I know that I have been pretty serious in my blogging as of late...this cannot be helped, it's a serious time. My life is an emotional roller coaster these days and the only thing that keeps me grounded is Jesus. This is truth. If it was up to me, I would be curled up in the fetal position rocking back and forth. But God is faithful.
So to the topic...
I have noticed that I have a great propensity for evil. I am "bad to the bone." Literally. It's easy to say when things are going great that I "feel" like I'm a good Christian. "Man I am a Godly guy! I'm pretty awesome!"
And then...
EPIC FAILURE! Truly Epic! I am humbled very quickly. And whether it be my attitude or my circumstances, I see myself for who I am without Christ. It's a dark place. We, as lovers of Jesus, can get caught up in a whirlwind of "being tossed to and fro like a wave."
I guess I realized that the only good in me is Christ.
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Gal. 2:20
I always have the capacity to make a sinful choice, to believe a lie over truth, to judge someone. Only God is good. Someday I will be like Him, but till that day, I need to seek His face, and trust that He is good.
I guess a blog can be a glorified diary. I posted on my FB music page yesterday, "When stumbling around in the dark, don't forget to turn on the light(hint: the light is God's word)." I noticed that when I go through a particularly hard time(or day) there is much sorrow and crying out to God...but do I pick up the Bible and fill my mind and heart with truth? NO! How ridiculous is that?! It's right there! "God help me!" I say, but do I fill myself with His word and so doing position myself to be changed by Him? Again no. This is a window into my "faith-o-meter." I want God to change my heart without actually seeking Him. Just pull up to the drive-thru and speak into the clown's face, "Yeah, I'll take some peace, and satisfaction...oh can I get a side of endurance with that? Thanks!"
My faith is dead if I don't act on it. I believe this is true when seeking Jesus. Do I trust Him? I say I do, but do I pick up The Book that is so easily accessible in our country...for which they now have an app?
I know that tough times come, and I'm not saying that I will never be in despair, or believe a lie, or fall into temptation. But, I know that the only saving grace is God's goodness and favor in my life. He IS good. Hang on to Jesus friend. Stay close to Him, even in failure!
"Stay close to Jesus!" This is how to live...this is good.
ReplyDeleteI love the drive thru example Mike and it's unfortunately a very true expression of how lazy we can be as Christians. We expect the benefits of a relationship with God without putting forth the time and discipline it takes to be "in" relationship. God is worth our sweat, tears, toil and blood and every piece of our life. That's what He gave to us. With everything there is a cost. God's cost for our lives was everything to Him. What's our cost?
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