Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

When I sought the Lord for the last focus for our minds this week, He gave me a flash back to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air episode where Will teaches Ashley how to handle a bully. Will told her to act psychotic and say with attitude, “mind your business, that’s all, mind your business”.

Accordingly, today the Holy Spirit the fact that God wants you to “mind your business, that’s all, just mind your business”.

Today’s scripture, John 21:19-22 (NLT) shares…
[19] Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.” [20] Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will betray you?” [21] Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?” [22] Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.”

Consider…
A kryptonite for Christian’s is God’s sense of fairness. Many of us are concerned with what He tasks us to do or endure versus others. This is especially true when we see God bless His enemies.

Funny, I didn’t realize the Lord gave me background for this post, with a sermon I heard last Sunday. The preacher asked the question, what do you do when life seems unfair. Subtly, he pointed out we really mean when God is unfair. His message came from Psalms 73:1-17.

A couple of verses that captured the essence of his message, and our fairness frustrations are Psalms 73:13-14, 16 (NLT)…
[13] Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason? [14] I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain.
[16] So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is!

As I see these verses again, I hear the Lord saying to us through the Williams Brothers…

… You know there are too many people trying to take care of other folks’ business
And they can’t even take care of their own
But what you need to do is take six months to mind your own business
And six months to leave other folks’ business alone
All I’m trying to say is

… Sweep around your own front door
Before you try to sweep around mine, mm, mm
Sweep around your own front door
Before you try to sweep around mine
Now this is what you do

I remember especially liking the preacher pointing out…

God’s goodness isn’t measured by, or dependent on good things happening to us.

He further alluded to the fact that God’s goodness is based on the eternal, not the temporal.

Both of these messages send my mind to Richard White singing…

Accept what God allows,
you’re better off anyways,
face the facts and you will never stray.
Turn your faith a loose,
He’ll bring you out and give you all the proof;
so don’t question God, just accept what God allows.

We all go through life asking the question, why
why all these burdens, why when loved ones dies,
why do I have to worry, why do I have to cry;
when I know Jesus, He’s goona fix it all by and by.

Accept what God allows,
even when you don’t understand accept every trail.
Accept even now, He’ll give you a smile,
put it in His hands, He has the master plan;
your trial is but a stepping stone,
it will lead you heavenly home.

How much easier would life be if we focus on doing God’s will, rather than debating it.

By the way, the Holy Spirit that reminded that in our struggle with God blessing His enemies, Ephesians 2:1-5 (NLT) explains…
[1] Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. [2] You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. [3] All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. [4] But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, [5] that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)

This reminds me of my Aunt Winnie, affectionately known as Grandma to me, reminding others who had come up in life and began to look down on others, where they came from.

Somehow we get amnesia with our salvation and forget Romans 5:6-8 (NLT), which testifies…
[6] When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. [7] Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. [8] But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

You see, we were, and are, the people we complain to God about. Remember you were blessed before you said yes!

This reminds me of the pharisaic tendencies I had to rant about, and rage against church people I labeled Pharisees. One day the Holy Spirit told me to stop being hypocritical by pointing out hypocrites.

In essence the Holy Spirit was telling me to, “mind your business, that’s it, just mind your business”.

Then Jesus jumped in the admonition and said in Matthew 7:21 (NLT)…
[21] “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.

God says, stop trying to get your way, and instead do My Will!

Remember Jesus taught us to begin our prayer…

Matthew 6:9-10 (NIV)…
[9] “This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, [10] your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Notice, making everything about reverencing and honoring God is where we should always begin. Thus, we must focus on doing what He’s purposed us to do.

That reminds me, we like to quote scripture for our benefit. For example, we love declaring Romans 8:28 (NIV)…
[28] And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

…however notice, God works things for the good of people He’s called for His purpose. That means if He tasks us to do something, it’s not about our story, it’s exclusively about His glory!

That reminds me of Jonathan Traylor singing…

This is so heavy
And it’s bringing me to my knees
And I’m crying out Lord, I need You now
To come and see about me
Don’t know why’s this life so hard?
And why do You seem so far?
But if this cup won’t pass
Help me to stay steadfast
Let Your will be done

You get the glory from this
You get the glory from this
No matter what I have to go through in this world
As long as You get the glory from it

In today’s scripture, we see Jesus answer Peter’s, and ours, question of fairness with, “mind your business, that’s it, just mind your business”.

The Holy Spirit is telling us to focus on completing the tasks God has given and equipped us to do.

Indeed, God wants us to focus on the old hymn lyrics…

1 A charge to keep I have,
a God to glorify,
a never-dying soul to save,
and fit it for the sky.

2 To serve the present age,
my calling to fulfill,
O may it all my pow’rs engage
to do my Master’s will!

3 Arm me with watchful care
as in Thy sight to live,
and now Thy servant, Lord, prepare
a strict account to give!

Before Nike, God said “Just do it”!

• Stop debating with God, and focus on doing what He says
• Stop arguing with God, and focus on accomplishing what He’s assigned
• Stop pleading with God, and focus on pleasing Him.

The Holy Spirit is emphasizing we’re here for God’s purpose and pleasure, not ours. That’s what Revelation 4:11 (KJV) declares…
[11] Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

The Holy Spirit just showed me, rather than focusing on what God is doing or allowing for others, let’s extend what He’s done for us. The example He gave me is Colossians 3:13 (NLT)…
[13] Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

Finally, the Holy Spirit is telling me that I can close with this, stop worrying about others and act like we belong to God.

Jesus, again added His two cents, saying in Matthew 5:43-45 (NLT)…
[43] “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. [44] But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! [45] In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.

God’s impartial, so He expects us to make it our business to be impartial too. That’s why James 2:1 (NLT) asks…
[1] My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?

Today, let’s make a concerted effort to do what the Lord is telling us, which is, “mind your business, that’s it, just mind your business.”

…and let’s make it our business to focus on fulfilling God’s purpose, rather than fueling your pleasure.

Today’s song is…
Purpose Over Pleasure

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)