psalm 91:9-10, NLT)  We cannot demand God’s blessings.  We should not expect them if we are living sinfully, willfully, or at a distance from Him because we are chasing after lesser gods!

I know that some will read these thoughts and turn them into a religious exercise.  They will think that they can obligate God by meeting some standard, that He will have to give them answers to their prayers because they have earned enough merit points through good works. If that is how you are reading these lines, pray for understanding. God calls us to Himself because He is loving and kind. He pours the Spirit into our hearts at the impulse of His grace and mercy. We are saved from sin at His initiative! "Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." (Ephesians 2:9-10, NLT)

And, with that salvation comes an invitation to a life that is responsive to the leading of the Spirit. “Since we live by the Spirit,” Paul says, “let us keep step with the Spirit!”  And when we do, we are led into the fullness of joy, finding a quality of life none can demand, but that only the obedient and the faithful can enjoy.  Jesus spoke of the reward of those who do the will of God. " Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." (Matthew 25:23, KJV)

If you are full of frustration, devoid of joy, angry, and miserable – check your attitude. Are you demanding what you mistakenly believe are your rights as a child of God?  Come near to Him humbly. Surrender and let Him lead. Then, you will live this word from the Word. “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.” (Psalm 91:13-16, NIV)

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Near To The Heart Of God

There is a place of quiet rest,

Near to the heart of God.

A place where sin cannot molest,

Near to the heart of God.

There is a place of full release,

Near to the heart of God.

A place where all is joy and peace,

Near to the heart of God.

O Jesus, blest Redeemer,

Sent from the heart of God.

Hold us who wait before Thee,

Near to the heart of God.

Cleland Boyd McAfee | Liz Wagley

© Words: Public Domain