First off, I'm not going to be very popular for this one.
I know it.
But I'm writing it anyway.
You know how it is when something just keeps coming up and keeps coming up, and it's just relentless and up-front-in-your-face annoying? Something in the back of your mind, constantly, and you think about it all the time, that little voice? These are my thoughts, and they're not too organized but I need to get them written down somewhere.
The price that was paid for us; the price for which we were bought - the excruciating crucifixion of Jesus Christ (Isaiah 52:14) - shouldn't we be striving to glorify Him in everything we do? Think about it...Jesus knew He was going to die. And He knew it wouldn't be a quick death. He knew it'd be painful. He knew it'd be humiliating. He was sin-free, pure, blameless, but knew He'd take on the sin of the world. He knew it'd be torture. He knew He'd be betrayed by one of His disciples; one of His friends. He had the power to fly outta there, and still, STILL, Jesus put himself on the line. He still went through every painful, seemingly unfair moment, fulfilling years of prophecy in every step.
So, you tell me, friends. Our thoughts, words, actions, everything...should it be so hard for us to love Him with our lives? Every day, you make a choice - I make a choice. Live for something beyond myself, for something and Someone greater, or live for me.
We are called to be set apart, COMMANDED to not love things "of the world" (1 John 2:15, John 17:16). What does that mean, really? What can make us stand out? Think about it. What does "everyone else" do? What are the habits, the slip-ups, the tendencies that are the norms in the world?
Do you have a list in your mind?
I do.
How much should we have to do with those things? Is there an invisible line that we can't cross, and it'd be so WRONG to actually cross it - but we're totally fine with running right up to that line, trying to push it further and further so we can do more "stuff"? Are we trying to push that line so that we, Christians, can be "allowed" to do more? Secretly hoping that the legal age is lowered so we won't be breaking the law? We should want NOTHING to do with the things of the world, friends. Nothing. We shouldn't be focused on trying to find out just how much we can "get away with". We shouldn't spend our time testing our limits or looking for reasons to "make" something ok.
Sin is sin.
How bad does it break God's heart to see His children running around, looking for ways around His truth? He gave sooooo much for us...why is it so hard for us to love Him with our lives every day? If we truly love God, we won't touch the things that grieve His heart. We shouldn't pride ourselves in the whole "Well I don't do it THAT often" or "I don't say it THAT often" (1 timothy 4:12). We shouldn't even THINK about it.(Philippians 4:8-9). Period.
We rationalize. I do. I know I do. And I'm trying with everything in me to change that. I pray for conviction and a willingness to learn (Proverbs 12:1), I pray that God would take what I've made an "ok" habit and demolish it. I pray that He'll make me aware of what I've done. I pray the same for all of you. We all struggle with stuff. All of us... If its not one thing, its another.
If the Lord is love, and that love is unlike anything the world has ever seen, and Jesus lives in us, then we should be extraordinarily, supernaturally, loving the people around us. Our love, our LIFE, will not only read out differently, it'll flat out BE different. And people won't help but notice that difference (Matt. 5:14).
I want to be different. I want to stand out. I'm tired of blending in. I'm tired of thinking all the trivial stuff matters (2 Peter 3:11-12), and I'm done with living like it does. I'm sick of this rationalistic person I've become. God's changing me...and it hurts, it hurts more than I ever thought it would. But the One I gave my heart to hasn't let me go, and He's WORTH IT ALL. He's worth MY all. Every minute of every day.( 1 Corinth. 2:12, 10:31-33).
Wow. I can't wait for Heaven.
----1 thess. 4:17-18
I know it.
But I'm writing it anyway.
You know how it is when something just keeps coming up and keeps coming up, and it's just relentless and up-front-in-your-face annoying? Something in the back of your mind, constantly, and you think about it all the time, that little voice? These are my thoughts, and they're not too organized but I need to get them written down somewhere.
The price that was paid for us; the price for which we were bought - the excruciating crucifixion of Jesus Christ (Isaiah 52:14) - shouldn't we be striving to glorify Him in everything we do? Think about it...Jesus knew He was going to die. And He knew it wouldn't be a quick death. He knew it'd be painful. He knew it'd be humiliating. He was sin-free, pure, blameless, but knew He'd take on the sin of the world. He knew it'd be torture. He knew He'd be betrayed by one of His disciples; one of His friends. He had the power to fly outta there, and still, STILL, Jesus put himself on the line. He still went through every painful, seemingly unfair moment, fulfilling years of prophecy in every step.
So, you tell me, friends. Our thoughts, words, actions, everything...should it be so hard for us to love Him with our lives? Every day, you make a choice - I make a choice. Live for something beyond myself, for something and Someone greater, or live for me.
We are called to be set apart, COMMANDED to not love things "of the world" (1 John 2:15, John 17:16). What does that mean, really? What can make us stand out? Think about it. What does "everyone else" do? What are the habits, the slip-ups, the tendencies that are the norms in the world?
Do you have a list in your mind?
I do.
How much should we have to do with those things? Is there an invisible line that we can't cross, and it'd be so WRONG to actually cross it - but we're totally fine with running right up to that line, trying to push it further and further so we can do more "stuff"? Are we trying to push that line so that we, Christians, can be "allowed" to do more? Secretly hoping that the legal age is lowered so we won't be breaking the law? We should want NOTHING to do with the things of the world, friends. Nothing. We shouldn't be focused on trying to find out just how much we can "get away with". We shouldn't spend our time testing our limits or looking for reasons to "make" something ok.
Sin is sin.
How bad does it break God's heart to see His children running around, looking for ways around His truth? He gave sooooo much for us...why is it so hard for us to love Him with our lives every day? If we truly love God, we won't touch the things that grieve His heart. We shouldn't pride ourselves in the whole "Well I don't do it THAT often" or "I don't say it THAT often" (1 timothy 4:12). We shouldn't even THINK about it.(Philippians 4:8-9). Period.
We rationalize. I do. I know I do. And I'm trying with everything in me to change that. I pray for conviction and a willingness to learn (Proverbs 12:1), I pray that God would take what I've made an "ok" habit and demolish it. I pray that He'll make me aware of what I've done. I pray the same for all of you. We all struggle with stuff. All of us... If its not one thing, its another.
If the Lord is love, and that love is unlike anything the world has ever seen, and Jesus lives in us, then we should be extraordinarily, supernaturally, loving the people around us. Our love, our LIFE, will not only read out differently, it'll flat out BE different. And people won't help but notice that difference (Matt. 5:14).
I want to be different. I want to stand out. I'm tired of blending in. I'm tired of thinking all the trivial stuff matters (2 Peter 3:11-12), and I'm done with living like it does. I'm sick of this rationalistic person I've become. God's changing me...and it hurts, it hurts more than I ever thought it would. But the One I gave my heart to hasn't let me go, and He's WORTH IT ALL. He's worth MY all. Every minute of every day.( 1 Corinth. 2:12, 10:31-33).
Wow. I can't wait for Heaven.
----1 thess. 4:17-18
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