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Lessons For Success
3
BIG LESSONS FOR SUCCESS
Three
Jesus Lessons for Success in Life
Ellis
Orozco
Jesus
taught and modeled the perfect life.
Following
his example is a life-long endeavor. I’ll never do it perfectly – God didn’t
ask me to be perfect, he asked me to be faithful.
He
just wants to know that I’m trying.
So,
here are three BIG things I’ve learned from Jesus about how to live my life for
true success.
THREE BIG LESSONS FOR SUCCESS IN
LIFE
“And let us run with
perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the
pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebakkuk 12:2).
God didn’t call us to be perfect (never making mistakes), he
called us to be faithful.
He called us to offer our lives as a sacrifice to him, trying
our best to live for him.
Our faith is weak, but we look to Jesus as the author and
perfecter of our faith.
Here are three BIG lessons we can learn from him about success
in life.
1. Stop trying to control
everything.
“Can any one of you by worrying
add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:27).
Jesus said to his
disciples: “You know that those who are regarded as
rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise
authority over them. Not so with you”
(Mark 10:42).
Jesus always encouraged his disciples to lean completely on God
– to let go of their need to control everyone and everything and simply enjoy
the moment.
When you find yourself trying to
control every aspect of your life and the lives of those around you – challenge
yourself to let go and give it to God.
2. Don’t waste time kicking
yourself.
“Then Peter remembered the word
Jesus had spoken: ‘Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.’
And he went outside and wept bitterly” (Matthew 26:75).
Jesus had warned Peter that at the critical moment Peter would
fall to the temptation to deny his relationship with Jesus.
Peter adamantly proclaimed that he would never do that. The
other disciples concurred.
And then, of course, it happened exactly as Jesus predicted.
Peter was devastated.
After his resurrection,
Jesus sent a message with the women: “But go, tell his disciples and
Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as
he told you’” (Mark 16:7).
Jesus singled out Peter in particular. He was sending an amazing
message – Tell the disciples and especially Peter – be sure to tell Peter –
that I am coming to see him.
In other words, tell Peter not to waste his time blaming himself
– I have important work for him to do!
When mistakes are made, challenge
yourself to learn from them instead of wasting time blaming yourself.
Jesus has important work for you to do – don’t waste your time
kicking yourself for your mistakes. Learn from them and move on to the
important work!
3. Treat people with kindness,
no matter how they treat you.
“If anyone slaps you on the
right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also” (Matthew
5:39).
There was a radical love-ethic at the center of all of Jesus’
teachings.
Jesus told his disciples to love their enemies and pray for
those who persecute them (Matthew 5:44).
His rationale? Anyone can love the person who is good to them.
It takes a special, divine love to love the person who hates you.
It is when you are loving “in spite of” the other person’s
character that you are loving the way God loves.
The Apostle John put it
this way: “We love because he first loved us” (1
John 4:19).
When people treat you poorly,
challenge yourself to respond with kindness and respect.
I pray that these lessons will help you create a healthier life
with God and the people all around you!
About Ellis
Orozco
I am a
pastor, writer, and teacher. I want to help you dig deep into the life of
Jesus, uncovering who he truly was in order to find the spiritual strength to
live a strong, confident life and make a lasting impact on the world.
I have
advanced degrees in Biblical Studies. I have written Bible Study curriculum. I
have preached more than 1400 sermons. But more important than that – I have sat
with people in hospital waiting rooms and funeral parlors. I have walked with
people through divorce and depression. I have talked a few out of suicide, and
I have watched a few die a slow suicide through addiction. I have been “Pastor
Ellis” to more than 4000 people and I have celebrated with them in the best
moments of life, and have grieved with them in the worst.
Through
it all, I have realized that knowing and understanding Jesus is a life-long
journey. I’m still working at it. For the last twenty-five years I have been
paid to study the life and times of Jesus. Now, I want you to know the Jesus
I’ve uncovered – what he was like – what he thought, said, and did – and what
that means for your life today. I want you to discover the real Jesus,
close-up, and unexpected. I want you to know the Jesus who is always there …
just five feet away.
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