Self-Evaluation: History?

Self-evaluation: A OLD YEAR BECOMES HISTORY --- A NEW YEAR IS A MYSTERY

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

Text:

Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Matthew 12:36 (MSG) Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously. 37 Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation."

When I taught school we gave a report card every 6 weeks. Today, to save time school systems grade every 12 weeks. Which cut two grading periods out a year. Could this be less accountability for the teacher and the students? DO WE HONESTLY EVALUATE OUR SPIRITUAL STANDING? You ever ask the Preacher, HOW COULD I IMPROVE MY SPIRITUAL LIFE? Of course not? We don’t want to know?

WHAT YOU LOVE YOU WILL FIND TIME FOR?

YOU HEART AND ACTIONS WILL TELL!

Yesterday is gone! Tomorrow may never be? SO WE NEED TO INVEST WISELY IN THE ETERNAL BENEFITS OF LIFE.

Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Matthew 6:21 (MSG) It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.

Matthew 12:35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

Matthew 12:35 (MSG) A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. An evil person is a blight on the orchard.

We tend to search for the easy, little effort roads to travel. God seeks the best roads that will stretch your faith to new heights.

WHAT PLANS AND GOALS HAVE YOU SET TO MAKE YOUR CHURCH AND FAMILY BETTER?

ARE WE TOO BUSY? TOO BUSY FOR FAITHFULNESS TO CHURCH? TO BUSY TO SEE WHAT CAN I DO?

What kind of church would my church be if every member were just like me?

Galatians 6:7 (MSG) Don't be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!— 8 harvests a crop of weeds. All he'll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God's Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.

Can we see the relationship between our efforts and the harvest?

Going home from church, the Father complained and complained. The music was too loud and too fast? The singers sing the same words over and over? The Preacher is too judgmental and his sermon should be cut in half. The people are not friendly? On and on dad complained.

The little son in the back seat leaned forward and screamed: DAD, I SAW WHAT YOU PUT IN THE OFFERING PLATE. DAD, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FOR 2 CENTS?

WE FIND THE TENDANCY TO GIVE LIFE LITTLE EFFORT AND EXPECT GREAT REWARDS. LOVE GIVES THE BEST IT CAN. GOD IS LOVE AND GOD SO LOVED US --- GAVE THE BEST THING IN HEAVEN…

Many years ago I took my wife to Walmart Christmas shopping. I can’t keep up with her. It was a beautiful, warm day so I went outside and sat on a bench and waited. There was a large wooden box and it had TOYS for TOTS painted on the side. A brand new large Lincoln Continental pulled up and a boy and girl climbed out to place their gifts in the box. I saw the boy place a large TONKA TRUCK, and the girl placed a doll baby in the box and they jumped back in the car and they were so proud of themselves.

I got up and went over and looked, the TONKA TRUCH was rusted and missing a wheel? I pulled out the doll baby, the hair had been cut and she was bald in much of her hair. The baby doll had magic marker all over it. The toys they gave was a heartache for me. No one would have wanted them! No one!

I sat back down and prayed, I thought WHAT WOULD I DO IF I WAS SANTA CLAUS? I knew what I would do! I would wrap that rusty, 3 wheel truck and that dirty old doll and I would go down the chimney at their house and leave them under their tree.

Can you only imagine the surprise that Christmas morning? The kids and the mommy would be so pleased.