Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm on the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Flipside
"What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?"
(Rom. 7:24)
Faced with my base nature and the darkness of my soul, I, as a child of God, do not have to buy the Deceiver's lie that I can numb the pain with an effort to redeem myself through my own good works. I know that God works by multiplying His grace over humiliated sinners, using their weakness to demonstrate how Good He is--and how Powerful He is over Sin and Death (II Cor.12:10). I can choose at my low points to victorious in God's rescue from sin (I Cor. 10:13) and be restored into close relationship with Him.
And in the end I can say: "Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Rom. 7:25)
(Rom. 7:24)
Faced with my base nature and the darkness of my soul, I, as a child of God, do not have to buy the Deceiver's lie that I can numb the pain with an effort to redeem myself through my own good works. I know that God works by multiplying His grace over humiliated sinners, using their weakness to demonstrate how Good He is--and how Powerful He is over Sin and Death (II Cor.12:10). I can choose at my low points to victorious in God's rescue from sin (I Cor. 10:13) and be restored into close relationship with Him.
And in the end I can say: "Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Rom. 7:25)
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Grit
Confession. I've not been exercising perseverance in my studies lately. I've been letting Youtube take over hours of my study time. It's been a twisted weekend, and I am so ashamed. God's given me this time at school right? He's provided the money to attend this school, wonderful profs to inspire me, and mentors who want to help me be the best that I can be. He's taken me to a place where I need to focus on being trained to fulfill a vocation in this world. And I'm willing to disregard it all for a few episodes of TV programs.
I read Acts 14 today, in which Paul and Barnabas escape assassination plots in Icoium only to be hailed as gods in Lystra and shortly thereafter, stoned and left for dead in the same city. THE NEXT DAY, Paul and Barnabas leave for Derbe and receive a great response in that city. Then they return to the cities where they had previously faced intense persecution and set about strengthening the believers there, rejoicing in how God had opened doors during their travels. Wow, such perseverance. Their determination won them success in building the kingdom of God. They couldn't have done it alone---God's grace and vision helped them to keep walking with Him. I know my avoidance of Spirit's prompting and His rebuke have allowed me to stray into my pathetic place of inactivity. I know that God doesn't condemn me today for ways I have fallen short in the past days. Instead, He's leaving the door open for me to do things differently today. I know I can because His power is in me to conquer sin, but I have to keep this image in my head of the disciples, remembering that no commission was ever fulfilled by someone who insisted on checking out of responsibility and accountability.
I read Acts 14 today, in which Paul and Barnabas escape assassination plots in Icoium only to be hailed as gods in Lystra and shortly thereafter, stoned and left for dead in the same city. THE NEXT DAY, Paul and Barnabas leave for Derbe and receive a great response in that city. Then they return to the cities where they had previously faced intense persecution and set about strengthening the believers there, rejoicing in how God had opened doors during their travels. Wow, such perseverance. Their determination won them success in building the kingdom of God. They couldn't have done it alone---God's grace and vision helped them to keep walking with Him. I know my avoidance of Spirit's prompting and His rebuke have allowed me to stray into my pathetic place of inactivity. I know that God doesn't condemn me today for ways I have fallen short in the past days. Instead, He's leaving the door open for me to do things differently today. I know I can because His power is in me to conquer sin, but I have to keep this image in my head of the disciples, remembering that no commission was ever fulfilled by someone who insisted on checking out of responsibility and accountability.
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