Alignment is a state of agreement. It’s when everything or every person within a set of circumstances or conditions are on one accord. There is harmony between all involved. Doesn’t this sound heavenly? We need a whole lot more of this harmony in the world today. While the truth is that we’re imperfect people living in an imperfect world, this doesn’t hinder our ability to be aligned with the purposes and harmony of God’s Will. Jesus Christ tells us in John 10:10 that he came to make a rich and satisfying life available. We should all want what God wants for us, and He wants us to have a life that is more than abundant. He wants us to live richly by mastering every moment we’re on this earth. Not only does He tell us in His Word that He desires this, but He also tells us how to achieve it. He tells us in Philippians 2:5 that in order to be in alignment with His purposes, we must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. This means we must renew our minds.
What kind of attitude did Jesus Christ have? An attitude is defined as a way of thinking or feeling about a person, situation, or anything else in life. This attitude gets reflected in our behavior or outlook. Jesus Christ tells us a little bit about his attitude in John 8:29(NLT). He said, “And the one who sent me is with me—he has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases him.” When Jesus Christ walked upon this earth, He never did anything outside the Will of God. He could have, but he didn’t. He went about teaching and showing us the way to the Father’s heart. Continually and consistently, Jesus displayed an attitude of love.
1Corinthians 13:2 says that if a person had all the knowledge there is and had faith to move a mountain, but they didn’t show God’s love to others, they are nothing. This is talking about an infinitely higher love than the ooey gooey adoration we read about in novels or see on tv. It is the love that God teaches in 1Corinthians 13:4-7(NLT). This passage tells us, “4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” Jesus Christ was no pushover. He demonstrated the love of God according to this standard of God’s Word in 1Corinthians 13:4-7. We must do the same.
Two types of behaviors Again, we’re not perfect, but through Jesus Christ, we are being perfected daily. The more we recognize this, the more we will live richly and master every moment. It isn’t about how much money we have in the bank, or how popular we are. It is about having the love of God in our hearts and allowing our actions to convey it. God has set us apart and called us to a higher purpose. This means we’re not going to be like the crowd. For many of us, this is challenging, because we want to be and act like most of the folks we’re around, but God warns against this. He tells us in Romans 12:2(NLT), “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
Romans 12:2 puts us on notice that there are two types of behaviors, worldly behavior and Godly behavior. Heavenly Father didn’t mince words; He never does. He tells us not to mimic the behaviors and customs of those who do not believe in His Word and haven’t made Jesus Christ the Lord of their lives. He tells us to be renewed in our minds by changing the way we think. We have become a new person in Christ; our actions, attitudes, and behaviors should represent the newness we have received.
In Matthew 15:19, Jesus tells us that worldly behaviors like evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander will defile us. People behave this way because 2Corinthians 4:4 tells us that satan, the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who do not believe. Heavenly Father wants them to know Christ, but most people in the world have chosen not to have a relationship with God. We, His sons and daughters, can help change this.
In Matthew 5:16, Jesus Christ commissioned us to let our light shine, so that those who do not know God will see our love for Him. This is the true essence of mastering the moment. We must let our lights shine by living through God’s love. Jesus said that when we do this, people will be so impressed with the love of God in our hearts that they will long to know Him the way that we do. Ephesians 5:8 says that we were once blinded by satan and in the dark ourselves, but because of Christ, we are now light just as Jesus is light, so we ought to walk as children of light. God has set us apart for this holy duty to His Kingdom. The more we align ourselves with what He has called us to do, the richer our lives will become.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Living Richly by Mastering the Moment”, written for victoryinjesuschrist.life© 2019. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
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