“…Be tenderhearted and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God called you to do and he will bless you for it… If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace and work to maintain it.” 1 Peter 3: 8-12
It’s like God has been highlighting the theme of this scripture over and over to me the last few days. So it was just the icing on the cake when I opened my podcasts and put on a sermon by Bethel pastor, Bill Johnson called The Last Will Be First. It was definitely one of those moments when I’m like, “OKAY GOD, SAY WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY!” So, I decided to share some of the stuff that I’ve learnt with you in a series of blogs rightfully called, The Last Shall Be First because I’ve experienced a ton of that in my life (coming last, I mean)…
See, friend, something happens when we spend time with Jesus that stirs up our eternal purpose; our dreams and passions start to change. Sometimes the root system of the dream is right – it comes from the right source – but the manifestation of it is all wrong… and so, Jesus decides to prune that branch (cut off that opportunity, close that door). No, your dream isn’t wrong, just the direction that you were going – and, let’s admit it, we all can get pretty heart sore about it asking things like, “Why did God let me go in that direction if he wasn’t going to open the door?” Well, mostly because you can’t prune a branch that you can’t see, and all God-birthed dreams will bring forth the wrong manifestations if they are left alone. Jesus likes to put us in environments where things can be pruned. It is proof that we are a son and daughter!
HOW DOES JESUS “PRUNE” US?
Well, firstly, we have to let him talk to us through his WORD everyday – that is what keeps us pruned. Pruning is a reward of growth (- For all of us asking why we continually get tests and stuff. I just wrote a great piece on some reflection concerning that)!!!
I’ve recently felt the effects of both growth and pruning through the WORDS in the WORD! My attitude towards certain people and things had to be checked, and Jesus used 1 Peter 3:8-12 to do that – even in a time of GREAT BLESSING FOR ME (And, I’ll speak more about that passage of scripture in the PT.2)!
Even when I am being rewarded for being entirely faithful – it is all by grace, and he wants us to remember that! He wants ME to remember that! I mean sometimes we’ve been entirely faithful, but the person who’s done less work, or came after us, gets rewarded before us… why? Firstly, because the last shall be first, and secondly, because He has to continually make sure that we’re capable of carrying what he gives us! God is so merciful; he disciplines us so that his blessings don’t kill us.
Through it all, Jesus wants to only form things in us that REPRESENT HIM WELL!
“…I will destroy all your idols and sacred pillars, so that you will never again worship the work of your own hands…” Micah 5:13
I know, I know, I know, how easy it is to get lost in the dream and in working towards the dream. So much so that we forget to allow our leaders, and the general authority God has placed in our lives to speak into the areas that need correcting.
I’m not sure if this has spoken to you, but I’m telling you that if you’ve been frustrated with where you are and your progress then it may be because you need to allow Jesus to do some pruning in your life! If you understand what I’m saying but do not have a personal relationship with Jesus then I encourage you to click on the black banner below to learn a bit more. There is so much to say and this is just the beginning!
“So humble yourself under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to the Lord, for he cares about you…” 1 Peter 5:6