Above & Beyond
Based on Psalms 13-15, Acts 19:21-41
"LORD , who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, Nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour." Psalm 15:1-3
Who shall be able to be with The Lord? Who will draw near to Him? Those who walk uprightly, work righteousness & speak the Truth in their hearts! God is so awesome! He is The One True God, the God of Holiness, in a Holy hill...a hill is higher ground...something far above & beyond this world! We know that Heaven is His throne, and earth is His footstool: "Heaven is my throne, And earth is my footstool: What house will ye build me? saith the Lord: Or what is the place of my rest?" Acts 7:49. So if we want to go beyond this world, we need to reach for God by living by His Word & His standards!
"Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: so that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth." Acts 19:26-27
Paul preached this hard Truth at Ephesus! They believed in a god they created, named Diana. They believed that she was powerful and was worthy of worship...but they never got an answer from her! Paul knew & boldly spoke that our God has the power. There is no one Higher, no one Greater! The people creating the images feared they would go out of business if people started believing Paul's message. It was all about earthly prosperity, not Heavenly prosperity!
Sometimes, to get above & beyond, we have to GO above and beyond! We have to leave this world's way of thinking in order to obtain a greater calling! If we want Heaven one day, we have to have a little Heaven on earth! We need to be in God's presence, living His life, so when it comes to that day when we REALLY get to go above & beyond, He could say He really knew us, all this time.
written by
Gina Pietrzak
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