Inspirational Article From Joanne Lowe Index of Writings by Joanne Lowe on Gospel Web

THE MASTER’S PLAN

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”

Romans 12: 1, 2, 3, 18 King James Version

Every day we fall short of the Master’s plan for our country, our world and for our lives. Jesus wants us to live peaceably with everyone. I have received nineteen emails over the last two years from people who tell me that they fight with their spouses over what they watch on television and who gets the remote control. How this must break the heart of our precious Saviour. God has burned this into my heart; “If what you are saying or doing doesn’t cause peace, don’t say it or do it”.

There will be times in the heat of an argument with our spouses that we will say things and do things that displease Jesus, but when we fight over what we watch on television then we are making the choice to deliberately cause chaos and trouble in our marriages. If you are allowing the television to become an idol to you, to the point where it is more important to you than your spouse or Jesus, get rid of it. Again, if the television has become an idol to you, to the point where it is more important to you than your spouse or Jesus, get rid of it!

There are times when we have done all that we can to create an atmosphere of peace in our homes, our families and in our relationships but no matter how kind and loving we are to them, they are still critical, judgmental and sarcastic. It is then that we need to leave it in the Master’s hands and allow Him to change their hearts. We can’t change someone; only Jesus can take a hardened, critical, sarcastic and judgmental heart and soften it so that the person becomes a loving, caring, compassionate and understanding person.

Are you doing the best you can to create harmony and peace in your home and in your friendships? Are you allowing the love of Jesus to flow from you to all those you encounter? I don’t think that Jesus expects us to be doormats and allow people to walk all over us, but I do think He expects us stop saying and doing things that we know will cause an argument. What is more important to you, pleasing Jesus or having your own way?

Joanne Lowe

June 2, 2007

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