YOUR BEST LIFE

Ecclesiastes 1:8
No matter how much we see,
we are never satisfied.
No matter how much we hear,
we are not content.



Do you want to get more out of your life? There’s a story that I'd heard about a poor man who went to his King and complained about his state of poverty: “These rags are all that I have.” The king proceeded to offer the beggar riches, pleasures and honor with one condition: “Give up half of what you now possess: give up one of your two boys, one of your eyes, one ear, one hand, one foot.” The poor man realized that he actually possessed quite a bit and that he had failed to appreciate what he had. The Apostle Paul was an attorney that studied under the tutelage of the best legal luminaries of his time, and I believe that at his height he was a wealthy lawyer. When he met the Lord on the road to Damascus, his view of wealth was changed. In Philippians 3:8 he said, “Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ.” If you’re looking for more out of your life, you’re going to find that the best that you have you begins with a life in Christ.

KNOW WHEN TO STOP

Isaiah 2:22
Stop putting your trust in mere humans.
They are as frail as breath.
How can they be of help to anyone?



I read a silly story about a guy who was pulled over for running a stop sign. When the police officer checked the man's driver's license he asked, "Did you see the stop sign?” As the officer was eying the license, he said to the driver, “You’re not wearing your glasses, so I’m giving you a ticket." The driver interrupted, "Officer... I have contacts!" The cop angrily shot back, "Look, buddy, I don't care who you know, I'm giving you a ticket." It’s a silly, yet interesting story that's an indicator of how can humans can be seriously useless. On the issue of stop signs, it's important to understand that stop signs are regulatory signs made for specific purposes. Violating a stop sign could even cause irreparable damage. Often enough when we go through life’s challenges, we try to quickly handle the problems that come our way and we miss the stop signs that God has for us. Do yourself a favor and take a moment to stop, look to God and seek His help. After all, He knows what's best for you and He's the best friend you'll ever have.

ALL THE RIGHT WORDS

Colossians 4:6
Let your speech be always with grace,
seasoned with salt, that ye may know
how ye ought to answer every man.



A pilot landed a plane with a rather rough and bumpy landing. As part of his job he was required to stand by the terminal door and say goodbye to the passengers as they exited the airplane. He was afraid that someone might say something about his rather less than perfect landing, but everyone left without saying a word except for one passenger, an elderly lady that slowly approached the pilot after most passengers had exited the plane. She asked, "Did we land? Or were we shot down?" Our words are powerful; they can make or break the people that we speak to. Everything was created by God through the Word as mentioned in John 1:1-3, “In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God. He was in the beginning with God. He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn't make.” The Word here is Jesus, the Truth and the Life. Let Jesus live in our words, so that from our lips will emerge truth and life.

DIRECTIONS

Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp
for my feet and
a light for my path.



A GPS is one of the most powerful pieces of equipment to use for directions to a destination. I was invited one time by one of my friends to speak in Virginia and one of my church members let me borrow two of his traveling “musts”: 1. an EZ-Pass which pays tolls without stopping or delays; and 2. a GPS that maps and leads you to your destination. During the road trip, we were on one of the interstate highways and there was a really bad accident which stalled traffic. I was forced to exit off the interstate onto small local streets without knowing where I was, but immediately after I exited, the GPS “recalculated” my position and began telling me where to go. While the places were still foreign to me, I trusted the GPS and ended up just enjoying the view of mountains, fields and the beauty of God’s creations without worrying about directions. Thank God for the GPS when it comes to travel, but regarding life, I’d recommend the God Positioning System, the Word. It guides you through your life. The Bible says in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.” Now that’s a GPS worth having.