"I am Your guest"

Psalm 39:12
"For I am your guest, a traveler passing through"

This statement of 'I am your guest' makes me think a lot. And the Lord revealed to me that guests in a home treat those they are staying with...with respect, thankfulness, politeness, and etc. We are temples of the Lord...we are guests in his house! Therefore, our hearts and actions should be that of guests...of respect, thankfulness, obedience, and etc...for the one who ALLOWS us to stay here, the one whom created the earth and everything in it--our bodies, minds, hearts, world-earth. We are guests in his home...may we fear him and treat him with complete gratitude and reverence.

As we look at our world, our lives, and our activities we know that they are not ours in real perspective. My time, my family...ALL belong to God..He gave them to me. So we must respect and love all because everything,in reality, is truly HIS! The earth is HIS, so we must care for it. Our time is His, so we must realize that my time, my agenda, etc...all belong to Him because I am His. So it's not so much of a "sacrifice" of MY time, but more of an acknowledgment of knowing that all is His...and in that we are willing to SURRENDER everything we "have" because we are guests, and we play by HIS rules! Guests take their shoes off, if that is the rules. Christians should follow what the Lord states in His word--not just some of it. We need to have the attitude of a respectful guest. Our bodies are His temple, respect them. So when we use the word "sacrifice", think of the word "obedience" instead. (hebrew translation for sacrifice in many scriptures) Think of this not as a "self" given to God, but as a person who realizes that "self" IS God's! When we have the attitude where we consider everything to be MY time, My life and when I give God MY time...I feel good about it b/c I was "selfless" for God...THINK AGAIN...because this thought should never be! Rather, the thought should be...."God I am yours, all I have is yours (my time, energy, devotion, etc). I am your guest. I follow your rules."

He created us and everything. ALL belongs to Him! Start responding to Him like all really does belong to HIM! And let's play by HIS rules! He doesn't just have these commands in the bible made up for no reason or purpose. He LOVES us soo much that He wants us to follow his commands because He knows that it will benefit US! Often I think...God is not so much concerned about himself when we ignore Him or when we sin...but He is more concerned about us...because HE knows that sin and other things that distract us from Him ultimately HURT US!! He loves us that much that He wants our full attention...because His way is the BEST way..for HIM and for US!!!

WOw that's a mouth full!
BTW----I am preaching to my own choir here! convicting stuff for me!

:)