What Keeps You From Your Best? – Scripture Dissection

Alive and Active Life

What Keeps You From Your Best? - Scripture Dissection

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What keeps you from your best? It could be someone, something – or it could be you.

This material is about your health, growth, and progress. Of course, every person of every age continues to grow all their life. However, health and progress depend on some things. Additionally, sometimes there’s interference with progress in your relationship with God.

Let’s look closer.

Tear Into It – What Keeps You From Your Best?

There are always four categories we explore in Scripture Dissection:

1. What Does It Say?
2. What Does It Mean?
3. Make It Personal.
4. Make A Commitment.

1. What Does It Say?

We explore two of Paul’s verses in this content.

“You were running a good race. Who [or what] cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?” (Gal. 5:7-8)

“I am glad I can have complete confidence in you.” (2 Cor. 7:16)

This is what those verses say.

2. What Does It Mean?

Commonly, what keeps you from your best mean? It could be someone. Perhaps something. Frankly, it could be you. Why do these matter?

Paul writes with deep concern in Gal. 5:7. Frankly, he’s noticed some Christians have struggled to do their best as Jesus followers. Simply put, he then asks hard questions to help them.

Let’s look at those verses again.

“You were running a good race. Who [or what] cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?” (Gal. 5:7)

This verse simply states – you were doing well! After that, it poses the problem – what happened? In other words, what has been interfering with your relationship with Jesus?

Good questions help evaluate. So, ask yourself –

1. Who or what “cuts in” to keep you from your best for Christ? Identify it.
2. What messages do you listen to? Identify them.
3. How do these messages affect your perspective and passion to follow Jesus?
4. Did someone betray, belittle, or slander you?
5. Are you simply weary? Could you be lazy?

“I am glad I can have complete confidence in you.” (2 Cor. 7:16) What a refreshing verse! Actually, this is a message of assurance. In fact, it boosts you. Additionally, you feel pleased doing your best. However, for it to be true, you must be “running a good race.” 

So, a few more good questions –

1. Are you diligently working to run a good race and do your best?
2. Do you love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? Does it show in your daily life?
3. How do you approach each day to keep God first – and then accomplish what He’s put in front of you?
4. Have you established good patterns and habits to keep you from being weary or lazy?

This is what those verses mean.

3. Make It Personal

Like seasons of the year, your relationship with God shifts. But those shifts don’t need to be negative. They can be helpful and nurturing.

What causes shifts in your relationship with God? What can you do to keep changes fresh and positive?

You Deserve Some Credit For Your Best

For starters –

• First, you’re determined to trust Jesus.
• Plus, you’ve done well and had some successes. Naturally, this boosts your confidence.
• Hopefully, you relax in your relationship with God.
• Further, your love for the Lord grows deeper.

This is running a good race.

All it takes is one statement from “that person” who cuts in on you – and you plummet. Or someone betrays or mistreats you. Realistically, some event may have gone poorly. Then again, it could be you are weary. Or, ouch! – you may simply be lazy. You know what I mean.

Still – you get credit for doing your best whenever you have.

Weariness

We’ve mentioned weariness several times in this material. Time to explore what weariness is and how it affects you.

Actually, weariness casts a kind of shadow over you by the wear and tear of living. However, it can be remedied. Interestingly, God has a plan to address weariness with renewal. Gal. 6:9 says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Still, there’s more. Jesus addresses the root of weariness. Mt. 11:28 says, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

God’s plan to address weariness is to refresh you. Incidentally, this comes from drawing close to God. Plus, from praising Him in all circumstances. And finally, by trusting Him, even when you cannot see what He’s doing.

God wants you close to Himself, but you must accept His renewal when you’re weary. As already mentioned, Jesus invites His weary children to come close. Remarkably, His words are filled with hope, rest, kindness, and tenderness.

Did you know Jesus gives you the “heads up” about how hard life will get. “In this world you will have troubles.” Thankfully, He wraps it up with a promise, “But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (Jn. 16:33)

Laziness

On the other hand, laziness casts a shadow over you by pulling you into poor character. Ouch again! Interestingly, it allows “putting off” normal, necessary responsibilities. Being a defense mechanism, it also skews thinking. Soon, it’s easy to believe you don’t have to do certain things.

Basically, laziness is a kind of denial. Equally, it’s only addressed by kicking it out.

Actually, God rebukes a lazy person. “You lazy, wicked servant! . . . “ (Mt. 25:26)

Rather a harsh message. However, a needed one. It’s as if God is saying – “Get going, or I will give the honor I intended for you, to someone else! Sadly, I want to honor you more than you want to be honored! So, start investing into the life I gave you. Address small tasks right in front of you. Then, apply yourself to improve. Importantly, ignore false messages in your head. Afterall, those aren’t from Me. Trust Me, and I will pull you out of this pit. In fact, I will lift you up to the design I intended for your life.”

Better Things

God wants “better things” for you. Heb. 6:9 says, “we are convinced of better things in your case . . .”

• Better habits.
• Higher standards.
• Clearer goals.
• Careful plans.
• Diligent involvement.
• Sincere work.
• Stronger relationships.

Matter of fact, God addresses your whole life. Consequently, God is just and fair. Additionally, He has an excellent memory. Every little thing you do by faith in His name, He remembers! This is great news. Truly, He will reward your work.

At the same time, whatever is done without faith, God also notices that. He has a strong rebuke in Heb. 11:6 – “You can never please God without faith, without depending on Him. Anyone who wants to come to God must believe that there is a God and that He rewards those who sincerely look for Him.”

Keep Doing Your Best: 7 Helpful Points

Frankly, it’s time for helpful points.

1. First, stay close to God and enjoy His love. It’s like wearing body armor. (Jude 21)
2. Second, prefer God’s plans for your life over your own plans. (Is. 52:12b)
3. Third, only listen to God’s voice. You belong to Jesus. He, alone, blesses your life with freedom. Plus, He will keep you in “perfect peace.” (Is. 26:3)
4. Next, be still. Renewal from weariness requires rest and being still. (Ps. 46:10)
5. Fifth, know God loves you. (Jer. 31:3) Thankfully, you can rest in Him. (Ps. 62:5) Incidentally, you will often need to wait for Him. (Ps. 37:7)
6. Sixth, enjoy the freedom Jesus paid dearly for you to have. (Gal. 5:1)
7. Finally, get into His training to defeat laziness. Learn God’s maneuvers. Essentially, get good at godliness. (1 Tim. 4:8)

All of that – helps you make it personal.

4. Make A Commitment – Application Thoughts And Questions

1. So, what keeps you from your best?
2. Are you running a good race?
3. Are you living your best so God can be confident in you?
4. What kinds of things get in the way of your best?
5. Have you noticed particular messages, perspectives, passions that tend to bring you down?
6. Additionally, have you ever been betrayed, belittled, or slandered?
7. When have you been weary? How do you handle it?
8. In your weariness, do you turn to Jesus to be refreshed and rested?
9. Now, be honest. When have you been lazy? Why?
10. Since Jesus has promised His power to you, what can you do to have –
    1. 1. Better habits.
       2. Higher standards.
       3. Clearer goals.
       4. Careful plans.
       5. Diligent involvement.
       6. Sincere work.
       7. Stronger relationships.

Finally, consider: do you –

1. Stay close to God?
2. Prefer God’s plans over your own?
3. Only listen to God’s voice?
4. Be still and know He is God?
5. Remember, God loves you?
6. Enjoy your freedom?
7. Get into His training?

* Portions of this content come from my book – More e-Pistles For An i-Generation Relevant In A Digital Age – a devotional book that takes you through all Paul’s letters that follow 1 and 2 Corinthians.

Plus, some content comes from Shadows of Things To Come – a study in Hebrews. In both books, you’ll find practical action points that help you know God better and nurture personal growth. You can find this book in our bookstore: www.aliveandactivelife.org/store.

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