I heard on the radio of an article written by a woman who has known many famous persons before and after they were famous. I could not find the article, though I wish I could. But She wrote how becoming famous made all of the people worse off. She said they were normal pleasant to be around persons until they got the fame. Then they became angry and unpleasant. She is not a Christian, from what I understand, but was simply writing down her observations. The host of the radio show, Brant Hansen, talked about how Christ being the only thing to fulfill us. Not Christ plus something. He even mentioned marriage, saying that marriage will not make you happy. What I found interesting and sad at the same time was the guy who called in. This gentleman asked Brant, "What makes you happy then?" By the tone of his voice you could tell he had believed the lies of the enemy and was quite confused with what Brant was saying. If the Church does not get that only Jesus is sufficient, that He is ALL we need; how is the world to begin to understand? These days there is much talk about the events (such as storms, political changes, and etc.) happening today being the beginning of the birth pains. This may be so, but in the Body of Christ there seems to be a lot worry over these things. Jesus makes it very clear we are not to worry for one. And for two he says specifically regarding the birth pains, "Do not be alarmed." (Mark 13:7) This is written in three of the four gospels. Therefore we need not be alarmed and as Christians should only be more motivated to preach the gospel. It has been brought to my attention that how we feel means very little in the grand scheme of things. It is ok if we do not feel God's love for us, provided we know that He loves us and act obediently. It is ok if we do not feel as though we love God, provided that we know we love Him and show it by acting obediently. Our lack of feelings doesn't mean we don't love God or that he does not love us. So, we should not get to hung up on how we feel. It is also ok if we do not always feel like or desire to do what God has called us to do, provided that we do it anyway. When you love someone there are times when you do things, not because you want to, but because you love them. It is no different with God. God loves us and cares for us, even for our feelings; but we need not worry if for a moment or even a season, we don't feel as though we think we ought to. Our concern should instead be whether or not we are acting obediently in all circumstances and regardless of our feelings.
When God first taught me this I couldn't feel His love for me. Which made it difficult to be obedient. He taught me through my experience, but since then I have read is several place of this same idea. Funny how God works like that? :) He opened my eyes and then I saw all that I missed before. Oswald Chambers alludes to this idea quite often in My Utmost For His Highest. If you have been around the church long enough, you have heard about the freedom you have in Christ. Lately, it seems God is redefining what it means for me. Freedom in Christ means freedom from sin, which God has taught me previously. However, it seems it might mean more than that. I always knew we have the freedom to choose God's will or not, but God has been showing me another option. Sometimes we choose between God's will and God's will. He gives us the freedom to choose things! I read 1 Cor 7:39 and 1 Cor 9:4-5 and was in utter shock. "Right?" Everyone I know has always said as Christians we don't have the right to do this or to do that. But here Paul says we have the right to eat or drink what we want, and what's more to choose a wife! 1 Cor 7:39 says a widow has the right to choose another husband in the Lord. What a concept! I always thought God would dictate to us every thing he wanted us to do. And now it seems we can make choices to do things where both outcomes are good, both God's will. Frankly, I found this concept frightening at first. God is obviously still my guide and the "lamp unto my feet," but he says "you choose." I found it scary because I think to myself, especially when it comes to a husband, I will choose wrong. BUT, what I didn't realize is that, when God gives us these choices both outcomes are good, I cannot choose wrong.
Moreover, God has revealed to me that he is my father, who delights in me maturing. See it is the young ones who need to always be told what to do. As a child grows older a parents has no need to tell the child everything to do because the child has been given everything he or she needs to make the rights choices. I don't think our Father in heaven wants to always be dictating to us the things he expects of us. Instead he wants us to be mature, to know His word enough so that we can know what to do. As far as our right to choose goes, it is a part of the freedom we now have in Christ. And perhaps, there is yet a third option; the choice between good and better. The freedom to choose between something that is good, not bad or sin, and something that is even better is available to us. Our Father does not want to trick us, but like earthly parents gives us freedom to make choices so that we may learn and grow. After God taught me this and I had reflected upon it, he confirmed for me that this is from Him. In chapel a graduate student spoke about her difficulty in choosing what to do after she graduated. She told how she prayed for hours seeking God, one night, about what she should do. She said He told her to shut all the doors in her room (including closet doors). After praying for hours she heard him say he would open three doors, all of which would be his will for her. Three was the number of doors in her room that she had shut. When she said this, I could hardly believe it. I have never heard anyone speak before about this kind of freedom. I thought you could only choose between sin and not sin. |
What I write AboutMy posts are all about the Christian walk in some way or another. I do my best to make what I post worth reading, thus there are many more things that I write about but do not post. Some of my posts are my reflections on scripture or a quote, other posts are simply my testimony, and others still are letters of encouragement. I hope that you will be encouraged or challenged in your walk with Christ as a result. God Bless you, my friend.
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