Re: Mack's Journal
Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2014 4:14 pm
Definition of Quid Pro Quo: a favor or advantage granted or expected in return for something
Having been a Believer for over 30 years now, I'm still struck at how easily a thought will have me behave in unbelief. Take for instance: having a need, then feeling like I have to do something to earn or exact God's favor. Even in the middle of prayer, one of those thoughts will just pop right up to distract me, or worse yet, to make me doubt. Doubt that God would grant my request, because of something I had done, or didn't do.
Faith in our Lord, isn't a quid pro quo proposition. God has already done the miraculous, so for me to believe, even for a moment, that God isn't going to grant me something because I have or haven't done...neglected to pray for another, or because I lost my temper the day before, is just nonsense, and a lie planted by the enemy of my soul.
My first job in the "work force" was in a restaurant when I was 16. I remember whenever the "big wigs" came for a visit, we were told by the manager to grab a cleaning rag and to keep busy. In other words, he wanted us to behave a certain way while the "big wigs" were there, but then we could return to normal pace after they left. What the heck is that? Normal pace was work, we all had assigned responsibilities, and for the most part, we all did what was expected. So, why were we to behave differently -- for appearance sake -- when the owners were present? Was it to exact some sort of favor, based solely on appearances sake?
The Bible does tell me that faith without works is dead, but, that doesn't mean that God has not already given me blessings and favor and 24/7 access to Him, and it is based on my faith in Him and what He did on the cross, not by what I did or didn't do yesterday, or may or may not do today or tomorrow. My faith in The Lord humbles me, strengthens me and then lifts me up. My faith in The Lord empowers me to love, inspires me to reach out to others, and it is all His doing, not mine. When and if I start believing that God has answered my prayer or given me a blessing based on my performance, that is when I can be sure that I've listened to the wrong voice.
Oh, child of God, your prayers are heard. While it is a blessed thing to have others join you in lifting up your petitions to The Lord in prayer, please do not believe for a moment that your own private prayers carry less weight. I do hope as you continue to grow in your relationship with The Lord that you'll be inspired and recognize His divine inspiration -- His power -- within you to pray for others, and to do for others in His name. I hope too, that you'll be quick to recognize the tempter if/when he whispers his lies, distracting you from The Truth, in his attempt to have you waver and start operating in the a quid pro quo mentality.
God is Good and He loves you.
Love,
Mack
Having been a Believer for over 30 years now, I'm still struck at how easily a thought will have me behave in unbelief. Take for instance: having a need, then feeling like I have to do something to earn or exact God's favor. Even in the middle of prayer, one of those thoughts will just pop right up to distract me, or worse yet, to make me doubt. Doubt that God would grant my request, because of something I had done, or didn't do.
Faith in our Lord, isn't a quid pro quo proposition. God has already done the miraculous, so for me to believe, even for a moment, that God isn't going to grant me something because I have or haven't done...neglected to pray for another, or because I lost my temper the day before, is just nonsense, and a lie planted by the enemy of my soul.
My first job in the "work force" was in a restaurant when I was 16. I remember whenever the "big wigs" came for a visit, we were told by the manager to grab a cleaning rag and to keep busy. In other words, he wanted us to behave a certain way while the "big wigs" were there, but then we could return to normal pace after they left. What the heck is that? Normal pace was work, we all had assigned responsibilities, and for the most part, we all did what was expected. So, why were we to behave differently -- for appearance sake -- when the owners were present? Was it to exact some sort of favor, based solely on appearances sake?
The Bible does tell me that faith without works is dead, but, that doesn't mean that God has not already given me blessings and favor and 24/7 access to Him, and it is based on my faith in Him and what He did on the cross, not by what I did or didn't do yesterday, or may or may not do today or tomorrow. My faith in The Lord humbles me, strengthens me and then lifts me up. My faith in The Lord empowers me to love, inspires me to reach out to others, and it is all His doing, not mine. When and if I start believing that God has answered my prayer or given me a blessing based on my performance, that is when I can be sure that I've listened to the wrong voice.
Oh, child of God, your prayers are heard. While it is a blessed thing to have others join you in lifting up your petitions to The Lord in prayer, please do not believe for a moment that your own private prayers carry less weight. I do hope as you continue to grow in your relationship with The Lord that you'll be inspired and recognize His divine inspiration -- His power -- within you to pray for others, and to do for others in His name. I hope too, that you'll be quick to recognize the tempter if/when he whispers his lies, distracting you from The Truth, in his attempt to have you waver and start operating in the a quid pro quo mentality.
God is Good and He loves you.
Love,
Mack