The Devotional

Papa J's rules for Livin #168

Some folks live in a house that has everything, but it is an uncomfortable place. Others live in a home that may lack some of the frills, yet all the needs are there especially – love! Proverbs 14:11

In any local fire department there are professional people who are assigned for specific tasks. One can be a truck driver and pump operator, another can be designated as an “inside fire fighter”, one that can go inside a burning building. Another can be designated as an “outside fire fighter”, one that does not go inside burning buildings. Then there are those who may be assigned to roofing tasks, search and rescue, or medical duties. Also there are persons who control traffic patterns around the fire scene. Most all of these people are qualified to do any or all of the tasks mentioned. It is not necessary that those boundaries of responsibility be overstepped by someone who may be at an idle moment with nothing to do. Such as; a fire fighter may not have an assignment and may be waiting to relieve someone who is exhausted. He or she cannot go wandering into the burning building just because they are qualified, they must wait to be assigned. Personnel accountability, safety and integrity of the fire scene cannot be maintained if people decide to do whatever may come to their mind, even if what they are doing is important.

1 Corinthians 7

1 Corinthians 7:17-24 The local church is full of qualified people. Most have ministries, important ministries that God has called them to. The assignment is designated by God to be the perfect fit for the task at hand. It may be in the area of helping the needy, or training in discipleship. What ever God has called a person to do, is what God expects from that person. Sometimes cultures and the customs cross the lines of responsibility and people lose focus of right and wrong.

It is not important what the common custom or culture of the neighborhood is, what matters is keeping the laws of God and our priorities focused on two important factors. One; keeping the law and calling of God. Two; Maintaining your position as called. One looks at serving God, the other looks at serving people. For the most part we do these things almost routinely and God blesses our ministries and life withing the local church is joyful.

Sometimes we forget by getting our eyes focused on the people around us. This will always create image problems. Well now; he or she is doing something I can do better and with that thought comes some action from us that causes us to become a slave to men, rather than a bond-servant to Christ our LORD. We forget the cost of our relationship to Jesus and we attempt to reposition our protected life in Christ. This is overstepping the boundaries of God's perfect will for our life, accountability and personal integrity is lost and the joy of the LORD lost. Losing the joy of the LORD is a danger that local churches cannot overcome. All because someone decided to overstep the boundaries of godliness.