In Order

OK, most know that I’m slightly (don’t laugh at that!) OCD. Do not listen closely or you’ll hear members of my family laughing out loud, not caring whether I hear them or not, at the word ‘slightly.’

This past week has thrown us off schedule and I feel disordered, as dominoes falling. For ten weeks were were at the hospital every Tuesday. Every third week for mornings and the other two weeks, afternoons for port flushing. Starting last week, the schedule changed to Wednesdays, for the next six weeks – except this one.  Tuesday this week held two doctor appointments and the procedure will be done Thursday, this week only. I feel so lost! My habits have changed and the weeks goes on in spite of my feeling off schedule, but my tiny world doesn’t seem the same.

For a new Christian, our habits change, life goes on, but certainly not the same.  If there are no changes, it would be a good idea for that person to question if they understood what was supposed to happen. Change is a necessity – some may be minor, some may be huge and overwhelming.

First will come a desire to learn more about God, His word, His history and His future.  That means spending more time with Christians than ever before:

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25 KJV)

That “day” is closer now than ever before, even if it is centuries away. We’re not to be concerned about that day any more than Peter was to be concerned about John:

Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. (John 21:22 KJV)

Christians build new habits – including attending services, finding a ministry to fill, learning more and more about God, His love and His Lamb:

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Matthew 11:29 KJV)

Each of us can determine if we’re growing, thriving and bringing forth fruit.  The specifics are given in His word:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV)

That list is much shorter than the previous verses listing the works of the flesh.  No need to go into them here – accentuate the positive, look for these fruits in our own lives.  We live in this world, but we are a spiritual people and should be in tune with the Holy Spirit.  That’s why Paul added:

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25 KJV)

Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well:

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24 KJV)

That was just before He revealed to her who He was:

The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. (John 4:25-26 KJV)

When we are called by His name, we should be responsible for living by His word.