The best life is a God First life

Tag: Advocate for Christ

Not My Will, But Yours: The Key to Unity and Eternal Life

Jesus prayed, “Not my will, but Yours, be done.” This demonstrates the importance of putting God’s will above our own. Doing so is key to eternal life with Jesus and the thread that binds us together as disciples of Christ in peace, harmony, and love.

Doing God’s will, as revealed in God’s Word, is how we achieve unity.

  • Unity with God’s Word is unity with God.
  • Unity with God’s Word is unity with others.

We find unity when we cumulatively do God’s will, when we seek and adhere to God’s Word as our standard.

Unity among believers is not found in doing our will; It is not found in dismissing any of God’s Word as unnecessary or not applicable today. Unity is not found by trying to improve on what God told us to do.

Unity is, however, key to our spiritual growth; it’s a thread that binds us together as disciples of Christ in peace, harmony, and Love.

Unity in Truth is important! Let us therefore seek and obey God’s will as revealed in His Word, that we may walk in true unity.

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Jesus (John 14:15)

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21:

“And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:17

  • Romans 14:19; 1 Corinthians 1:10; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Acts 4:32; Ephesians 4:11-13; Matthew 18:19-20; John 13:35; 1 Peter 3:8; Philippians 2:2-3; Colossians 3:13-14; Ephesians 4:1-6; John 17:23; Galatians 3:26-28; Matthew 23:8; Psalm 133:1; Matthew 7:21; 1 John 2:17; John 17:17; Ephesians 4:3–6; John 6:38; Matthew 12:50; 1 John 5:3; Romans 12:2; Hebrews 10:36; James 1:22; John 15:10

Exercising Control in the Face of Injustice

Sometimes, controlling anger at injustice is a real challenge, and exercising control isn’t what we want; it can feel as if we’re choosing to absorb pain instead of doing something to stop it. The pain can feel unbearable at times, but with God, all things are possible, and it’s well worth staying the course and following Christ’s example.

Jesus exercised ultimate control; at any moment, Scripture says He could have called 12 legions of angels, and a Roman legion numbered about 6,000 men. The point is, Christ could have stopped absorbing all the pain He suffered, but he didn’t; Christ’s love for God and mankind was greater than every temptation to lose control or call it quits. Consumed with love, Jesus was determined to do His Father’s will; for this we should all be eternally grateful, for without His loving sacrifice we have no hope for eternal life in Heaven.

The trickle-down effect of Christ absorbing all that pain was our salvation. Jesus’s life, death, burial, and resurrection demonstrate God’s love for us. Every soul has the opportunity and promise of eternal life if we accept God’s grace with our obedient faith; Heaven becomes our home.

Jesus could have gotten angry and lashed out, as many of us might. He could have ended all of us at any moment, but instead, Jesus, being consumed with love and compassion, exercised ultimate control.

Jesus had experienced rejection before, and He knew what He was about to suffer was far beyond anything He had experienced. Knowing what was about to happen, Jesus was sweating blood on the Mount of Olives. He even prayed for a different solution, but if not, he wanted to submit to God’s will, not his own.

“And He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed Him. And when He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father if you are willing, remove this cup from Me. Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.” And there appeared to Him an angel from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony He prayed more earnestly; and His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” LUKE 22:39-44

Jesus submitted to God’s will, but instead of showing anger, He demonstrated love and restraint; Jesus tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. I admit this is difficult sometimes, but if it were not for our betterment, Jesus would not have told us to do so.

Also, remember what Jesus says in Romans 12:14-21 and trust Him.

  • Matthew 26:53 (12 legions of angels)
  • Matthew 19:26 (all things possible)
  • Luke 1:37 (nothing’s impossible)
  • Philippians 4:13 (Christ who strengthens me)
  • Matthew 5:39-44 (love your enemies)
  • Matthew 22:37-40 (Encompassing)
  • Romans 12:14-21 (I will repay, says the Lord)
  • 1 Peter 2:21-23 (Christ’s not retaliating when reviled or suffering)
  • Isaiah 53:7 (the silent Suffering Servant who opened not His mouth)
  • Philippians 2:5-8 (Jesus humbling Himself, obedience even to death)
  • Hebrews 12:2 (enduring the cross for the joy set before Him)
  • John 15:13 (greatest love is laying down one’s life for friends)
  • Matthew 26:39 (praying “not as I will, but as You will”)
  • Romans 5:8 (God demonstrating His love while we were still sinners)

God First!

Putting God First: My Life as an Advocate for Christ

To friends who read my posts (whether on my personal FB timeline, the FB Advocate for Christ group, or this website): Some have assumed I am a pulpit minister; I am not, and I am not affiliated with any denomination. I am solely a Christian who wants to Advocate for Christ, one who loves the Lord and wants to share God’s love and Word with others. I worship and study with my brothers and sisters in Christ at the Buford Church of Christ congregation in Buford, Ga.

I use the words “God First” as my profile picture and to end many of my writings because I want to emphasize that God should be first in all our lives.

When God is at the helm, those who are “in Christ” have His promise of eternity in heaven. The God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) gives real peace and joy in both good times and hard times. I have personally experienced that comfort in some of the most difficult seasons of life, and that thankfulness drives me to share Christ so others can know the same blessings.

Many use sportswear to depict their favorite teams, schools, sports, etc.

Instead of sportswear, I use “Spiritwear” to depict my favorite team – the team of God. When I say God, I am referring to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (the Godhead).

You’ll often see the words “God First” on clothing or accessories I wear, carry, and share; these simple words have sparked conversations and help easily identify me as someone who believes in God. I also suspect these clothes and accessories have curtailed language I’d prefer not to hear. I started using the term “God First” as my faith deepened, and I experienced that choosing to pursue God First in our lives added significant joy and peace, sparking my desire to help others to share in the Peace that surpasses understanding that God offers.

Eternity is a serious matter; loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength is the natural response when we truly understand how much God loves us. Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15), and “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

 As Don Blackwell has said:
“The Lord’s Church is not a country club for saints; it’s a hospital for sinners.”

  • 2 Corinthians 1:3-9
  • Mark 12:28-34
  • 2 Timothy 2:15
  • 1 John 4:19
  • John 14:6
  • John 14:15
  • Matthew 28:19
  • 2 Corinthians 13:14
  • John 10:30

God First!

It’s been over a year!

Well, It has now been slightly over a year since I decided to purchase and create a website called “AdvocateforChrist.com,“ along with the supporting aids needed to help me write and secure the site. I now have 165 posts to date.

I did this for two reasons:

  • First and foremost, as a means of sharing God’s Word and the beautiful blessings derived from following Jesus. To follow Christ according to His Word is by far the best life one can choose to live and the best advice one can give. However, It is a choice!
    • In my writings, I often present my thoughts with supporting Scripture to persuade readers to pursue God’s Word independently. I don’t want readers to simply adopt my thoughts but rather encourage them to go to God’s Word and check them out. God’s Word is where all truth originates.
    • The Bible is where one may learn the Truth of God’s Word more fully. Self-Study and self evaluation is essential! Satan has spent thousands of years twisting the truth with partial truths starting with Eve, persuading people to adopt manufactured ideas of God’s Truth. Our best defense to being misled in what God’s Word says is to have personal knowledge of God’s Word.
  • Secondly, I began this effort as a result of the encouragement I received. So many reading my post on Facebook kept suggesting I do more. I am grateful for all those uplifting and encouraging words. To all who have motivated me to do more, Thank you! I pray and hope my efforts are fruitful to someone, somewhere.

Last year, many of the advocateforChrist.com posts were a combination of new efforts and works I had written in years past. I would review, modify, and use grammar software to improve the previous post. I quickly realized that formulating, writing, and running my thoughts through grammar-checking software takes time, whether new or old ideas. At this point, I have now posted most of my previous social media posts onto the Advocate for Christ site. Going forward, it is my hope to post at least two or three times a week in 2022.

How can you help if you find these posts thought-provoking and beneficial? I’m glad you asked! 🙂

  1. Go to https://AdvocateforChrist.com and sign up to receive the post via email. Reading them on the website is easier than reading them on Facebook, plus; The scriptures link to an online bible for quick review.
  2. Like them, Love them, comment, and share them. (Once in a while, I write one worthy of sharing). With social media algorithms, Your likes, love, comments, and shares help others see them.
  3. If you have accounts with MEWE, Parlor, Aggos, or Instagram, I also post many writings or memes on those sites and welcome your likes and shares.
  4. Reach out in the comments section on Advocate for Christ or social media. Extend your thoughts, questions, and applicable humor.
  5. By all means, If you feel I am in an error of Scripture, contact me. Let’s have a private discussion.

God First!

Wayne R. Johnson

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