A Trustworthy GPS

G.P.S. stands for the Global Positioning System that is owned by the United States Government and operated by the US Air Force. It is a “global navigation satellite system that provides geolocation and time information to a GPS receiver anywhere on or near the Earth where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites.” In simpler terms, it tells you where you are and helps you reach your destination.

Ken Sande is a Christian counselor who has spent the last thirty years helping people resolve conflict in a Christ-honoring way. He recently has developed a helpful way to not only resolve conflict but try to prevent conflict from happening. The sermon today is a piece of a larger ministry he has developed called Relational Wisdom 360. In fact, Ken will be giving a two-day conference at Lynwood Baptist Church November 1-2 that I highly recommend for everyone. Ken Sande speaks of following a trustworthy G.P.S. (God’s Positioning System) and specifically this GPS stands for: Glorify God, Pursue God, and Serve God.

Glorify God

The Westminster Shorter Catechism summaries the goal of Christian life succinctly when it says, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.” No other goal should surpass this one. You were made by God to glorify God and only when you glorify God will you find true joy. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.” We do not make God glorious—for He already is fully—rather, we continually declare God to be glorious. This is a crucial component to our Christian witness. We are to join our witness with that of the heavens which “declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1). When we declare that the chief end of man is to glorify God, we are making it clear that we were created by God for this purpose. Being created and commanded to give glory to God, we know that our lives will always be unfulfilled if we seek to praise and glorify anything else above God.

Pursue God

We pursue that which we desire. We must seek the Lord and seek Him earnestly. 1 Chronicles 16:11 says, “Search for the LORD and for His strength; seek His face always.” Psalm 105:4 also says, “Search for the LORD and for His strength; seek His face always.” We must pursue God because only He can satisfy our needs. If we pursue money above Him, we will be dissatisfied. Money cannot satisfy because you always are left wanting more. If we pursue fame above Him, we will be dissatisfied. Fame cannot satisfy because it is fragile. Many famous people are miserable because of the pressure associated with it. If we pursue love above (or without) Him, we will be dissatisfied. No one can love you better than God. This is summarized well by Solomon when he wrote, “Everything is meaningless…completely meaningless!” (Ecc 1:2 NLT). He then went on to conclude: “fear God and keep His commands, because this is for all humanity. For God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil” (Ecc 12:13-14).

Serve God

Christians should serve God and do what pleases Him. The New Testament is filled with the call for Christ’s followers to obey Christ’s commands.

• “If you love Me, you will keep My commands.” (John 14:15)
• “Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.” (John 14:21)
• “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make Our home with him.” (John 14:23)
• “If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.” (John 15:10)
• “By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments.” (1 John 2:3)
• “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:3)
• “And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the very commandment you have heard from the beginning, that you must walk in love.” (2 John 1:6)

Becoming More Aware of God

We glorify, pursue, and serve God more when we become more aware of God. This has a profound impact on your life and relationships. The reason too many of our relationships are poor is because we think that we deserve to be served and others need to change. This is backwards; we need to change while others deserve to be served. The way we accomplish this is to focus on Christ. The more “God-Aware” we become, we become less “self-aware” (self-focused, self-obsessed, and selfish). The result is less focus and frustration on those around you who are frustrating you, and more focus on your pursuit of righteousness and holiness. The “secret” to healthy relationships isn’t for you to try to change others, but for God to change you. Our goal must be to become like Jesus. Even if those around you don’t change, I can change. Corrie Ten Boom said it well: “If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. But if you look at Christ, you’ll be at rest.”