July 20

Read 1 Peter 4

^1-2Since Jesus went through everything you're going through and more, learn to think like him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you'll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want. (The Message)

When ever a child is two or three you expect to have to deal with the "MINE!s" It just seems that every child goes through the phase of possessiveness. In a preschool setting it isn't uncommon to see a child sitting alone with toys stacked around them not playing with them but making sure that no one else does. We tell a child in that setting that they need to learn to share, to play nice, and to get along with others. The behavior changes over time with almost every child but does the attitude ever go away?

As we grow up we learn the social habits of interaction and what it takes to get along with others. But one of the hardest things to get past is that expectation that we should get our own way. Even if we get past the need to hoard and keep others from getting near our stuff there is a basic desire for the world to revolve around us; our needs and wants. Peter says that the way to get over that is to focus upon Jesus and what he went through. So when we suffer, when things don't go like we think they should, and life gets tough we should know that we are not unique or alone. If we can let the world revolve around God rather than us it becomes possible to pursue what God desires rather than just what we want. If we can do that we might have a chance of becoming mature in Christ.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• When you were a child did you have a toy that no one else could play with?
• How did you learn to share as a child?
• When things aren't going your way do you see it as the world being out to get you or as just the way it goes? Why do you think you see life in this way?
• What can you do today that would be pursuing God's will rather than your will?

Prayer focus for today: 

• Pray for those who will embrace a God centered life through New Ground Community Church.
• Pray for the financial resources that will enable New Ground to establish a place from which to impact the community.