Incessant Repentance from the Incessantly Falling

"Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall." 1 Corinthians 10:12

We must realize that we are all like Israel. God chose this people for absolutely no reason that makes earthly sense. The only reason God chose Israel was of nothing they had done, but purely so that He could show His grace to an undeserving people. God literally gave Israel everything they needed, and what did that stubborn child do? They turned their backs on God time after time. Even though Israel was almost utterly faithless, God remained faithful and preserved a remnant so that they could still receive the promise.

Already justified, but not yet glorified...that's the state of our existence. Like Israel, we quickly fall from any spiritual pedestal we delusionally think we're on and into the Slough of Despond. Sin turns us in on ourselves and clouds our view of the Cross. We are in a constant state of sin and repentance.

We think we stand, and we let our guards down. Apathy defines our spiritual stance because pride boasted in self. Don't forget that you are like Israel.

Verse 12 is followed by this: "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry." Flee is a strong word for a strong truth. Flee temptation that leads to idol worship BECAUSE God has already provided a way out. Unlike Israel, we now have a perfect Advocate.

We will think we stand, but actually fall, on a daily basis. Please don't grow tired of repentance. His forgiveness never tires.

Cold Pool

The cure to writer's block is writing.

Like anything, the solution to overcoming something is simply to do it. To act rather than to stagnate.

Its like standing at the edge of a pool. You know that once you're immersed in the water, you'll no longer fear its coldness. For some reason though, your head and your will don't agree and you remain frozen to the warm cement, looking upon what should be so simple.

Most regrettable choices in life could have been remedied by acting according to what we wish to be. Although, this only goes so far. We do not determine our steps. It is easier to act the self into new ways of feeling rather than to feel the self into new ways of acting.

Christ over all means Christ over ALL

In an unstable society, the word "risk" has almost been obliterated. Comfort and consistency are prized almost solely because of their scarcity. The buzzword "economy" conjures up fear. Its the unspoken zeitgeist, if you will.

Christians face real-world dilemmas daily when their work lives and their spiritual lives are found in conflict. What if the work your company is asking you to do is in direct violation to Scripture? What if you're asked to work on Sundays at the risk of losing your job? Is there really ever any excuse to put something before duty as a Christ-follower?

What I thought was the easy answer ["no"] is more of a grey area to many, and I can see why. It's completely counter-cultural, going against everything society pounds into our heads. We need to fight back with an equal amount of pounding by speaking Truth to ourselves.

God's will for our lives is to obey and trust Him with the results. Period. Matthew 8 tells us the story of a man who desires to follow Jesus, but first asks Him if he may bury his father. Jesus' reply is initially pretty shocking and callous. "Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead." This is the cost. This is the gravity of identifying yourself with Christ in bondage to Him.

...but what if?...but what about?...

"Follow Me"

Paul says in Philippians that he considers everything loss compared to knowing the surpassing worth of Christ Jesus. This life is fading fast. Our job, even if its a good one, will last only a few years. How is it really gain if we compromise our obedience for temporary gain? There is a false divide between the sacred and the secular that people use to justify their disobedience. Whether you skipped church to watch a baseball game or skipped church because you had to work, the same choice is being made.

This isn't naive, its trust. One reason we can be comforted that we are doing the right thing to obey Christ is how stupid it seems to our reason. It would be absolutely unthinkable to confront your boss at the risk of losing your job in an economy where jobs are scarce, and yet this is what we are called to. Objections may rise: "God gave me common sense too and I think it'd be stupid to risk losing the job He provided me with." Yes, He did provide you with that job, but don't you think that if He provided you with this one, how much more so will he supply your needs after you obey Him?

Jesus addresses this issue in Matthew 6. It is a human tendency to worry. What shall we eat? What shall we wear? The answer is to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Treasuring Christ is supreme. He is a loving master, and blesses those who keep His commands with everything they need.

Read it here on Christian Articles Resource

Wait

Wind blew down the alleys, frost stained the windows, and Ruth waited for the train. Just beyond the platform people shuffled along to work, to school, to wherever. It didn't matter to Ruth, all she knew is that they reminded her of sheep. She was content at the station.

8:03. Late. The conductors shouting became audible. "All aboard!"

But this train was late, that couldn't be a good sign. Also it was red. Red made her nervous. Glossy-eyed commuters elbowed and crammed into the car. They must have been late too. She didn't like the look of it. Nothing appeared good. Ruth would wait for another train.

She questioned herself. Maybe that train wasn't even going to where she wanted. That's right. She had been standing on the wrong side of the platform completely. The morning bustle came and went. Ruth remained and headed to the other side of the tracks with a renewed sense of purpose.

Noon on the dot. This one looked promising. It screeched to a halt with a screech that reminded Ruth of the grammar school chalkboard. This caused her to recall how insecure she felt when she was young. Consequently, insecurity had overcome Ruth. The people in the car looked pleasant enough, and it was going in the direction she thought she wanted, but this also was not her train.

Ruth began to notice familiar faces. She had been on the platform long enough to see people start and finish their day. Sulking, she sat on the bench. The once nameless, faceless people began to take on character. To Ruth, each one of them told a story more successful than hers, happier than hers, and more fulfilling than hers. They had it all. "Why" she thought, "do I have nothing?"

A light flickered and died in the lamp post next to her. The night janitor had just begun his shift. As he approached to sweep under Ruth's bench he asked, "Going somewhere tonight miss?" It was then that she realized she had never left the platform.

Read it here on Christian Articles Resource

Always True

I've never heard of this guy, but his book caught my interest. In his book "Always True," pastor James Macdonald provides five of God's major promises in a topical study format. The struggle of mine that seems to tackle me to the ground most frequently is that of focusing on the imperatives while forgetting the indicatives. Focusing on the work and forgetting the grace. I'd like to give it a look.

I looked this guy up to see what he's all about. Because I walk the fine line between judgmental and discerning (usually erring on the side of judgmental), I was tempted to think by looking at the website, "here's another seeker-sensitive church with vague theology." I'm not on a witch hunt, I just want to be careful what I read...because what I ingest gets applied to my life, whether adversely or consciously. Pastor Macdonald founded the Harvest ministry of churches and schools, but not the Harvest I was familiar with [Greg Laurie and the Crusades]. They have a lot of churches in the Midwest and on the East Coast, some even abroad. They've planted hundreds of churches. It seems to me that they have topical preaching, but I don't want to label him seeker-sensitive or emerging...because I just don't know.

Do you?

Is this gonna be forever?

Some days I'm ok. I view my situation and am content in knowing that a sovereign God has put me exactly where He wants me, right now. Then there are the bad days. All it takes is for jealousy or thanklessness to creep in the back door and I'm right back where I started, fighting for my sanity. I am unemployed - and I know I'm not the only one who has ever felt this way.

This morning I woke up thinking, "Why does God seem to be silent?" I not only ask God for contentedness -finding my full worth and satisfaction in belonging to Him- but I also ask that He would provide something for me this summer. I find myself wondering what I did wrong. See, and I know I want to pin it on something I did or didn't do, because this way, I can fix it. I can still control the situation. Am I being a faithful follower of Christ? Am I being responsible? Am I looking hard enough? Ok, now I've reminded myself that I am not in control. Trite, but true. Moving on throughout my day, I then start to wonder if God even hears me. Is there something I'm missing? No, no. God's commandments -His will for my life- are clear. He does not hide Himself. I know those things are true, I'm even pretty sure I believe them. Why then am I still in this situation?

At this point, Job usually comes to mind. I feel petty for even making the comparison. Job's whole family was killed and possessions taken away. Even his health was taken away. While reading Job though, its clear that the principle is the same and applies directly to my situation. "And the Lord said to Job: 'Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it' (Job 40:1)." When I start demanding things from God, I am finding fault in Him. I am, in a sense, saying that He is not doing what He needs to be doing in my life. That's dangerous, and I know it. So when I find myself thinking this way I quickly bound back.

Often when we are trudging through times when we feel as if we have nothing, the answer is to recount God's faithfulness to you. What has He provided? Without a doubt, when I look at my life, the most paramount, direction-changing events have come with no forethought on my part at all. In this I can easily see the sovereign hand of God, swooping down to manifest Himself to me in a way I cannot ignore. The struggle is in seeing every other instance, however mundane (and sometimes apparently awful), in the same way.

The end of the matter, all has been heard. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

do-done-DID

That there's a red velvet cheesecake! Happy 50th Dad =]