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the easy way out




I’m an “easy way out” kind of person, are you?  As you know, I don’t like conflict so I don’t ever “go there” if I don’t have to.  I would rather not deal with it – it will go away, just ignore it for a while.  L

Unfortunately, if you are a believer in Jesus Christ, a follower of His ways and His Truth, (which I consider myself), you can’t do that.  You can’t take the easy way out all the time.  Being a believer makes me go places I don’t want to go and deal with things I don’t want to deal with.   It helps me tell the truth when it’s easier to lie.  It shows me that the only way is the right way and the right way isn’t always the easiest way.

Besides liking to take the easy way, I want everyone to be happy.  How in the heck can I do that!???!!  I mean, pleasing everyone is a full-time, grueling, pretty-much-impossible job!  Plus it’s not always God-honoring.  And it surely isn’t easy!

To help me with this dilemma, I set me some “rules” to go by.  Check this out:

  • Always tell the truth.  Not your truth, not the truth others want to hear but THE TRUTH. 
  • Don’t go there if you don’t want to “go there”.  In other words, if you know you can’t handle or fix it, don’t even try.  I mean, if there are family issues, or something that is not your business and has nothing to do with you specifically, and you don’t want to (or can’t) solve it, don’t.  Just support and pray and love whoever and whenever.
  • PRAY about it.  Ask others to pray.  If you can’t be specific, just send out an email, “please pray for me”.  Pray for wisdom.  Pray for God’s intervention, pray for whatever but JUST PRAY.
  • And last but not least, deal with it.  If it has to be dealt with, do it.  Go to her house and apologize.  Write that letter.  Forgive.  Give that ultimatum.  Yes, I said, give it.  The easy way out is lazy and it’s usually not right.  Deal with your stuff if it has to be dealt with.  If you have to, tell a friend some specifics so that you have an “encourager” to come along side.  Having someone understanding and/or encouraging you will take LOADS off – believe me, I know.

Unfortunately, the easy way out is not from God most times.  I can just hear The Deceiver saying, “go ahead, it’s the only way.  Don’t deal with it, just ignore it - it’s not worth it . . . . . blah, blah, blah”. 

I’m not making this up, you guys.  I have been there.  I have taken the easy way out and I have dealt with stuff.  Dealing with it has ALWAYS made things better.  Not perfect.  But better.  And the best part is – it’s what God wants. 

Paul says in his letter to the Ephesians (Chapter 4): 

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him, Who is the Head, that is, Christ.  From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does it work.

 
And I love this quote by Oswald Chambers:

 “If we are going to live as disciples of Jesus, we have to remember that all efforts of worth and excellence are difficult.  The Christian life is gloriously difficult, but its difficulty does not make us faint and cave in—it stirs us up to overcome.  Do we appreciate the miraculous salvation of Jesus Christ enough to be our utmost for His highest—our best for His glory?”



You want to be your best and do your work for God’s glory?  So do I.  I want to live the life worthy of my calling (Ephesians 4:1).

No more easy way, Lord, no more – be my strength.  You are my strength, oh God.   Help me to see Your Way and not just the easy way.  And may all of this be for Your glory.  And all God’s people said, AMEN!  

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