In the spirit of the previous blog that begged the question, what have you sacrificed for Christ? I propose another, equally challenging question. Going against my better judgement, I may have given away the punchline in the title, but before you neglect the thought (or the remainder of this blog), let me flesh out the question.
If someone were to come up to you with a briefcase full of cash and ask if you would choose to be gifted a million dollars cash, how fast would you accept? Now, if that same person offered you the briefcase but you had to leave your family, your friends, take a new name, and start a whole new life, would you still be so quick to grab the suitcase?
Although this is a metaphor, more often than not, the first method is what Christians think of when they think about Christ, as in, all the gifts and joys of salvation but without any real sacrifice. Unfortunately, this sort of theology totally betrays the nature of the Gospel.
Instead, when we think about Christ and what He has called Christians to, we should immediately consider the cost, not out of guilt but out of a genuine reverence for the level of commit that Christ demands from His followers. The choice, then, to believe requires that we sincerely and continually search our hearts to discover what our true motivation may be. If there is any stronghold that we could foresee not being willing to "give up" for Christ, then the Holy Spirit is exposing the source of our heart's treasures.
What would you choose over Christ?
Showing posts with label choosing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label choosing. Show all posts
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Monday, August 6, 2012
Looking into the Welding Torch
Welding is a fabrication process for joining metals or other hard substances by causing coalescence. It is different from soldering or brazing because welding using absurdly hot temperatures to create molten states so as to actually join two separate pieces of metal. There are all sorts of different types of weld types, but the process of all of them causes an unbelievably bright light. This is why welding lenses, in glasses or helmets, are a necessity when welding. It is this phenomenon that Jim was concerned about when he brought his son, Bradley, to his workshop.
Bradley was nine or ten when Jim finally decided it was time to show his son the workshop. Jim was a sculptor. He did large metal installations for museums and corporate headquarters. He almost exclusively worked in metal; his primary canvas was steel beams and his main brush was an arc welder. Because of the industrial-sized danger, he waited until Bradley was old enough to stay safe before he brought him to the shop.
As they were going in, Jim made sure to repeat himself several times that Bradley was to always keep his helmet up when daddy was welding and to never look at the welding directly or it could burn his eyes. Yet, despite Jim's best intentional effort, Bradley lifted his mask and looked right at the bright lights of his father's welds; more than once even. By the end of the time in the shop, Bradley could barely see anything other than a reddish spot.
Jim, while driving Bradley to the hospital and he was infuriated and worried about his son, asked Bradley, "Why didn't you listen to me? I told you that it would hurt you and I warned you so much. Why did not listen to daddy?" The young boy, crying and scared because his vision was so hampered, looked at his dad and answered, "The light just looked so pretty. I couldn't stop myself. I didn't think it would really hurt me if I looked at it. But after I saw it once, I just couldn't stop."
This sort of story is all-too familiar but it might be startling to recognize that this very sort of disobedience occurred even at the very beginning of creation, as chronicled in Genesis 3. Adam and Eve were given freedom and dominion over every fruit and animal in the whole garden. God's only request was that they not eat of the fruit from the tree of knowledge, for in doing so they would surely die.
Unfortunately, neither Eve nor Adam could refuse the beautiful fruit or the serpent's promise of knowledge. They did not heed to the warnings of God and, like His word always does, God's warnings proved themselves to be true as humanity was banished from the Garden and cursed with death for their sin.
The point is listening to the Lord's warnings when it comes to life decisions, both small and large. This means that we will listen to the Holy Spirit speaking within us. But we will also pay attention to the counsel of godly people around us. If we practice this kind of awareness and discipline, we will be far-less likely to find ourselves blind from staring into the sun. Let us then heed the warnings of God because He always knows best.
Bradley was nine or ten when Jim finally decided it was time to show his son the workshop. Jim was a sculptor. He did large metal installations for museums and corporate headquarters. He almost exclusively worked in metal; his primary canvas was steel beams and his main brush was an arc welder. Because of the industrial-sized danger, he waited until Bradley was old enough to stay safe before he brought him to the shop.
As they were going in, Jim made sure to repeat himself several times that Bradley was to always keep his helmet up when daddy was welding and to never look at the welding directly or it could burn his eyes. Yet, despite Jim's best intentional effort, Bradley lifted his mask and looked right at the bright lights of his father's welds; more than once even. By the end of the time in the shop, Bradley could barely see anything other than a reddish spot.
Jim, while driving Bradley to the hospital and he was infuriated and worried about his son, asked Bradley, "Why didn't you listen to me? I told you that it would hurt you and I warned you so much. Why did not listen to daddy?" The young boy, crying and scared because his vision was so hampered, looked at his dad and answered, "The light just looked so pretty. I couldn't stop myself. I didn't think it would really hurt me if I looked at it. But after I saw it once, I just couldn't stop."
This sort of story is all-too familiar but it might be startling to recognize that this very sort of disobedience occurred even at the very beginning of creation, as chronicled in Genesis 3. Adam and Eve were given freedom and dominion over every fruit and animal in the whole garden. God's only request was that they not eat of the fruit from the tree of knowledge, for in doing so they would surely die.
Unfortunately, neither Eve nor Adam could refuse the beautiful fruit or the serpent's promise of knowledge. They did not heed to the warnings of God and, like His word always does, God's warnings proved themselves to be true as humanity was banished from the Garden and cursed with death for their sin.
The point is listening to the Lord's warnings when it comes to life decisions, both small and large. This means that we will listen to the Holy Spirit speaking within us. But we will also pay attention to the counsel of godly people around us. If we practice this kind of awareness and discipline, we will be far-less likely to find ourselves blind from staring into the sun. Let us then heed the warnings of God because He always knows best.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
How Far Would We Go For Love?
There is an old sailor's tale that goes something like this:
There was once a proud sailor. He had sailed the seas of the world his entire life, living his whole life on a ship. The sailor had always loved the allure and freedom of the seeing, never considering that he would or even could be pulled away from the torrent and tides of the deepest oceans. He had a variety of lovers at each of the ports he would visit; a different girl in every place.
Then, on one of his frequent in-land tours, he and his party stumbled across a native peoples that intrigued him. They were a fishing tribe but were remarkable skilled in dying fabrics, and they wore of the brightest colored clothing that he had ever come across. While trading various trinkets with the tribe, he met the chief's daughter.
She was a beautiful woman with auburn hair that stirred up images of autumn and her lightly-tinted, grain-colored skin reminded him of the grain-filled pastoral plains of his childhood. Within moments of being in her presence, he fell for her like the dropping of an anchor from the ship of his heart. He vowed that he would make her his wife.
The sailor brought the woman gifts of the finest jewels and silk from the farthest corners of the earth but she was uninterested in his knickknacks. He then decided that he would impress her by studying her tribe's culture and history. As his ship set sails for other shores, he stayed behind to settle with her until he could convince her that he loved her. For months, he tried to impress her with his enthusiasm and gifts, but he was always hindered by the significant language barrier.
Finally, as his time was drawing to a close because his ship would be returning, he determined to learn to speak her language so that he could tell her in her tongue that he was madly in love with her and that he wanted to make her his wife. Over much arduous and intent practice, he had finally learned enough to tell her that he loved her.
In the end, this final step was what the chief's daughter was waiting for. Although there had been many sailors who had tried to woe her and win her hand with gifts, none of them had been so determined in his affections that he would learn her own language. When the sailor had learned her language and gotten to the point that he could tell her how he felt, he had proven his love for her by his persistent pursuit and determination. She then knew that he would go to any lengths to love her.
This tale is one of love. It is remarkable how determined the sailor was to love the woman. He went to the limits of his power to express his love for her: he gave her his finest treasures, he gave her his time, his career, and his mind. In the end, it was his utter and persistent devotion that was the limit of his love.
Let us translate this to God. How far are we willing to go to love God? Would we give up all our treasures? Our time? Our very lives? Like the sailor, there should be no lengths to which we would not be willing to go to show our love for God. Truly, there are many verses that express this very thought, but perhaps Jesus' words in Matthew 16:25 says it best:
"Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."
Let us, then, determine to love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and with all strength regardless of the cost!
There was once a proud sailor. He had sailed the seas of the world his entire life, living his whole life on a ship. The sailor had always loved the allure and freedom of the seeing, never considering that he would or even could be pulled away from the torrent and tides of the deepest oceans. He had a variety of lovers at each of the ports he would visit; a different girl in every place.
Then, on one of his frequent in-land tours, he and his party stumbled across a native peoples that intrigued him. They were a fishing tribe but were remarkable skilled in dying fabrics, and they wore of the brightest colored clothing that he had ever come across. While trading various trinkets with the tribe, he met the chief's daughter.
She was a beautiful woman with auburn hair that stirred up images of autumn and her lightly-tinted, grain-colored skin reminded him of the grain-filled pastoral plains of his childhood. Within moments of being in her presence, he fell for her like the dropping of an anchor from the ship of his heart. He vowed that he would make her his wife.
The sailor brought the woman gifts of the finest jewels and silk from the farthest corners of the earth but she was uninterested in his knickknacks. He then decided that he would impress her by studying her tribe's culture and history. As his ship set sails for other shores, he stayed behind to settle with her until he could convince her that he loved her. For months, he tried to impress her with his enthusiasm and gifts, but he was always hindered by the significant language barrier.
Finally, as his time was drawing to a close because his ship would be returning, he determined to learn to speak her language so that he could tell her in her tongue that he was madly in love with her and that he wanted to make her his wife. Over much arduous and intent practice, he had finally learned enough to tell her that he loved her.
In the end, this final step was what the chief's daughter was waiting for. Although there had been many sailors who had tried to woe her and win her hand with gifts, none of them had been so determined in his affections that he would learn her own language. When the sailor had learned her language and gotten to the point that he could tell her how he felt, he had proven his love for her by his persistent pursuit and determination. She then knew that he would go to any lengths to love her.
This tale is one of love. It is remarkable how determined the sailor was to love the woman. He went to the limits of his power to express his love for her: he gave her his finest treasures, he gave her his time, his career, and his mind. In the end, it was his utter and persistent devotion that was the limit of his love.
Let us translate this to God. How far are we willing to go to love God? Would we give up all our treasures? Our time? Our very lives? Like the sailor, there should be no lengths to which we would not be willing to go to show our love for God. Truly, there are many verses that express this very thought, but perhaps Jesus' words in Matthew 16:25 says it best:
"Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."
Let us, then, determine to love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and with all strength regardless of the cost!
Monday, July 23, 2012
Choosing God before we have to Choose
Making decisions is just a part of life. What you're going to wear or to eat are among a hundred other much more important choices face us daily. Some decisions, like checking your Facebook page, are more superficial and relatively unimportant. While other decisions, like who to marry or what your career will be, are more significant and life-determining decisions.
Because making decisions is just a part of life, it is no wonder that the Bible speaks quite directly to how we are to decide and choose. What is interesting is that Scripture speaks of decision making in both a macro and a micro level, indicating that God is concerned with the minutiae of our lives as much as He is with the "bigger" things.
Most importantly, God wants us to seek Him and His guidance when facing decisions in our lives (Psa. 37:5; Jer. 6:16; 33:3). In this way, godly decision making begins before decisions are made. While this may seem obvious, consider the effect: if we pre-decide to commit ourselves to God's will before we have to make decisions, when the time comes for us to make the decision we will be more likely to make the right decisions.
Conversely, if we waver before we actually face the various available choices, then when the time comes for us to make decisions, we will likely be distracted from God's purposes by our own passions and desires. Remember, the enemy lurks in waiting to devour (1 Pet. 5:8). He, Satan, knows exactly how to tempt us away from God, so that when we stand at the crossroads of decision making we will not choose God's will but we will follow our fleshly desires that lead down the wide road of destruction.
Instead, we must determine which road we will choose to take long before we come to the fork of deciding. In this way, we will be on-guard against being led astray. Pre-deciding to follow Christ also helps to keep us focused on God and His will for our lives well before we are forced to make decisions. Again, God is as concerned with being the guider of small decisions as He is with big ones. Because of this, we should never grow weary of seeking His counsel, whether regarding what to eat for breakfast or when to make a career change. Let us then seek after God first in all things so as to live in the center of His will!
Because making decisions is just a part of life, it is no wonder that the Bible speaks quite directly to how we are to decide and choose. What is interesting is that Scripture speaks of decision making in both a macro and a micro level, indicating that God is concerned with the minutiae of our lives as much as He is with the "bigger" things.
Most importantly, God wants us to seek Him and His guidance when facing decisions in our lives (Psa. 37:5; Jer. 6:16; 33:3). In this way, godly decision making begins before decisions are made. While this may seem obvious, consider the effect: if we pre-decide to commit ourselves to God's will before we have to make decisions, when the time comes for us to make the decision we will be more likely to make the right decisions.
Conversely, if we waver before we actually face the various available choices, then when the time comes for us to make decisions, we will likely be distracted from God's purposes by our own passions and desires. Remember, the enemy lurks in waiting to devour (1 Pet. 5:8). He, Satan, knows exactly how to tempt us away from God, so that when we stand at the crossroads of decision making we will not choose God's will but we will follow our fleshly desires that lead down the wide road of destruction.
Instead, we must determine which road we will choose to take long before we come to the fork of deciding. In this way, we will be on-guard against being led astray. Pre-deciding to follow Christ also helps to keep us focused on God and His will for our lives well before we are forced to make decisions. Again, God is as concerned with being the guider of small decisions as He is with big ones. Because of this, we should never grow weary of seeking His counsel, whether regarding what to eat for breakfast or when to make a career change. Let us then seek after God first in all things so as to live in the center of His will!
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Boasting in God
Muhammed Ali is one of the greatest boxers of all time. He made his living beating boxing's best during the height of boxing's popularity. Ali is well known for many things, including his epic fights, his religious name change, and even his political leanings. However, more than almost anything else, Ali will be remembered for his wit and distinct ability to spin a memorable phrase.
Ali's perennial quotability has pervaded so much of society that even children of the digital generation say things like, "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee." Or, "I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was." And, "I figured that if I said it enough, I would convince the world that I really was the greatest." Needless to say, Ali understood the art of self-promotion that paved the way for generations of champions around the world.
To be sure, we live in a world of self-promotion. One can barely spend anytime watching television or scanning the web without seeing some sort of self-exaltation or another. And while it can be a funny thing to do in the company of friends, the idea of boasting about oneself is a serious ordeal that requires our attention.
The apostle Paul speaks about boasting to the Corinthian church. Paul was addressing the Corinthian's propensity to boast about themselves when he wrote, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord (1 Cor. 1:31; 2 Cor. 10:17)." It would seem that the idea of arrogance and boasting was as significant an issue to the 1st-century Church as it is today. Paul's point is that one cannot boast about themselves and God. It is either one or the other.
But this concept did not originate with Paul. The prophet Jeremiah, writing centuries before Paul, wrote this prophecy, "Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord (Jer. 9:23-24).'"
The heart of the matter is what do we boast in. If we boast in ourselves or something other than God, then we are taking away what is so rightfully God's, namely our worship and praise. Moreover, when we lift up ourselves or someone/thing else into the high place in our eyes, then we are usurping God's place at the center of our hearts and we are committing idolatry.
Boasting stems from worth. We boast because we feel proud of something present within ourselves that we value. If we understand boasting in this way, we will recognize that to boast in anything other than God and our knowledge of Him means that we are esteeming something that is less than He is. To be sure, the thing of highest value in our lives is God. Anything that would take that place is a counterfeit illusion.
Therefore, we should boast only of and in Him. This is what Jeremiah and Paul are talking about. So, when we would feel inclined to raise our hands at our own adulation and like Ali say, "I'm the greatest," may we pause to think of the reality of our words. Let us then turn to God and only to God, and if we are to boast may it only be in Him!
Ali's perennial quotability has pervaded so much of society that even children of the digital generation say things like, "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee." Or, "I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was." And, "I figured that if I said it enough, I would convince the world that I really was the greatest." Needless to say, Ali understood the art of self-promotion that paved the way for generations of champions around the world.
To be sure, we live in a world of self-promotion. One can barely spend anytime watching television or scanning the web without seeing some sort of self-exaltation or another. And while it can be a funny thing to do in the company of friends, the idea of boasting about oneself is a serious ordeal that requires our attention.
The apostle Paul speaks about boasting to the Corinthian church. Paul was addressing the Corinthian's propensity to boast about themselves when he wrote, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord (1 Cor. 1:31; 2 Cor. 10:17)." It would seem that the idea of arrogance and boasting was as significant an issue to the 1st-century Church as it is today. Paul's point is that one cannot boast about themselves and God. It is either one or the other.
But this concept did not originate with Paul. The prophet Jeremiah, writing centuries before Paul, wrote this prophecy, "Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord (Jer. 9:23-24).'"
The heart of the matter is what do we boast in. If we boast in ourselves or something other than God, then we are taking away what is so rightfully God's, namely our worship and praise. Moreover, when we lift up ourselves or someone/thing else into the high place in our eyes, then we are usurping God's place at the center of our hearts and we are committing idolatry.
Boasting stems from worth. We boast because we feel proud of something present within ourselves that we value. If we understand boasting in this way, we will recognize that to boast in anything other than God and our knowledge of Him means that we are esteeming something that is less than He is. To be sure, the thing of highest value in our lives is God. Anything that would take that place is a counterfeit illusion.
Therefore, we should boast only of and in Him. This is what Jeremiah and Paul are talking about. So, when we would feel inclined to raise our hands at our own adulation and like Ali say, "I'm the greatest," may we pause to think of the reality of our words. Let us then turn to God and only to God, and if we are to boast may it only be in Him!
Monday, June 25, 2012
Qualified for Eternity
Qualification is an interesting and pervasive reality of life. Whether one is applying for a job, looking through an online dating profile, registering for classes, or just trying to get into a night club, being qualified means that you meet the requirements necessary for whatever it is you are attempting to do or enter. Often times, the reality is that if those qualifications are not met then admittance is refused. And when those qualifying requirements are made plainly accesible, that refusal is just and true.
In terms of eternity, there is a steep qualification that must be met in order to enter into God's eternal presence: sin must be paid for and justified. If sin is not atoned for and propitiated, then we will be unqualified for eternal life and relegated to eternal death. Sin is univeralsy pervasive, in that everyone is disqualified by it (Rom 3:23).
Additionally, though man would attempt to atone for his sin himself, either by doing good things in hopes that they outweigh the sin or by denying the reality of sin altogether, no one can blot out his or her sin debt; it takes a powerful work of God. Thus, apart from the work of God in the life of humanity, sin will remain un-atoned for and eternally damning.
Fortunately, God Himself, through the life and work of His Son Jesus, has atoned for the sin of all mankind (Gal. 1:3-5). And now, by grace appropriated and applied by faith, humanity's sin has been expunged. Therefore, man can become qualified to enter into God's holy and eternal presence not by man's work but by Christ's work applied to the believing man (Col. 1:11-13). Let us then take joy in God who has qualified us by His Son to be in His eternal presence!
In terms of eternity, there is a steep qualification that must be met in order to enter into God's eternal presence: sin must be paid for and justified. If sin is not atoned for and propitiated, then we will be unqualified for eternal life and relegated to eternal death. Sin is univeralsy pervasive, in that everyone is disqualified by it (Rom 3:23).
Additionally, though man would attempt to atone for his sin himself, either by doing good things in hopes that they outweigh the sin or by denying the reality of sin altogether, no one can blot out his or her sin debt; it takes a powerful work of God. Thus, apart from the work of God in the life of humanity, sin will remain un-atoned for and eternally damning.
Fortunately, God Himself, through the life and work of His Son Jesus, has atoned for the sin of all mankind (Gal. 1:3-5). And now, by grace appropriated and applied by faith, humanity's sin has been expunged. Therefore, man can become qualified to enter into God's holy and eternal presence not by man's work but by Christ's work applied to the believing man (Col. 1:11-13). Let us then take joy in God who has qualified us by His Son to be in His eternal presence!
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Making Decisions in Light of the Lord
Decision making is a necessary part of life. One can scarcely go a single day without having to make significant if not life-altering decisions. Because choices abound and overwhelm, having a system in place for making godly and wise decisions is of great importance. Luckily, we are not without guidance in this regard as the Bible offers clear teaching to help us.
At the onset, the pertinent word in reference to decision making is dependence. For our decision making to be godly, we must depend on God. Decision making dependence happens before the decisions are made when we are sorting through possibilities and choices. At this point, the pre-decision stage, we need to rely on the Lord to help us to discern the way that we should go.
The Lord, speaking through the prophet Jeremiah, has this to say, "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls (Jer. 6:16)." The Lord says more, speaking through the prophet Haggai, "Give careful thought to your ways (Hag. 1:5)." God wants us to be prudent and wise when facing decisions. Evenmore, He helps us out by the indwelling of His Holy Spirit, who acts as our Counselor (John 14:16-17).
Because the Holy Spirit is to be our inner source of compulsion when facing choices, there is a devotional element to decision making. In essence, our dependence on God at the front end of decision making comes down to relying on the Holy Spirit to guide our way and the faith that He will protect and keep us before and after our decisions have been made.
In the end, it is God who establishes our paths and keeps the sure (Pro. 16:9), which should cause us to trust in Him and commit to Him to secure our way (Pro. 3:5-6; Psa. 37:5). The biblical account is unified and clear in this regard: before we make decisions we should depend on God for guidance and clarity to make wise and godly decisions while after we make decisions we should be faithful in depending upon the Lord to keep, straighten, and secure our paths. Let us then seek the Lord for direction and depend on Him in faith to establish and secure every step we take!
At the onset, the pertinent word in reference to decision making is dependence. For our decision making to be godly, we must depend on God. Decision making dependence happens before the decisions are made when we are sorting through possibilities and choices. At this point, the pre-decision stage, we need to rely on the Lord to help us to discern the way that we should go.
The Lord, speaking through the prophet Jeremiah, has this to say, "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls (Jer. 6:16)." The Lord says more, speaking through the prophet Haggai, "Give careful thought to your ways (Hag. 1:5)." God wants us to be prudent and wise when facing decisions. Evenmore, He helps us out by the indwelling of His Holy Spirit, who acts as our Counselor (John 14:16-17).
Because the Holy Spirit is to be our inner source of compulsion when facing choices, there is a devotional element to decision making. In essence, our dependence on God at the front end of decision making comes down to relying on the Holy Spirit to guide our way and the faith that He will protect and keep us before and after our decisions have been made.
In the end, it is God who establishes our paths and keeps the sure (Pro. 16:9), which should cause us to trust in Him and commit to Him to secure our way (Pro. 3:5-6; Psa. 37:5). The biblical account is unified and clear in this regard: before we make decisions we should depend on God for guidance and clarity to make wise and godly decisions while after we make decisions we should be faithful in depending upon the Lord to keep, straighten, and secure our paths. Let us then seek the Lord for direction and depend on Him in faith to establish and secure every step we take!
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Relinquishing the Wheel
Who directs our steps? What is the compelling guide that leads us to traverse the mountains and valleys of life? If our guide is sure and trustworthy, we can certainly feel at ease and be able to have peace that the route is correct and the journey will be true. But if our advisor does not know the way or is overconfident, we can easily be put in danger of becoming lost or injured. Fortunately, a perfect guide has been given us in the Holy Spirit. However, handing over the reigns of our lives can be a difficult endeavor.
The first step in allowing the Lord to guide our steps is repentance. Literally, repentance means turning away from self and towards the Lord. Therefore, it makes sense to assert repentance as the watershed action of relinquishing control to One who truly is in control, God. Any attempt to hand over the keys to our lives that misses this step will fail because control of the wheel has not been fully given to the sure driver. Imagine, for a second, a driver and a passenger each vying for control of the steering wheel while barreling down a narrow corridor on a steep mountain pass. Not effective and definitely dangerous.
Once we truly and wholly repent (which is to be a continuous action, not a once-for-all-time), then we will be able to listen to the direction that comes from the Lord. Isaiah says, "Your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, 'this is the way, walk in it' when you turn to the right or to the left (Isa. 30:21)." God, the true and perfect guide, desires to lead us through life. Paramount to this is our willingness to relinquish the wheel (repentance), followed by our willingness to listen to Him speak (faith abiding in His Word).
The Holy Spirit acts as the divine inner-driver for repentant believers. He guides, compels, teaches, and directs us in the way we should go. And, because He is who He is, He knows the right way. The Psalmist writes, "The steps of a man are established in the Lord when he delights in His way (Psa. 37:23)." This truth was not lost on Solomon who writes that the Lord makes straight the paths of those who trust in Him, do not lean on their own understandings, and who acknowledge Him (Pro. 3:5-6), and also, though a man plans in his heart, the Lord establishes his steps (Pro. 16:9).
At the final analysis, we who confess Christ should take this attitude among us, that, though we may have ideas of the way we should go, if our paths are not grounded in repentance and faith, listening to the Holy Spirit speak to us through His Word, then our plans will ultimately fail because they are not made secure and sure in the Lord. If we think of life like traveling, a picture comes to mind: there is a single, narrow road. To the immediate left and right of the road is washed-out sand, muddy bog, and cliffs that fall off into oblivion. We are the car. Who should we trust to drive it?
The first step in allowing the Lord to guide our steps is repentance. Literally, repentance means turning away from self and towards the Lord. Therefore, it makes sense to assert repentance as the watershed action of relinquishing control to One who truly is in control, God. Any attempt to hand over the keys to our lives that misses this step will fail because control of the wheel has not been fully given to the sure driver. Imagine, for a second, a driver and a passenger each vying for control of the steering wheel while barreling down a narrow corridor on a steep mountain pass. Not effective and definitely dangerous.
Once we truly and wholly repent (which is to be a continuous action, not a once-for-all-time), then we will be able to listen to the direction that comes from the Lord. Isaiah says, "Your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, 'this is the way, walk in it' when you turn to the right or to the left (Isa. 30:21)." God, the true and perfect guide, desires to lead us through life. Paramount to this is our willingness to relinquish the wheel (repentance), followed by our willingness to listen to Him speak (faith abiding in His Word).
The Holy Spirit acts as the divine inner-driver for repentant believers. He guides, compels, teaches, and directs us in the way we should go. And, because He is who He is, He knows the right way. The Psalmist writes, "The steps of a man are established in the Lord when he delights in His way (Psa. 37:23)." This truth was not lost on Solomon who writes that the Lord makes straight the paths of those who trust in Him, do not lean on their own understandings, and who acknowledge Him (Pro. 3:5-6), and also, though a man plans in his heart, the Lord establishes his steps (Pro. 16:9).
At the final analysis, we who confess Christ should take this attitude among us, that, though we may have ideas of the way we should go, if our paths are not grounded in repentance and faith, listening to the Holy Spirit speak to us through His Word, then our plans will ultimately fail because they are not made secure and sure in the Lord. If we think of life like traveling, a picture comes to mind: there is a single, narrow road. To the immediate left and right of the road is washed-out sand, muddy bog, and cliffs that fall off into oblivion. We are the car. Who should we trust to drive it?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
