Keeping up with the Joneses or staying in step with the Holy Spirit

For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Galations 6:8

Growing up as a child, I often heard stories from my maternal grandmother about people she knew who were only concerned about keeping up with what others had or what others did and how they would work to compete to see who had better in the end.  Time after time they would come to her porch and call out for Mama Vie, telling her that they needed to talk with her about something. Many times, I would hear her on the phone telling them not to get caught up in buying this or that and not being able to afford it all in the end.  Still there were many times that many would come to ask her for money to help them pay bills and she would give it to them with a stern warning for them to be more discerning the next time.

Growing up in a family with six children, did not afford me the opportunity to have all of the latest fashions of the 70’s. But I always had clean clothes and freshly braided hair. My parents made sure that we had a roof over our heads, clothes on our backs and shoes on our feet even if they were the buddies from the community J. L. Marcus stores. 

What I learned back then was the value and importance of family. Like spending time playing with my younger siblings and dreaming about our future. Or what we did as a family on Saturday mornings, by getting up cleaning up the house and then sitting down for a family meeting before we watched our Saturday afternoon movies. I remember my mama would facilitate our meetings and ask us if we had any issues or concerns that we wanted to discuss with her or to solve an issue with another sibling.  She was teaching us back then how to keep a clear line of communication open with family as well as others. She taught us values and how to use our life and talents for good. Mama was also teaching us also that putting in quality time with family was most precious than anything that money could ever buy. She was teaching us things that would help to bless our lives in the long run.

These childhood experiences both taught me something and that is how the scripture above ties in with this devotional. On one hand, I can spend my whole life working to spend everything I have on trying to live a life to impress people by keeping up with the Joneses. Or on the other hand, I can use the available resources and gifts that I have by pouring into others those things which will help them to mature and grow to become who God created and purposed for them to be in Him. 

Body of Christ, we have a choice to make today, will we continue to keep up with the Joneses or will we make the leap of faith to stay in step with the Holy Spirit? Which one of these roads would you chose?  The one that leads to destruction or the one that leads to eternal life?  Make the choice to truly live life today; and we 'll leave a light on for you.

 Prayer of Salvation

If after reading this devotional you have a desire to know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, please pray the following prayer:

  

I repent of all of my sins and right now I do confess that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died for the remission of my sins. I believe that Jesus died and was buried and rose again, and is now seated at the right hand of God in Heaven. I receive Him now as Lord of my life and I now commit to serve him for the rest of my days. It’s in Jesus name I do pray, Amen

If you have just prayed this prayer and want more information about beginning your new life as a Christian, please call or write us, we will be happy to send you a free booklet.

A Poetic View

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