1 Thessalonians 5:16-22
16 Rejoice always,
17 pray without ceasing,
18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
19 Do not quench the Spirit.
20 Do not despise prophecies.
21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.
22 Abstain from every form of evil.
Some of the most popular cars in my time when I was growing up were:
1970 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird - My uncle had one that was kind of a burnt orange. I know those cars usually came with a 426 Hemi V8 or a 440 Super Commando V8, I am not for sure which he had but both would definitely run. He would leave Dad's church spinning tires way up the street from the church.
1957 Chevy Bellaire Convertible or Hardtop - My dad owned one that was candy apple red. These cars usually came with a 235.5, 265, or a 283 V8. I believe my Dad's was modified to race so, I am not for sure what it had in it. He loved to drive that car when he could. He also owned a 1956 Plymouth at one time as well with a straight 6.
Ford Mustang has been one of the more popular cars that have had many successful models especially in the 60's & 70's.
1969 Dodge Charger - This was a beautiful car that had some muscle. Most popular models ranged from 1966 to 1974.
The point is these were cars that most people wanted to own and drive then and most people now.
In order to own the cars and drive them every day it took some shade-tree mechanic skills to keep them on the road. I had my old 65 Ford Pickup break down many times on the road and I learned to always have duct tape and bailing wire on the truck. Trust me back then those 2 items would almost fix anything to get you a little further down the road.
If we do maintance on the car then we will have better results in keeping that car on the road and running. When I was a teenager I used to spend a lot of time working on and maintaining my cars. I learned to rebuild carburetors to the point that all my friends would come to me to rebuild or repair theirs.
I changed out the transmission on my truck by myself and with no jacks. I replaced the rear on my truck. I did a lot of work to make sure that truck was at the best performance that I could give it.
In our lives we have got to learn that there are things that we must do to maintenance our relationship with God.
How do we maintain that relationship with God?
- Prayer
- Open & Honest With God: Be honest with God about your struggles in your life. also tell Him of the good things in your life.
- Communicate With God: Praying is the way to talk to God. Tell Him your needs, desires, and gratitude.
- Practice Regularly: Make prayer a daily habit, not just a formality.
- Study
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
- Learn About God: Read the Bible to learn about God's character, His plan for you, and His teachings.
- Seek Understanding: Ask God to help you understand what you're reading and apply it to your life.
- Memorize Scripture: Do your best to memorize scripture and meditate throughout the day on the scripture.
- Live in Faith
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
- Obedience: Obey God's commands is a way of expressing your love and faith.
- Serve Others: Show love and compassion to others showing others God's love in your actions.
- Giving: Give back to God through acts of generosity and stewardship.
It is important that we are generous to other people after all God gives us everything we have. I had someone that gave me a worn out care one time when I needed a second vehicle. I was very happy with that car. Yes, it may have not been that Charger or Mustang, but it was an old Dodge Colt that got me everywhere I needed to go.
As well we need to show our generosity to God with our Tithes and offerings. It is important that we show God we are good with the money that He has allowed us to make and that we give back what is asked of us to give into church.
- Other Important Things.
- Seek God's Presence: Recognize God's presence in everyday moments.
- Community: Engage with other believers, supporting and encouraging one another in your faith journey.
- Reflection: Take time to reflect on your experiences, the lessons you've learned, and how God has been working in your life.
- Forgiveness: Always forgive other and ask God for forgiveness.
- Gratitude: Express gratitude for God's blessings and provision in your life.
My Dad and I pulled into a O'Reilly's Auto Parts and when we pulled into the parking lot there was an old Ford around the end of the Model T that they had somehow placed a late 70's early 80's Air under the dash. As we looked at that we both said they ruined that car by placing an A/C unit that didn't belong there.
In our life we often place things there that are dark and sometimes sinful. On the outside surface everyone things He or She is a great Christian and yet if we could see on the inside we would see that they are not what they appear to be.
How is your life this morning?