This entry has been stirring in me for almost a month now. I wouldn't bore you with the details of all that has happened in the last three weeks but I will say that God teaches me something almost everyday. I feel like at times that I need to walk around with a notepad and pen so that I don't forget some of the things that He brings to mind. It's sad to say but my memory is getting a little less than picture perfect these days. It's all I can do to remember my name and what I had for breakfast. That's why I have developed the habit (much to my husband's chagrin) of making lists and lists and more lists. In fact, I think sticky notes are provision from God just for me! If I was the next contestant on Survivor and only had one item to take...I would take my Bible of course (what God fearing Christian woman wouldn't say that??) but it would be filled with sticky notes and (maybe some soap)! Okay, thanks for humoring me. Back to the subject.
So, I have been very discouraged at times over the last few weeks at what I see in the world and in the church. I shouldn't be surprised at what I see in the world but I'm still amazed at the total depravity of who we all could be without Jesus Christ. However, I guess I expect more from the church especially when the word of God is being proclaimed and is so accessible to us in this day and age. I look around and I see two types of people, the dead and the emotional. In fact, in the parable of the soils these two types are mentioned. The first kind, the dead, are just that - dead. They have no life, no light, no passion - they are just going through the motions. The second kind, the emotional, are the very opposite. They are lively, passionate, zealous, exuberant for a time - they are riding the wave of feelings up and down, up and down. Neither of these two have any root. They have no firm foundation.
We don't like to talk about perseverance in our world. We don't want to hear that the road is narrow and few find it. We don't want to hear that as Spurgeon said, "Most of the Christian life is drudgery." Most people that consider themselves Christians today would say that as heresy! God wants my good, my best, my happiness. God is waiting to show me the next "big thing" and then I'm on my way, doing what I was created to do - which almost always is what I want to do and will make me successful, wealthy and recognized. God's plan is never that I should suffer, live in obscurity or do something I don't want to do. I ask, "Is that biblical?" I ask, "Which most resembles the life of Christ?" The life we are called to follow?
I say all of this and condemn myself at the same time but the thing I have learned? The more I get to know the God I serve, the more I love the God I serve. And then, the law that I was trying desperately to adhere to is not so hard to follow after all because I want to please the one who created the Law for my good and for His glory. Does that make sense? We serve a vicious cycle of trying to obey the law with our flesh but inside our hearts are far from God so when we fail we are plagued with the guilt of our failure. "This is impossible!" Other people, more spiritual than I am can do this but I can't be obedient - it just isn't in me!" You are right! It isn't in you but as believers if the Spirit of God is in you then it is in you. But, it doesn't stop there because you must KNOW the God you serve in order to LOVE the God you serve. We don't love our spouses or children or friends or (fill in the blank) without knowing them. We must know our God, we are commanded to know our God. Then, we LOVE Him and obedience to the Law is our reasonable service, our joy and crown. Why? Because it pleases the One we love.
