Do you ever feel strange when God convicts you about something that you used to have strong convictions about, but somewhere along the way... you just lost those convictions? That's happened to me a lot lately. Certain things that I used to feel really passionately about just don't seem as important to me anymore. Let me give you a specific example. Lately, I've been really, really bad about being purposeful about my regular devotion time with the Lord. I do my daily devotions when I'm overly tired or distracted. As if this wasn't bad enough, my devotions are often short and I don't truly challenge myself to be more Christ-like; I just assume that opening my Bible and saying that I did my devotions that will be 'good enough.' I've been going through the motions.
Why do certain convictions just... disappear like that? "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold." (Matthew 24:12, NIV)
We live in a wicked culture. The world urges us to pursue everything but God: wealth, happiness, fame, boy/girl friends, popularity, anything that makes us 'feel' good. We live in a day and age where our world is much like Ephesus. It's hard to have not even a hint of immorality... because our world is so immoral and it feels like we're being pulled away from God. And sometimes we give in to the world's lies; one seemingly little conviction at a time. I was listening to the song "Slow Fade" last night. It went something like this:
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away...
It's a slow fade when black and white turn to gray...
People never crumble in a day.
Could it be that failing to pursue Christ passionately is something that happens gradually, not because of one drastic choice; but because of a lot of smaller compromises? Because you allow yourself some gray areas where you let go of convictions instead of drawing a firm line between right and wrong?
I can't think of any better way to say it then what John Owen said: "Cease not a day from this work; be killing sin, or it will be killing you." If I don't fight sin with every ounce of my being every moment of my life, then Satan wins. Fighting sin is the hardest struggle in the history of the world. Satan doesn't take breaks; but thankfully God's grace doesn't take breaks either! If Christ is King of your life; not just part of your semi-regular routine, then fight sin. Don't allow little compromises overtake your life. Stand up. Fight the good fight. Kill sin.
Don't give sin a second glance, but keep your gaze fixed on Christ!
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
So Divine
The last few days, I've been reading the book Crazy Love and thinking about it a lot. It's an amazing book, really. Besides the Bible it's probably one of the most convicting books I've ever read. Probably the most convicting part is an area that talks about being luke-warm; whether or not there is such a thing as a luke warm Christian. This is such a powerful section because our American society has made Christianity into such a religion. We've convinced people and even ourselves that all we need to do is pray the 'sinner's prayer' and 'become Christians' and that's our ticket into Heaven. You know that children's song, "Acts 1, 2, and 3"? It goes something like this:
Act one: Seek Jesus,
Act two: Believe,
Act three: Live for Christ and serve Him faithfully...
But we've entirely left out the second and third steps. We tell people to 'ask Jesus into their hearts' without putting emphasis on the fact that it isn't just the prayer, it's the belief in your heart; and that faith, if real, will manifest itself out in a tangible way that results in godly living.
If you read the gospels, Christ says that we're to go make disciples. He says that anyone who won't take up their cross to follow Him cannot be His disciple. He says not to even waste time burying the dead, but to follow Him as soon as we seek Him and let the dead bury their own dead. He says anyone who is ashamed of Him will not be known by Him when the Father is judging. He says the ones who love Him will obey Him. He says that those who try to look good on the outside without caring what their hearts are truly like are like white-washed tombs that look beautiful but are filled with dead people's bones. He says that if you aren't willing to sell everything you have to follow Him, you can't follow Him at all. He says not to store up treasures on earth, but treasures in Heaven. He says that if you're burdened, you should give it all to Him. He says that when the world opposes you, to remember Him, because they opposed HIM first and HE has overcome the world! He says to love your enemies and pray for those who hurt you. He says that anyone who didn't help the least of these didn't help Him. He says you can't serve money and Him.
How much more radical can you be?
Jesus was radical. He wasn't like anyone else in history. All other teachers and religions have taught that you need to be good enough; He taught that you can never be good enough-- and then He proved it by paying for the sins of those who would follow Him!
But look back over the section of 'He says.' He says all these things to us today. These weren't just things He told people in Scripture; these are commands for today. Yet we're content to just call ourselves Christians because 'that's our relgion' and we go to church for an hour on Sunday mornings. Jesus came to call sinners, of whom I am the worst, yet I'm content to do so little.
I don't want to admit it, but this is the plain honest truth: I often want to still be able to call myself a Christian and have assurance of my salvation without living super radically. I think something along the lines of, "If I don't talk to so and so about Jesus all the time, will He really be ashamed of me when judgment days comes?" When I think about that, I'm saddened because I realize just how bad my heart really is. I'm more concerned about still being a Christian than being totally sold-out for Jesus. I'm not concerned enough with having the same kind of crazy, all-consuming love that He had for me; I'd rather just stick with the comfortable, half-hearted love that I've indulged in for too long.
But we aren't called to be "Christians"; you know, those people who say they love Jesus but won't actually ever serve Him to a point where they have to sacrifice; we're called to let Christ rule our hearts and lives, being "little Christs" (the original meaning of the word "Christian," before it became so distorted by our materialistic, selfish culture).
It's that kind of love that demands my soul, my life, my all. It's a crazy kind of love.
Act one: Seek Jesus,
Act two: Believe,
Act three: Live for Christ and serve Him faithfully...
But we've entirely left out the second and third steps. We tell people to 'ask Jesus into their hearts' without putting emphasis on the fact that it isn't just the prayer, it's the belief in your heart; and that faith, if real, will manifest itself out in a tangible way that results in godly living.
If you read the gospels, Christ says that we're to go make disciples. He says that anyone who won't take up their cross to follow Him cannot be His disciple. He says not to even waste time burying the dead, but to follow Him as soon as we seek Him and let the dead bury their own dead. He says anyone who is ashamed of Him will not be known by Him when the Father is judging. He says the ones who love Him will obey Him. He says that those who try to look good on the outside without caring what their hearts are truly like are like white-washed tombs that look beautiful but are filled with dead people's bones. He says that if you aren't willing to sell everything you have to follow Him, you can't follow Him at all. He says not to store up treasures on earth, but treasures in Heaven. He says that if you're burdened, you should give it all to Him. He says that when the world opposes you, to remember Him, because they opposed HIM first and HE has overcome the world! He says to love your enemies and pray for those who hurt you. He says that anyone who didn't help the least of these didn't help Him. He says you can't serve money and Him.
How much more radical can you be?
Jesus was radical. He wasn't like anyone else in history. All other teachers and religions have taught that you need to be good enough; He taught that you can never be good enough-- and then He proved it by paying for the sins of those who would follow Him!
But look back over the section of 'He says.' He says all these things to us today. These weren't just things He told people in Scripture; these are commands for today. Yet we're content to just call ourselves Christians because 'that's our relgion' and we go to church for an hour on Sunday mornings. Jesus came to call sinners, of whom I am the worst, yet I'm content to do so little.
I don't want to admit it, but this is the plain honest truth: I often want to still be able to call myself a Christian and have assurance of my salvation without living super radically. I think something along the lines of, "If I don't talk to so and so about Jesus all the time, will He really be ashamed of me when judgment days comes?" When I think about that, I'm saddened because I realize just how bad my heart really is. I'm more concerned about still being a Christian than being totally sold-out for Jesus. I'm not concerned enough with having the same kind of crazy, all-consuming love that He had for me; I'd rather just stick with the comfortable, half-hearted love that I've indulged in for too long.
But we aren't called to be "Christians"; you know, those people who say they love Jesus but won't actually ever serve Him to a point where they have to sacrifice; we're called to let Christ rule our hearts and lives, being "little Christs" (the original meaning of the word "Christian," before it became so distorted by our materialistic, selfish culture).
It's that kind of love that demands my soul, my life, my all. It's a crazy kind of love.
Friday, April 22, 2011
To Die Daily
When you are forgotten, neglected, or purposely set at naught, and you don't sting or hurt with the oversight, but your heart is happy, being counted worthy to suffer for Christ; That is dying to self....When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinion ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart or even defend yourself, but take it all in patient, loving silence; That is dying to self.
When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, any annoyance; when you can stand face to face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility, and endure it as Jesus did; That is dying to self.
When you are content with any food, and offering, any raiment, any climate, any society, any solitude, any interruption by the will of God; That is dying to self.
When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation or record your own good works or itch after commendation, when you can truly love to be unknown; That is dying to self.
When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met, and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy, nor question God, while your own needs are far greater and you are in desperate circumstances; That is dying to self.
When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself and can humbly submit, inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart; That is dying to self.
~unknown
Oh, to daily die to self. I don't think there will ever be a more difficult thing to be done. Coming to Christ isn't a one-time commitment, it's a daily commitment to put Christ and others ahead of yourself. It's a commitment to die daily.
When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, any annoyance; when you can stand face to face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility, and endure it as Jesus did; That is dying to self.
When you are content with any food, and offering, any raiment, any climate, any society, any solitude, any interruption by the will of God; That is dying to self.
When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation or record your own good works or itch after commendation, when you can truly love to be unknown; That is dying to self.
When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met, and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy, nor question God, while your own needs are far greater and you are in desperate circumstances; That is dying to self.
When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself and can humbly submit, inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart; That is dying to self.
~unknown
Oh, to daily die to self. I don't think there will ever be a more difficult thing to be done. Coming to Christ isn't a one-time commitment, it's a daily commitment to put Christ and others ahead of yourself. It's a commitment to die daily.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Reality Check
There was pounding on the door.
Seconds later, the authorities had broken into my home. They took our Bibles, and now we're left completely without God's word. What is more, all of our friends' Bibles are gone, too, so no one else can share a copy with us. We now have no way to read the Bible; no way to share it with others.
It's gone.
Even thinking about such an experience puts fear in my heart. Yet for much of the world, that nightmare has become a reality.
If you're like me, you take for granted the fact that we are able to read the Bible whenever we want. I mean, honestly, how awesome is that?!? I said, how awesome is that?!?
Seriously? Is that how I usually approach it?
Maybe sometimes. But most of the time, I'm guilty of this:
"Oh. Yah. I need to read my Bible today. That's what every good Christian does, every day. And a good Christian wouldn't ever, ever miss a day. So I have to do it, other wise I'm not giving God the kind of commitment He deserves." Sometimes this results in rummaging the house for my Bible before bed when I left it in a different room earlier that day; or trying to remember if I had read the Bible for "long" enough earlier that day; or reading the Bible when my eyes are closing before bed and checking the clock every minute and eight seconds to see how long I've been reading.
Oh, yah, that's definitely giving God the devotion He deserves.
I kid.
Seriously?!? As I read back over this I cringe at the truth of it. Do I really think that the almighty, sovereign, loving, holy Lord of the universe wants that from me? Is that how I should approach His word-- as an obligation? No. Never.
Seriously? I mean, what on earth is wrong with me?
Of course, I'll admit, as Christians we do have a sense of 'duty' or 'responsiblity' to reading the Word. I'm not one to say, "Well, if you don't feel like reading your Bible, don't!" We should read the Bible every day, whether or not we "feel" like it. But there should be a sense of longing, yearning, and urgency that accompanies that "duty." It should be our highest and first goal to pursue Christ with reckless abandon! Reading Scripture is the first step in glorifying God.
So, I'll go back to the opening. What if that happened to me-- today? Or tomorrow? Or next week? Would I be ready? Would I have His word in my heart so that I might not sin against Him? Or would I simply quote one or two verses that I vaguely remembered off the top of my head? I hate to say it, but I wouldn't be nearly prepared.
So, here lies the bigger question: am I doing anything to change that? I am pleased to announce that as of the day before yesterday, I have a large goal for myself: to memorize all the epistles besides Romans and 1&2 Corinthians before I turn nineteen. Before June 28, 2013, I want to have everything from Galatians to Jude memorized.
Is anyone with me? I could really use some accountability. Please leave a comment if you're in! And then, at least if we fail we fail together!! :) No, but seriously. I think the rewards will be infinitely greater than anything you can imagine.
Behold the greatness of God!
Seconds later, the authorities had broken into my home. They took our Bibles, and now we're left completely without God's word. What is more, all of our friends' Bibles are gone, too, so no one else can share a copy with us. We now have no way to read the Bible; no way to share it with others.
It's gone.
Even thinking about such an experience puts fear in my heart. Yet for much of the world, that nightmare has become a reality.
If you're like me, you take for granted the fact that we are able to read the Bible whenever we want. I mean, honestly, how awesome is that?!? I said, how awesome is that?!?
Seriously? Is that how I usually approach it?
Maybe sometimes. But most of the time, I'm guilty of this:
"Oh. Yah. I need to read my Bible today. That's what every good Christian does, every day. And a good Christian wouldn't ever, ever miss a day. So I have to do it, other wise I'm not giving God the kind of commitment He deserves." Sometimes this results in rummaging the house for my Bible before bed when I left it in a different room earlier that day; or trying to remember if I had read the Bible for "long" enough earlier that day; or reading the Bible when my eyes are closing before bed and checking the clock every minute and eight seconds to see how long I've been reading.
Oh, yah, that's definitely giving God the devotion He deserves.
I kid.
Seriously?!? As I read back over this I cringe at the truth of it. Do I really think that the almighty, sovereign, loving, holy Lord of the universe wants that from me? Is that how I should approach His word-- as an obligation? No. Never.
Seriously? I mean, what on earth is wrong with me?
Of course, I'll admit, as Christians we do have a sense of 'duty' or 'responsiblity' to reading the Word. I'm not one to say, "Well, if you don't feel like reading your Bible, don't!" We should read the Bible every day, whether or not we "feel" like it. But there should be a sense of longing, yearning, and urgency that accompanies that "duty." It should be our highest and first goal to pursue Christ with reckless abandon! Reading Scripture is the first step in glorifying God.
So, I'll go back to the opening. What if that happened to me-- today? Or tomorrow? Or next week? Would I be ready? Would I have His word in my heart so that I might not sin against Him? Or would I simply quote one or two verses that I vaguely remembered off the top of my head? I hate to say it, but I wouldn't be nearly prepared.
So, here lies the bigger question: am I doing anything to change that? I am pleased to announce that as of the day before yesterday, I have a large goal for myself: to memorize all the epistles besides Romans and 1&2 Corinthians before I turn nineteen. Before June 28, 2013, I want to have everything from Galatians to Jude memorized.
Is anyone with me? I could really use some accountability. Please leave a comment if you're in! And then, at least if we fail we fail together!! :) No, but seriously. I think the rewards will be infinitely greater than anything you can imagine.
Behold the greatness of God!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Something Significant
This weekend was amazing. We had a missionary conference at our church, East Cooper Baptist Church, and it was amazing.
During this conference I had the privilege of helping in the children's ministry program where kids ages Kindergarten to 5th grade learned about missions in Thailand. It was a huge blessing to me for a number of reasons, but one in particular. Saturday morning, the second day of the festival, all of us workers for the children's ministry showed up outside the sanctuary. There weren't very many of us; 10 adults or so and a handful of teenagers. I felt minorly excited, but mostly just underwhelmed. For those of you who have seen me on a Backyard VBS high-- trust me, it was nothing like that. During that time I'm enthusiastic, excited, and passionate and ready to tell the children about God. But on Saturday I felt just... normal. I was happy to help out, but that was about it. The night before had been fun, but different than I had expeceted. I guess I felt as if my being there was pointless.
Then Pastor Steve, the children's pastor, said something that shook me. He thanked us all for helping and then remarked about a little girl who had asked him a question; not about Thailand, but about China. She said that she had heard that people in China could only have one child, and she was curious what would happen to the other children. He didn't say how they had answered, but he did say that this little girl was really concerned about that. Who knows how God will use that. He continued on, saying that some of these children may really be impacted by this weekend. Maybe through a craft a child really liked, or through the testimonies, or anything. And maybe the impact might be significant enough to change their lives. And maybe their changed lives will result in the changing of other lives.
That really stuck with me. Later in the day, we were reading 1 Corinthians 15:58, "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."
Don't you love it when God just hits you right in the face with something you needed to hear? No one else would know that's how I was feeling. I didn't tell anyone that I felt useless. But God knew. And so, just at the right time, He told me that my labor in Him is not in vain. NOTHING! Nothing I do for Him in vain. It doesn't say 'only the really big things' it says 'your labor in the Lord is not in vain'! Jesus also said, "And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."
Even the littlest, day to day things, if done in Christ's name, are not done in vain. I think there's something really significant about that. I think it's significant enough that it should change how I live my day-to-day life. Do I seek to do even the smallest tasks for God's glory? Do I desire to point to God's grace when I wash the dishes, do my Chemistry homework, play with my younger siblings, and make lunch? It's one thing to say I'm a Christian. But do I shine with the radiance of Christ, first for Him, and only because of Him-- no matter how small or menial the task before me seems?
You will never know the impact that you will have on someone's life unless you let Christ rule your life.
And I think that's pretty significant.
During this conference I had the privilege of helping in the children's ministry program where kids ages Kindergarten to 5th grade learned about missions in Thailand. It was a huge blessing to me for a number of reasons, but one in particular. Saturday morning, the second day of the festival, all of us workers for the children's ministry showed up outside the sanctuary. There weren't very many of us; 10 adults or so and a handful of teenagers. I felt minorly excited, but mostly just underwhelmed. For those of you who have seen me on a Backyard VBS high-- trust me, it was nothing like that. During that time I'm enthusiastic, excited, and passionate and ready to tell the children about God. But on Saturday I felt just... normal. I was happy to help out, but that was about it. The night before had been fun, but different than I had expeceted. I guess I felt as if my being there was pointless.
Then Pastor Steve, the children's pastor, said something that shook me. He thanked us all for helping and then remarked about a little girl who had asked him a question; not about Thailand, but about China. She said that she had heard that people in China could only have one child, and she was curious what would happen to the other children. He didn't say how they had answered, but he did say that this little girl was really concerned about that. Who knows how God will use that. He continued on, saying that some of these children may really be impacted by this weekend. Maybe through a craft a child really liked, or through the testimonies, or anything. And maybe the impact might be significant enough to change their lives. And maybe their changed lives will result in the changing of other lives.
That really stuck with me. Later in the day, we were reading 1 Corinthians 15:58, "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."
Don't you love it when God just hits you right in the face with something you needed to hear? No one else would know that's how I was feeling. I didn't tell anyone that I felt useless. But God knew. And so, just at the right time, He told me that my labor in Him is not in vain. NOTHING! Nothing I do for Him in vain. It doesn't say 'only the really big things' it says 'your labor in the Lord is not in vain'! Jesus also said, "And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."
Even the littlest, day to day things, if done in Christ's name, are not done in vain. I think there's something really significant about that. I think it's significant enough that it should change how I live my day-to-day life. Do I seek to do even the smallest tasks for God's glory? Do I desire to point to God's grace when I wash the dishes, do my Chemistry homework, play with my younger siblings, and make lunch? It's one thing to say I'm a Christian. But do I shine with the radiance of Christ, first for Him, and only because of Him-- no matter how small or menial the task before me seems?
You will never know the impact that you will have on someone's life unless you let Christ rule your life.
And I think that's pretty significant.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Today, I Fell in Love
Looking at the title again, it is, admittedly, a bit deceptive.
However, you are reading this, am I not correct?
Okay, so I really didn't fall in love today. It's more that I've been thinking about the love I'm already drowning in. But no, for those of you who are still wondering, I'm not actually in love. At least, not in the traditional sense. But while we're on the topic, why is 'falling in love' so important to us? Have you ever noticed that when someone gets engaged, or even just starts dating, it seems to be the juiciest news?
Why are we (human beings in general) so concerned with people's 'love lives'?
Because we are relational people. We need to love. We need to feel loved. It's the way God made us.
But I look around at so many young people who are already involved in dating relationships, and even at my own heart dreaming about what it'll be like 'some day' after I get married, and I can't help but think that God must have had something better in mind. He must have had a better reason for making us people who need to be loved. Of course, He does. He has given us a 'God-shaped hole' if you will-- a need to be loved by Him. Listen to Romans 5:18-21:
"Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more."
Just to say it now, I love these verses! Just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. That's the way God saved us. The same way that we first sinned against Him.
And listen to Ephesians 3:17-19:
So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
How wide! How long! How high! How deep is His love! In the presence of such love, how could anything else even seem important? John Piper once said, "Following Jesus is first and foremost not heroic!" Following Jesus isn't something that should deserve accolades and awards. I'm often tempted to think that I'm doing something great by simply following Christ; as if I'm so much better than those who don't follow Him. But it's not heroic-- it's the natural and reasonable response to such great love!
I agree with C.S. Lewis when he said, "We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."
We'd rather have 'true romance' than this eternally wonderful, satisfying love that's right here. We're so easily satisfied!
So, I guess all in all, I didn't fall in love today. Sorry if I disappointed you. :) But I have found the greatest love ever, and I can't wait to worship Him forever and ever. And I pray that I would never think of following Him as heroic. But that instead, I'd follow Him as what I truly am: a sinner, desperately clinging the cross and seeing how deep, how wide, how long, and how high His love is.
However, you are reading this, am I not correct?
Okay, so I really didn't fall in love today. It's more that I've been thinking about the love I'm already drowning in. But no, for those of you who are still wondering, I'm not actually in love. At least, not in the traditional sense. But while we're on the topic, why is 'falling in love' so important to us? Have you ever noticed that when someone gets engaged, or even just starts dating, it seems to be the juiciest news?
Why are we (human beings in general) so concerned with people's 'love lives'?
Because we are relational people. We need to love. We need to feel loved. It's the way God made us.
But I look around at so many young people who are already involved in dating relationships, and even at my own heart dreaming about what it'll be like 'some day' after I get married, and I can't help but think that God must have had something better in mind. He must have had a better reason for making us people who need to be loved. Of course, He does. He has given us a 'God-shaped hole' if you will-- a need to be loved by Him. Listen to Romans 5:18-21:
"Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more."
Just to say it now, I love these verses! Just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. That's the way God saved us. The same way that we first sinned against Him.
And listen to Ephesians 3:17-19:
So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
How wide! How long! How high! How deep is His love! In the presence of such love, how could anything else even seem important? John Piper once said, "Following Jesus is first and foremost not heroic!" Following Jesus isn't something that should deserve accolades and awards. I'm often tempted to think that I'm doing something great by simply following Christ; as if I'm so much better than those who don't follow Him. But it's not heroic-- it's the natural and reasonable response to such great love!
I agree with C.S. Lewis when he said, "We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."
We'd rather have 'true romance' than this eternally wonderful, satisfying love that's right here. We're so easily satisfied!
So, I guess all in all, I didn't fall in love today. Sorry if I disappointed you. :) But I have found the greatest love ever, and I can't wait to worship Him forever and ever. And I pray that I would never think of following Him as heroic. But that instead, I'd follow Him as what I truly am: a sinner, desperately clinging the cross and seeing how deep, how wide, how long, and how high His love is.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Back to the Heart
These last few months, I've been particularly convicted about my motives for doing things.
I mean, it's one thing to do the right thing. Sometimes it almost seems like a lot of disciples of Jesus almost "have that down." Not that most strong Christians I know appear to be perfect, but sometimes it can seem pretty close.
To take it a step further, it seems as if lots of us "good-little-church Christians" who have been raised in homes with the gospel know all the right things to do. We've read the entire Bible. We've memorized Bible verses. We've been involved in the church, Bible studies, mission trips, teaching Sunday School/AWANA/VBS, and tons of other things. We know we're supposed to be holy, because God is holy. We're not supposed to be involved in things that most teenagers are. I mean, God called us Christians to be different! C'mon. We already know that.
But we've become Christians in a little box. We've become immune to the amazing, life-changing power of Christ. It's as if we think that because we've studied the Bible and we're trying to live like Jesus, that's enough.
However, I recently took a trip to Washington (AMAZING!) and I had a blast. A few days after getting there, I spent the night with these incredible girls:
(Me, Hannah, Grace, Sophia)
Now, I can honestly say that these three girls are a few of the most exceptional Christian young ladies I know. (Of course, I do know lots of others!) But these girls are such godly encouragements to me.
And before we went to bed that night, we started talking about some struggles in our Christian walk. One thing that particularly stuck out to me was the aspect of motives.
Sure, you can do all the right things (to an extent). But it's completely different to them simply because you see Christ's love. We say that Jesus is all we want, but don't we sometimes contradict that in the way that we live our lives? I know I do. I say I only want to please Christ, yet I find myself longing for things such as praise, admiration, and even flattery. My heart isn't always right, because I'm longing for the praise to go to myself rather than the ultimate purpose of my life: to glorify God and serve Him only.
The Lord speaks against those who claim to love Him but whose love goes no deeper than lip service in Isaiah 29:13, "The Lord says: 'These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.'" (NIV)
Here's a specific example. In His book, I Kissed Dating Goodbye, Joshua Harris wrote about how he and his wife saved their first kiss for marriage. I don't have the book, but he said something to the extent of 'Saving kissing for marriage is another act that, if done without the intention of glorifying God, is completely useless.' It all depends on your motive. Many things, if not done only to glorify God, can become sources of spiritual pride. I mean, I often say "Well, all the glory goes to God," but in my heart I'm congratulating myself for giving God the glory, or, even worse, hoping that some of the glory still goes to me.
Dr. John Piper said,
"There is no doubt that man could perform more evil acts toward his fellow man than he does. But if he is restrained from performing more evil acts by motives that are not owing to his glad submission to God, then even this 'virtue' is evil in the sight of God."
I mean, it's one thing to do the right thing. Sometimes it almost seems like a lot of disciples of Jesus almost "have that down." Not that most strong Christians I know appear to be perfect, but sometimes it can seem pretty close.
To take it a step further, it seems as if lots of us "good-little-church Christians" who have been raised in homes with the gospel know all the right things to do. We've read the entire Bible. We've memorized Bible verses. We've been involved in the church, Bible studies, mission trips, teaching Sunday School/AWANA/VBS, and tons of other things. We know we're supposed to be holy, because God is holy. We're not supposed to be involved in things that most teenagers are. I mean, God called us Christians to be different! C'mon. We already know that.
But we've become Christians in a little box. We've become immune to the amazing, life-changing power of Christ. It's as if we think that because we've studied the Bible and we're trying to live like Jesus, that's enough.
However, I recently took a trip to Washington (AMAZING!) and I had a blast. A few days after getting there, I spent the night with these incredible girls:
(Me, Hannah, Grace, Sophia)
Now, I can honestly say that these three girls are a few of the most exceptional Christian young ladies I know. (Of course, I do know lots of others!) But these girls are such godly encouragements to me.
And before we went to bed that night, we started talking about some struggles in our Christian walk. One thing that particularly stuck out to me was the aspect of motives.
Sure, you can do all the right things (to an extent). But it's completely different to them simply because you see Christ's love. We say that Jesus is all we want, but don't we sometimes contradict that in the way that we live our lives? I know I do. I say I only want to please Christ, yet I find myself longing for things such as praise, admiration, and even flattery. My heart isn't always right, because I'm longing for the praise to go to myself rather than the ultimate purpose of my life: to glorify God and serve Him only.
The Lord speaks against those who claim to love Him but whose love goes no deeper than lip service in Isaiah 29:13, "The Lord says: 'These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.'" (NIV)
Here's a specific example. In His book, I Kissed Dating Goodbye, Joshua Harris wrote about how he and his wife saved their first kiss for marriage. I don't have the book, but he said something to the extent of 'Saving kissing for marriage is another act that, if done without the intention of glorifying God, is completely useless.' It all depends on your motive. Many things, if not done only to glorify God, can become sources of spiritual pride. I mean, I often say "Well, all the glory goes to God," but in my heart I'm congratulating myself for giving God the glory, or, even worse, hoping that some of the glory still goes to me.
Dr. John Piper said,
"There is no doubt that man could perform more evil acts toward his fellow man than he does. But if he is restrained from performing more evil acts by motives that are not owing to his glad submission to God, then even this 'virtue' is evil in the sight of God."
I can try to live like Christ, but the real question is do I let Christ rule my life... and my heart?
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