As Usual

Mary Geegh is one of my heroes. She wrote a fascinating booklet called God Guides. Mary wrote, “I determined to listen to God for guidance in all matters, and I promised Him I would obey whatever He told me.”  Mary had a critical spirit towards a coworker, so, in line with her new conviction, she asked God’s guidance on how to repair the rift between them. God told her to give her colleague a fresh egg. Mary thought that would insult her and resisted God’s prompting. But later, with prodding, she did what God asked, and He used that egg to refresh the woman and to bring new love into Mary’s heart for her—all the friction was gone! Mary created a habit that would change her life and give her countless stories of God miraculously working in her and through her for His Kingdom. ​

Meditation
Acts 17:2,3--As usual, Paul went to the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and showing that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead: “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah.” 
1 Timothy 4:14-15--Do not neglect the gift that is in you; it was given to you through prophecy, with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. Practice these things; be committed to them, so that your progress may be evident to all. 
 
Paul’s usual practice was to go into the synagogue and proclaim the truth of Christ from Scripture.  Paul exhorted Timothy to practice his gift and the truths he learned from his elders. Both men are powerful examples of how to live for God as usual.
            
As usual, if properly executed for noble purposes is a powerful pronouncement. It proclaims faithfulness. It shows stability. It testifies to virtue. It is an established practice that bears fruit. The one devoted to generosity, committed to wise learning, which serves people with intent to minister regularly, should exemplify the right kind of as usual.
            
Conversely, as usual, if improperly established for fleshly intent is sad imprisonment. It proclaims addiction. It shows instability. It indicates vice. It is a bad habit that will wreak havoc. The one glued to entertainment, feeding gluttony, consumed by work illustrates the wrong kind of as usual.
            
So how about you? If someone were to measure your life, how would they categorize or describe your as usual?  COL Joshua Chamberlain of Civil War fame wrote, “No man becomes suddenly different from his habit and cherished thought.  We carry our accustomed manners with us.”  Are you glorifying God or missing His best?  The test is in practice, and the proof is in the fruit.  Something to think about . . . in reveration!
 
Inspiration
An hour, or half an hour, of daily attention to, and meditation on, our own spiritual life is the secret of progress.—Oswald Chambers in The Moral Foundations of Life
 
©2022 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to the inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)