9.25.7 "No Dream is Free"

"No Dream is Free"

Isaiah 45:11-48:11
Ephesians 4:1-16
Psalm 68:19-35
Proverbs 24:3-4

Opening our eyes to what God has created us to is a great thing. We begin to see life with purpose and intention. Isaiah 46:3 says, "I have created you and cared for you since you were born. I will be your God through all your lifetime, yes, even when your hair is white with age. I made you and I will care for you. I will carry you along and be your Savior." Knowing that God is with us, and that his plan is specific and intentional can give us incredible confidence to pursue the abundant life.

There is something that is EXTREMELY important that we understand, however: No dream is free. Just because God calls us to something doesn't mean we are to stand around and wait for it to happen.

Paul says in Eph. 4:1, "I beg you, - I, a prisoner here in jail for serving the Lord - to live and act in a way worthy of those who have been chosen for such wonderful blessings as these."

We first see the cost of Paul's dream. He is in jail "for serving the Lord". This is part of the price he must pay for what God has called him to do. Now, realistically, very few of us will have to pay that price. But don't be misled into thinking there is no price. What Paul is saying in this verse is laying out our cost. the NIV says, "Live a life worthy of the calling you have received."

Our cost is to Live a life worthy of God's call on our life. If you are signed to play professional sports, you MUST stay in shape. You MUST keep clean. Unfortunately, we've seen all too many pro athletes who don't "live a life worthy", and whether they like it or not, there are consequences.

What about our Christian walk? How can we live and act in a worthy manner? Paul's initial instructions give a great starting point. "Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. Try always to be led along together by the Holy Spirit, and so be at peace with one another." (Eph 4:2-3) Imagine if we were all living like that!

I find it interesting that he says, "be led along together by the Holy Spirit, and so be at peace with one another." A fruit of being led of the Spirit is peace within the body. It's not competition, or contention, it's peace. I've heard before, "the Spirit told me to do this, and you better get outta my way..." Does that sound "worthy of the calling"?

The rest of Eph. 4 is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. It spells out how we have been given unique gifts for the purpose of building up the body, until we become mature. I like verse 15. It says, "... we will lovingly follow the truth at all times - speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly..."

To do this, we must walk disciplined lives. We must count the cost and live worthy. To be who God has created you to be will take steps of obedience on your part. For each of us it will be different. It may be changing a work schedule to make sure you can be in church to grow in Christ. It may be taking additional classes to fulfill the vocation God has called you to. It may be "making allowance for each other's faults". Sometimes our "cost" is learning how to deal with "irritating" people God has put into our lives for the purpose of refining us.

Proverbs 24:3-4 says, "A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables." Paying the price of wisdom, common sense, and committing to grow in knowledge is the cost of being who God has created us to be.

If you spend life taking the easiest road, you will soon find yourself trapped in sin and selfishness. It takes discipline to stay off that road and follow the leading of the Spirit. No Dream is free, but the cost is worth it!



Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

P Greg


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