Following God's Call

Not every person is meant to have a JOB as the world thinks and says of other people. That kind worldview is not really biblical anyway. Every person has different spiritual gifts, abilities, talents, skills, experiences, callings, paths, and journeys. Don't attempt to box other people into a very limited box.

Jesus was a carpenter by trade, but He was the Savior of the world. The Apostle Paul had a tent-making business. However, he was basically a traveling evangelist who went from house to house and church to church. In between, he went to prison while doing God's work. Peter was a fisherman. 'The Rock' as he was called was chosen by God to preach on the day of Pentecost to thousands of people.

Mary was a virgin, but she became the mother of Jesus Christ. David was a shepherd who became a king. Matthew was a tax collector by trade. Luke was a physician. Both men were disciples of Jesus Christ though. Rahab was a prostitute who became an ancestor in the lineage of Jesus.

I could go on, but I won't now. I will say this... Some people are meant to have trades. Some people are meant to have---what the world calls---jobs. Some people are meant to own businesses.

"And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ..." (Ephesians 4:11-12, NKJV)

Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. That's the freedom to be who God has created each of us to be for His purpose and plan. So, release all of the burdens to God. Leave all the cares behind. And, allow God to do the work in and through people. He knows best for every person in this world.

(See Joshua 2; Isaiah 53; Matthew 1, 4:18, 9:9-10; Acts 2:14-39, 16:1-40; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 12; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Ephesians 4:11-16; Philippians 2:12-13)


Copyright 2018 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Mind Your Business

"Idle hands are the devil's workshop."  Perhaps, you have heard that particular saying before.  Though it is not found in scripture, there is truth found in the statement.  The Apostle Paul warned believers specifically in the book of 2 Thessalonians about idleness.

He begins, "Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us." (2 Thessalonians 3:6, ESV)

There are reasons for his warning.  For one, no person should be lazy when it comes to the Lord's work.  However, the devil is also more able to tempt people when they are not staying productive within the Kingdom of God.  So, idle hands can be the way the devil uses them.  In addition, God does not want any person to be a burden on any one person.  We all need to be responsible for our individual selves.  God does not want any person to be a stumbling block for anyone else, nor does he want any person to be a hindrance to the true Gospel.  (See Isaiah 53; John 19; Romans 14:13; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-10)   

Unfortunately, there are members within the body of Christ today who are too idle.  Consequently, the enemy uses them.  They gossip, meddle, and more because they are not truly being productive.  Therefore, they are busy bodies in other people's lives.  

The Apostle Paul heard about this same issue within the church at Thessalonica.

"For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies."  (2 Thessalonians 3:11, ESV)

He knew and understood the reason there were some people who were being busy bodies.  At the same time, he encouraged the members of the church.

"Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living."  (2 Thessalonians 3:12, ESV)

He goes on to say, "As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.  If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed.  Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother."  (2 Thessalonians 3:13-15, ESV)

And, in the words of Will Smith...

[Source: YouTube]

Copyright 2018 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Leaving the Past Behind

Please first read Genesis 19:14-26.

"But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt."  (Genesis 19:26, NKJV)

Lot received word from some men that the Lord was going to destroy the city.  He was told to take all of his family and get out of the the region immediately.

They all obeyed the orders they received from the Lord.  He destroyed the cities where they had left earlier.  Everyone and everything was destroyed there.

Then, Lot's wife looked back behind and she became a pillar of salt.  She was destroyed for looking back.

Lot's wife looked back and was destroyed for doing so.

What can we learn from this part of scripture?

For one, we need to obey the Lord because He has our best interest at heart.  Also, it does not do us any good to look back behind us.  If anything, it can have tragic consequences for us and our loved ones.

There are also plenty of other lessons to learn from that particular passage.

However, in the Apostle Paul's letter to the church at Philippi, he talks about forgetting those things behind.

"Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 3:13-14, NKJV)  

Like Paul, he encouraged the believers there to press toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call in Jesus Christ.  He did not want them stay stuck in the past but to forget everything behind them.

In the same way, God does not want His children to be stuck in the past.  He desires all of them to forget everything behind them and move forward into the future.  He wants them to move further into their God-given purpose and plan.  Be who He has created them and called them to be for His perfect will.  Then, and only then, will God truly be honored and glorified in and through them.


Copyright 2015 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

None by Comparison

There is a tendency to compare ourselves with others in today's society. Whether it's done intentionally or not, it's difficult not to do so at times. The world tries to pressure us by putting all kinds of images and stereotypes out there. They try to tell us you have to look a certain way, act a particular way, do this, do that, or whatever else.

As difficult as it may be at times, there is a better way. It's God's way. He doesn't want us to compare ourselves with others.

He made us all unique and special. We all have different spiritual gifts. First of all, we each have a general purpose but we were also created with individual specific purposes. (See 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 27-30)

In the Apostle Paul's letter to the church at Ephesus, he talked about being made alive in Christ. He mentioned our individuality and overall purpose.

"For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:10, NIV)

Paul wrote another letter to the churches in Galatia and encouraged them to do good. He wanted to make sure that they weren't deceived when helping each other though.

"Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else..." (Galatians 6:4, NIV)

In a letter to the church at Corinth, Paul defends his ministry. He spoke about his letters being “weighty and forceful.” (2 Corinthians 10:10)

He wanted the people to know that he was the same whether through his writing or in person. Also, Paul was not like others.

"We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise." (2 Corinthians 10:12, NIV)

Within the body of Christ, sometimes there is a tendency for us to compare ourselves with others who have similar spiritual gifts, ministries, or the like. However, this part of the Apostle Paul's letter to the church at Corinth serves as a great reminder for us not to do so.

He continues, "We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you. We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:13-14, NIV)

We need to remember that we have a certain sphere of service God has specifically assigned to us individually. Therefore, we need to keep our focus on our particular sphere and not anyone else’s area.

And when we do work, we need to do it wholeheartedly as well as do it unto the Lord and not people. (See Colossians 3:23-24)

In addition, the Apostle Paul talks about the sphere of activity within his ministry. It can also be applied to our own sphere of activity in our ministries and work for the Lord.

"Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory. (2 Corinthians 10:15-16, NIV)

We do not need to go beyond our assigned territory and limits God has given us. Of course, we can hope that our regions will greatly be expanded as our faith increases just like the Apostle Paul. He goes on to talk about boasting in the Lord.

But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. (2 Corinthians 10:17-18, NIV)

Knowing that it is the Lord who commends us and no one else will help us work much harder for Him and rest much easier in Him. We do not need to compare ourselves, our journeys, our paths, or ministries to anyone else or anything of theirs. There is none by comparison.

We can trust God with our ministries, our purposes, our callings, our assignments, and anything else He has for us. For God who has called each of us is faithful, and He will complete that which He has started in us individually. (See 1 Corinthians 1:9; Philippians 2:12-13)


Copyright 2015 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Running the Race

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.  For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”  (Hebrews 12:1-3, NIV)

There is a tendency in this world to get our eyes off of Jesus and onto our natural circumstances.  The devil would like to distract you, hinder you, interrupt you, and shake you up in this world.  He would like to keep you from being and doing all you were created and called to be and do for God's purpose and plan. 

Jesus did not allow the enemy to hinder, distract, interrupt, or shake Him up.  He did not allow the devil to keep Him from being and doing all He was created and called to be and do for His Father's purpose and plan.  We cannot allow the enemy to keep us from being and doing all we were created and called to be and do for our Father's purpose and plan (See Jeremiah 29:11-13).

There is also a tendency in this world to compare our spiritual journey and life to the journeys and lives of others in the world, specifically within the body of Christ.  It is another tactic of the enemy though.  None of us have the exact same purpose and calling in God's plan.  None of our paths will look exactly alike.  Sure there may be some similarities, but we are all different.  We all have different purposes and callings in our creator's master plan. 

Let's briefly look at the journeys and lives of the Apostle Paul and Jesus' disciple, Peter.

Paul was called by God to be an apostle (See Romans 1:1-5; 1 Corinthians 1:1-3; 2 Corinthians 1:1-2).  He did not just decide for himself that he was an apostle.  God specifically created Paul to have that calling and purpose in His plan.  Therefore, Paul became all that God created him to be and do, but it was not Paul's own doing.  It was God's doing.  Paul said himself that he did not deserve to be an apostle because of his past (See 1 Corinthians 15:9).  "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect.  No, I worked harder than all of them---yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me (1 Corinthians 15:10, NIV)."  God worked in and through Paul to accomplish His purpose (See Philippians 2:12-13).  Paul went on to do much for God's Kingdom, because he knew who he was created and called to be in God's plan.  He suffered and endured much for the Gospel (Read Acts 16:16-40).  He boasted in all of his weaknesses and sufferings (Read 2 Corinthians 11:23-30).  He boldly spoke and preached throughout the regions and land where God had called him.  He also wrote much of the New Testament. 

Peter was a disciple of Jesus Christ.  He was only one of the 12 disciples of Jesus Christ back then.  Despite the calling on his life, Peter denied Jesus three times (Read John 18:15-27).  Jesus did not hold that against him though.  He did not condemn Peter.  God had a great purpose and calling for Peter.  He knew Peter would eventually step up and be the bold and courageous man He had created him to be for His purpose.  God gave Peter more opportunities to prove himself.  Despite his past and previous weaknesses, Peter was used mightily and powerfully for God's purpose.  While with the other 11 disciples, Peter preached the Gospel to a crowd of thousands of people on the day of Pentecost.  Due to Peter's obedience that specific day, nearly three thousand people accepted Jesus and were baptized into the faith of Jesus Christ (Read Acts 2:14-41). 

Neither one of these men began their journeys or lives well, but they both finished well.  Neither Paul nor Peter had the exact same calling or purpose in God's plan.  Their spiritual journeys and lives did not look the same.  They did not have or take the exact same path.  They did not look at another man's path, calling, or purpose and wish they were in the other person's shoes so to speak.  They concentrated and focused on what God had created and called them to be and do for His purpose and plan.  They kept their eyes on the ultimate goal---running their individual races and winning the prize that God had for each one of them (See 1 Corinthians 9:24-27).  They were both different men with different paths as well as different callings and purposes.  However, God powerfully used both of them to accomplish His purpose in His plan. 

Copyright 2015 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Setting the Captives Free

Are you being held captive? Are you in a prison?

A prison is not necessarily a physical confined space as you may think of today. It can be more than just that kind of confinement or restriction. People can be confined or restricted by the way they think as well. People can be free physically and still be in a mental prison. Likewise, people can be free mentally and still be in a physical prison. Either way, you are being held captive either physically or mentally. It does not have to be that way though.

When the Apostle Paul was confined, he was in a physical prison with Silas. (Acts 16:23-24) However, Paul was not confined or restricted mentally. In the midst of his temporary circumstance, Paul was still able to praise and worship God. (Acts 16:25) It can be the same for you.

The Apostle Paul says to cast “down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God” and bring “into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ…” (2 Cor 10:5, KJV)  However, you first must know God’s word. You must know His truth!

By continually renewing your mind in God’s word, you will be able to know more fully His truth. (Rom 12:2) God assures everyone that His truth will set him or her free! (John 8:32) You can be free in your mind, your situation, and your life. To be free, you must read and study His word on a daily basis though.

Then, you will be free mentally and physically. There will be no more prisons in you or in your life. You will not be held captive in your mind and in your life any longer. (Luke 4:18) “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36, NKJV)


Copyright 2012 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.