I must keep it short today. Honestly, I should probably be studying, but I just absolutely had to post a little something (we'll see how short I'll be able to keep it).
Also, as an introduction of sorts, a few weeks ago Hannah was telling me about a conversation with a friend of hers regarding the word never. The conversation was cautioning the use of the word never because as soon as you say never, you find that thing on your doorstep.
Like always, I commented on this conversation by playing devil's advocate, showing how saying never doesn't always imply it will happen.
And now I eat my words.
Wouldn't you know it, the one thing that is on my heart the most is the fact that the Lord loves people who say never (stick with me...). Just think about it. The apostle Paul was the never sort of person. He was the chief anti-Christian of his time, and he certainly would never go about preaching Jesus Christ crucified, let alone tolerate others who did so. He went from town to town arresting Christians and throwing them in prison, or at least he did until he met Jesus on the road to Damascus.
And then the man who never had any inclination of letting the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ spread became one of the most influential missionaries ever! And it started with a heart that said never.
Why would I be inclined to think that the Lord likes the heart that says never? Because when the Lord gets a hold of that heart, it becomes a heart wholly devoted to him.
Even Peter was the never sort of person. He swore that he would never desert the Lord Jesus, but he ended up denying that he even knew Jesus three times, just as the Lord said. After that, he went away broken, weeping bitterly. His never sort of heart that prided itself in his own dedication to the Lord was revealed, and this man who denied the Lord Jesus became the apostle used to establish the church.
After that, day in and day out, Peter and the other apostles went about preaching the scriptures and proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord, this too from a man who said never.
And I find even now how in the past I thought I could never be free of this. Or how I could never be bold enough to do that. Or how I could never become the man I should be... the list could go on. But wouldn't you know, the Lord can bust through any kind of never and show how strong and faithful He is in any situation.
He has done so in my life, and keeps doing it. I find I've adamantly proclaimed that I'll never go back to a place again, or that I could never do this or that. But when the Lord gets hold of such a heart and sends them there, the will of self has to die in order to bend to the will of the Father. Then it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives within me, and that's where I want to be.
So I don't think I mind people saying never. They just might find themselves face to face with the Lord Jesus, and find out how strong and faithful the Lord is in any situation.
Well, back to studying I go! I never thought I could finish a math major, but the Lord is seeing me through it. I will finish what I started.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
The Impossibility of Coexistence
Wow, has it already been a week since I've sat down and blogged? Hmmm, suppose so.
Anyways....
I have a tragic flaw, or so I've been told. Apparently, I'm much too positive. According to some, even my complaining and whining is positive. How do I accomplish this? I have no idea, but I must be a pleasant complainer if that's the case.
All that to say, there is often a bright side to things. For example, spending less money on things you want in the now in order to save up money for things you want/need in the future is a great thing. Sure, in the moment it's tough and annoying. You don't get to buy as many things for you, or go out to eat whenever you want to, but the inconveniences in the now pay off in the future when you can make a down payment on a house, or (fill in the blank with a positive thing)...
So here's a wonderful thing I've discovered. In the past I always saw it in more of a negative light, but it's actually quite liberating.
I John 1:5-10 says this...
"5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives."
In the past, this was always just a reminder of my abysmal failures and how short I come up in my pursuits of holiness. "God is light, but I mess up so much... my darkness is so great... how can I have fellowship with God..."
It wasn't like I didn't already know that sin separates man from the Lord, who is holy. If this was all this passage meant, it would just be condemnation; it would be further putting into my head the fact that I'm a failure. But here's the blessed truth. It's actually a battle-plan to protect your relationship with God.
"God is light; in him there is no darkness at all." Light reveals things; you can't see things without light. Darkness, on the other hand, is the absence of light; darkness is hidden from the light.
So to live in darkness doesn't mean you're not perfect; it means things are hidden. Maybe it's a hidden sin; maybe it's something we're trying to keep from the Lord so that He won't get his hands on it and change our plans; maybe it's a lack of honesty... but it comes down to something that is hidden from view of the one you claim to have a relationship with.
But this isn't condemning; it's liberating, because light and darkness can't exist at the same time. After all, darkness is defined as the absence of light. So if your bedroom isn't dark, it's because the lights are on. But the room is dark, it's because the lights are off (duh...). Which means, the way to eliminate the darkness is to turn the lights back on.
In the case of relationships, it's the same thing. When there are hidden things, however they may manifest, they will affect the relationship. You can't fellowship with God when things are in the dark; you can't fellowship with your fellow man when things remain in the dark. Sure, you can get along for a while and be OK, but eventually things will surface.
Take anger for example... If I harbor anger towards another without discussing it, it only takes time before I get so annoyed and fed up with them that it becomes obvious. It starts affecting my relationship with that person. I can no longer be as close to them because there is hidden anger between us.
The cure? Bringing it into the light and destroying it there.
And the maintenance of a relationship entails keeping things in the light. For Hannah and I, it means keeping clear lines of communication open. It means allowing her to have access to my life, and her allowing me access to hers.
With the Lord, it's the same. To claim fellowship with God means that I'm living in the light. Things aren't hidden. I'm not trying to deny Him access to a part of my life. I'm not trying to keep something out of His sight, lest He find out that I'm not perfect. Rather, the relationship and fellowship is made evident by the level of trust, exhibited by keeping things in the light.
So when we examine ourselves, and find there is "darkness" in a relationship, it's nice to remember... "If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."
I'll confess; lately I've been living in the dark. In relationships with both humans and the Lord. But praise the Lord He has shown me (not through a preacher, not through a Christian living book by John Doe, but by sitting down with Him) that all there is to do is turn on the light and let things be revealed for what they are. Then the Lord will see to it that I am forgiven and cleansed, and my fellowship with Him will be restored.
And for human relationships, I need to keep the light on so that my fellowship with them can be true. Otherwise, I deceive myself and do not live by the truth.
Anyways....
I have a tragic flaw, or so I've been told. Apparently, I'm much too positive. According to some, even my complaining and whining is positive. How do I accomplish this? I have no idea, but I must be a pleasant complainer if that's the case.
All that to say, there is often a bright side to things. For example, spending less money on things you want in the now in order to save up money for things you want/need in the future is a great thing. Sure, in the moment it's tough and annoying. You don't get to buy as many things for you, or go out to eat whenever you want to, but the inconveniences in the now pay off in the future when you can make a down payment on a house, or (fill in the blank with a positive thing)...
So here's a wonderful thing I've discovered. In the past I always saw it in more of a negative light, but it's actually quite liberating.
I John 1:5-10 says this...
"5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives."
In the past, this was always just a reminder of my abysmal failures and how short I come up in my pursuits of holiness. "God is light, but I mess up so much... my darkness is so great... how can I have fellowship with God..."
It wasn't like I didn't already know that sin separates man from the Lord, who is holy. If this was all this passage meant, it would just be condemnation; it would be further putting into my head the fact that I'm a failure. But here's the blessed truth. It's actually a battle-plan to protect your relationship with God.
"God is light; in him there is no darkness at all." Light reveals things; you can't see things without light. Darkness, on the other hand, is the absence of light; darkness is hidden from the light.
So to live in darkness doesn't mean you're not perfect; it means things are hidden. Maybe it's a hidden sin; maybe it's something we're trying to keep from the Lord so that He won't get his hands on it and change our plans; maybe it's a lack of honesty... but it comes down to something that is hidden from view of the one you claim to have a relationship with.
But this isn't condemning; it's liberating, because light and darkness can't exist at the same time. After all, darkness is defined as the absence of light. So if your bedroom isn't dark, it's because the lights are on. But the room is dark, it's because the lights are off (duh...). Which means, the way to eliminate the darkness is to turn the lights back on.
In the case of relationships, it's the same thing. When there are hidden things, however they may manifest, they will affect the relationship. You can't fellowship with God when things are in the dark; you can't fellowship with your fellow man when things remain in the dark. Sure, you can get along for a while and be OK, but eventually things will surface.
Take anger for example... If I harbor anger towards another without discussing it, it only takes time before I get so annoyed and fed up with them that it becomes obvious. It starts affecting my relationship with that person. I can no longer be as close to them because there is hidden anger between us.
The cure? Bringing it into the light and destroying it there.
And the maintenance of a relationship entails keeping things in the light. For Hannah and I, it means keeping clear lines of communication open. It means allowing her to have access to my life, and her allowing me access to hers.
With the Lord, it's the same. To claim fellowship with God means that I'm living in the light. Things aren't hidden. I'm not trying to deny Him access to a part of my life. I'm not trying to keep something out of His sight, lest He find out that I'm not perfect. Rather, the relationship and fellowship is made evident by the level of trust, exhibited by keeping things in the light.
So when we examine ourselves, and find there is "darkness" in a relationship, it's nice to remember... "If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."
I'll confess; lately I've been living in the dark. In relationships with both humans and the Lord. But praise the Lord He has shown me (not through a preacher, not through a Christian living book by John Doe, but by sitting down with Him) that all there is to do is turn on the light and let things be revealed for what they are. Then the Lord will see to it that I am forgiven and cleansed, and my fellowship with Him will be restored.
And for human relationships, I need to keep the light on so that my fellowship with them can be true. Otherwise, I deceive myself and do not live by the truth.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Nicknames
Over the years I've acquired many nicknames. Most of them are stupid, and thus I blotted them from my memory. But some I held on to.
One of the most amazing nicknames I've ever had was bestowed upon me during my youth. That glorious nickname is simply, "Alpo." And just in case you're wondering, it is absolutely and entirely related to dog food.
You may be wondering if I was the kind of odd child who liked to steal away in a closet with a bunch of dog treats and just start snacking, but, alas, I was not. I've never wanted to try the stuff; I'm certain I don't have the taste buds for it.
Since I didn't obtain this "glorious" name by eating the stuff, let me tell you how I came by it. As a young one, say in fourth or fifth grade, I was a fast little squirt. I was fast enough to compete with many of the older kids in church games, and my only real competition my age in foot races was the twins: Keith and Kevin Badgett (man... they were fast!).
But for a small, nerdy child, I could kick it into gear and leave the competition trailing behind (or just leave them way behind). And the youth leaders one day asked the pivotal question: "What do your parents feed you, Alpo dog food?" From that day forward, I was dubbed "Alpo." (And for the record, my old friend Joseph Clayton was the one who made it stick. He was the 'creator' of Alpo in a sense.)
Now, as a 22 year-old student in Mathematics and the University of Tennessee, it means precious little to me. I've never met anyone else with the nickname "Alpo," so its uniqueness always meant something to me. But now, all the people who called me Alpo have pretty much filtered out of my life (or slowly getting there). But that's OK. I have a new nickname, and I think it's the greatest ever!
My favorite nickname was given to me by amazing girlfriend, Hannah. Every time she says it, my little heart leaps for joy. It's become special to me; more special than Alpo could ever be. That nickname is simply, "Dipwad."
How did it become so special? Heck, I'm not entirely too sure. The specifics are lost in the history books of time! However, I am certain I probably said something stupid; I probably took something she said and misinterpreted it badly, giving her a hard time as a loving joke. And then she said it! "Dipwad..." And then I lovingly responded, "Beautiful..." Then it stuck!
Sure, most people would find Dipwad to be somewhat of an insult to their intelligence. It might come across condescendingly, as if the other party were upset with you or thought less of you. But somehow in that moment, it was transformed into something else. And though it's kind of an odd nickname, and an odd ritual, we still have moments that begin with "Dipwad..." and end with "Beautiful..."
Quite frankly, I love it. I wouldn't trade it for anything. That's the fun things about relationships (in my humble but accurate opinion). The spontaneous little quips that arise, or the inside jokes from a silly little moment, that seem to last forever (or at least as long as you continue to enjoy it).
So I hope that everyone has little things like that, or that we can roll with situations and laugh a bit as we trek through life. Because I think we'd discover all sorts of little joys and laughs along the way to share with the ones we love, that make life all the more special and precious. I love to be my beautiful Hannah's "Dipwad," if for no other reason than it is something that is entirely ours.
Thus, I can't wait for the next time I stumble through a sentence, or stutter on the most common word in my vocabulary, because I know Hannah will be there. And I know she'll heckle me, and I'll first be offended. But she'll continue, and I'll break a smile. Then before I know it, we'll both be laughing and enjoying the moment together.
In short, praise God for relationships! Relationships with friends, family, significant others, ect... They're all great blessings from the Lord. I'm sure I don't appreciate them enough at times, or take the time to enjoy the company of others. But when I'm aware of it, I'm thankful for relationships. And I'm thankful for all the facets of them, nicknames and all.
One of the most amazing nicknames I've ever had was bestowed upon me during my youth. That glorious nickname is simply, "Alpo." And just in case you're wondering, it is absolutely and entirely related to dog food.
You may be wondering if I was the kind of odd child who liked to steal away in a closet with a bunch of dog treats and just start snacking, but, alas, I was not. I've never wanted to try the stuff; I'm certain I don't have the taste buds for it.
Since I didn't obtain this "glorious" name by eating the stuff, let me tell you how I came by it. As a young one, say in fourth or fifth grade, I was a fast little squirt. I was fast enough to compete with many of the older kids in church games, and my only real competition my age in foot races was the twins: Keith and Kevin Badgett (man... they were fast!).
But for a small, nerdy child, I could kick it into gear and leave the competition trailing behind (or just leave them way behind). And the youth leaders one day asked the pivotal question: "What do your parents feed you, Alpo dog food?" From that day forward, I was dubbed "Alpo." (And for the record, my old friend Joseph Clayton was the one who made it stick. He was the 'creator' of Alpo in a sense.)
Now, as a 22 year-old student in Mathematics and the University of Tennessee, it means precious little to me. I've never met anyone else with the nickname "Alpo," so its uniqueness always meant something to me. But now, all the people who called me Alpo have pretty much filtered out of my life (or slowly getting there). But that's OK. I have a new nickname, and I think it's the greatest ever!
My favorite nickname was given to me by amazing girlfriend, Hannah. Every time she says it, my little heart leaps for joy. It's become special to me; more special than Alpo could ever be. That nickname is simply, "Dipwad."
How did it become so special? Heck, I'm not entirely too sure. The specifics are lost in the history books of time! However, I am certain I probably said something stupid; I probably took something she said and misinterpreted it badly, giving her a hard time as a loving joke. And then she said it! "Dipwad..." And then I lovingly responded, "Beautiful..." Then it stuck!
Sure, most people would find Dipwad to be somewhat of an insult to their intelligence. It might come across condescendingly, as if the other party were upset with you or thought less of you. But somehow in that moment, it was transformed into something else. And though it's kind of an odd nickname, and an odd ritual, we still have moments that begin with "Dipwad..." and end with "Beautiful..."
Quite frankly, I love it. I wouldn't trade it for anything. That's the fun things about relationships (in my humble but accurate opinion). The spontaneous little quips that arise, or the inside jokes from a silly little moment, that seem to last forever (or at least as long as you continue to enjoy it).
So I hope that everyone has little things like that, or that we can roll with situations and laugh a bit as we trek through life. Because I think we'd discover all sorts of little joys and laughs along the way to share with the ones we love, that make life all the more special and precious. I love to be my beautiful Hannah's "Dipwad," if for no other reason than it is something that is entirely ours.
Thus, I can't wait for the next time I stumble through a sentence, or stutter on the most common word in my vocabulary, because I know Hannah will be there. And I know she'll heckle me, and I'll first be offended. But she'll continue, and I'll break a smile. Then before I know it, we'll both be laughing and enjoying the moment together.
In short, praise God for relationships! Relationships with friends, family, significant others, ect... They're all great blessings from the Lord. I'm sure I don't appreciate them enough at times, or take the time to enjoy the company of others. But when I'm aware of it, I'm thankful for relationships. And I'm thankful for all the facets of them, nicknames and all.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
The Consequences of Planning
I might as well face it; I'm not the most organized person. Each semester, I usually buy a planner, just in case. I try to use planners and calendars to organize my time and prioritize my tasks, but inevitably that never lasts too long. I have yet to resign myself to life without planners and calendars, but I've also yet to implement them. Oh well.
But even though I am among the worst at using such organizational tools, I still find myself to be dependent on having things planned out. For example....
When Hannah and I started dating, there was one time where I had planned out a date. I was going to take her out to eat at La Fiesta (only the best Mexican restaurant in Knoxville by far, and a personal favorite of ours... our church... seems pretty much like everyone we know loves it). After dinner, I had probably planned on watching a movie with her, or driving out to Sequoia Hills, I don't remember.
But I do remember talking to her at lunchtime that day, and her coworkers had invited her to go to El Charro's for lunch. Well, let's just say I wasn't happy. I had planned a date for her and it had been ruined. It's pretty safe to say I was flipping out over it.
Afterwards, I learned something. It would have been much easier to just pick another place to eat (Wow, revelation!!!). But unfortunately, I find myself to be the type to get stuck in a rut. I have something planned, and a change to it ruins the day for me. I failed to see outside of the great tragedy that had befallen me that day. But it would have been so much easier (for myself and for Hannah) to just go with it. It would have been much simpler and less stressful to write down a couple of other restaurants and pick one at random.
But that's not all folks! I am an even "better" planner than that!
One of my close friends, Bob Marlow, has been a great mentor/friend to me for many years since high school and afterwards. Even after graduation, we'd have lunch on a regular basis, enjoy conversation, and keep track of one another.
Starting last year, I began to find it more difficult to make time to see him with all my classes at UT. I never forget my friend Bob, but I don't keep up with him as I'd like to. In fact, I'm always planning on calling him... always meaning to see how he's doing... but I never find myself progressing past planning to do something.
On a good note, I finally called him yesterday. I enjoyed one thing he said; it was something like this... "well, just stop planning and do it."
If I'd adopt a mentality like that, perhaps I'd get more things done. If I stopped thinking about getting flowers for Hannah, and just went and got them, she'd have flowers on her desk right now. If I stopped thinking about my lack of time to keep up with friends, and instead made some time right then and there to call them (or meet them for coffee for an hour), I'd probably keep up with my friends better.
Here's a fun one. If I stopped thinking about sharing my faith, and shared it, someone would hear the good news of Jesus Christ. Or if I stopped thinking about my prayer life or time in the Word, and just started spending some time with Jesus, I would find myself spiritually nourished and growing (on a side note, you just can't grow if you aren't getting the right nutrients, or at least you won't grow at a normal healthy rate).
So I'm not saying "planning" is a bad thing. Organization is a great thing! Just think about it... Unorganized events are hectic and stressful. But by the same token, I find it to have some down sides if left unchecked. I'm still learning to be more flexible. I'm learning to stop thinking about it and just doing it. Basically, I'm learning to "let go and let God," to lose some of my control and be OK with it.
But even though I am among the worst at using such organizational tools, I still find myself to be dependent on having things planned out. For example....
When Hannah and I started dating, there was one time where I had planned out a date. I was going to take her out to eat at La Fiesta (only the best Mexican restaurant in Knoxville by far, and a personal favorite of ours... our church... seems pretty much like everyone we know loves it). After dinner, I had probably planned on watching a movie with her, or driving out to Sequoia Hills, I don't remember.
But I do remember talking to her at lunchtime that day, and her coworkers had invited her to go to El Charro's for lunch. Well, let's just say I wasn't happy. I had planned a date for her and it had been ruined. It's pretty safe to say I was flipping out over it.
Afterwards, I learned something. It would have been much easier to just pick another place to eat (Wow, revelation!!!). But unfortunately, I find myself to be the type to get stuck in a rut. I have something planned, and a change to it ruins the day for me. I failed to see outside of the great tragedy that had befallen me that day. But it would have been so much easier (for myself and for Hannah) to just go with it. It would have been much simpler and less stressful to write down a couple of other restaurants and pick one at random.
But that's not all folks! I am an even "better" planner than that!
One of my close friends, Bob Marlow, has been a great mentor/friend to me for many years since high school and afterwards. Even after graduation, we'd have lunch on a regular basis, enjoy conversation, and keep track of one another.
Starting last year, I began to find it more difficult to make time to see him with all my classes at UT. I never forget my friend Bob, but I don't keep up with him as I'd like to. In fact, I'm always planning on calling him... always meaning to see how he's doing... but I never find myself progressing past planning to do something.
On a good note, I finally called him yesterday. I enjoyed one thing he said; it was something like this... "well, just stop planning and do it."
If I'd adopt a mentality like that, perhaps I'd get more things done. If I stopped thinking about getting flowers for Hannah, and just went and got them, she'd have flowers on her desk right now. If I stopped thinking about my lack of time to keep up with friends, and instead made some time right then and there to call them (or meet them for coffee for an hour), I'd probably keep up with my friends better.
Here's a fun one. If I stopped thinking about sharing my faith, and shared it, someone would hear the good news of Jesus Christ. Or if I stopped thinking about my prayer life or time in the Word, and just started spending some time with Jesus, I would find myself spiritually nourished and growing (on a side note, you just can't grow if you aren't getting the right nutrients, or at least you won't grow at a normal healthy rate).
So I'm not saying "planning" is a bad thing. Organization is a great thing! Just think about it... Unorganized events are hectic and stressful. But by the same token, I find it to have some down sides if left unchecked. I'm still learning to be more flexible. I'm learning to stop thinking about it and just doing it. Basically, I'm learning to "let go and let God," to lose some of my control and be OK with it.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Never Too Late
Luke 15:11-31 (The Prodigal Son)
(the following is a website with this passage of scripture)
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2015:11-31&version=31
As Jesus was teaching, he told the story of a father and his two sons. The younger son approached his father and demanded that he receive all of his inheritance. So the father did what he asked, dividing his estate between the two sons. When the younger son had gathered his possessions and wealth, he went into a far off country to squander everything he had in wild living.
After he had wasted everything he had, a severe famine came. He found himself out of money and out of friends; he found himself in need of a job so he could have enough money to stay alive. So he found the best job he could find at the time: feeding pigs. He was so poor that it says he longed to eat the pods that the pigs were eating. He had reached the point of desperation, willing to work with swine and would have gladly eaten with the swine if someone would have given him some pods to eat.
But then he came to his senses and said, “How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!...” And so he left to go become a hired servant of his father that he too might have food to spare.
So here’s the point… If you know Jesus, or even if you don’t, and have run off to waste everything in wild living, you can come back. It doesn’t matter how low you’ve gone; it doesn’t matter what depths of sin you’ve found yourself in. The prodigal son demanded his inheritance while he was still young, and squandered every last bit of it. What happened to him when he returned to his father?
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” God just doesn’t wait for his children to come back; He watches. When He sees his children turning back to Him, he doesn’t prepare the “I told you so” lecture. He is filled with compassion at the returning of his lost sons. He runs out before they’ve even made it home just to throw His arms around them and kiss them because He loves us.
And we don’t have to worry about fixing ourselves to make ourselves worthy. The son admitted to his father “I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the Father said, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.” Only the Father can cover the mess we get ourselves in, and if we’d only return to Him He would do just that. All the dirt and grime that we’re covered in, He’ll not only cover us. He’ll put the best robe on us that he can find. But He’s the only one who can do it. If we could cover ourselves, we’d have no need to return to Him.
And don’t worry about fixing your reputation either. I’m sure the prodigal son had built up quite a lofty and unappealing reputation as a party animal, and as a rebel. But the son returned to His Father as a has-been, and he was soon covered not just with a robe, but a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Remember, this son had demanded his inheritance from his father. To the younger son, his father’s only worth was the inheritance he would receive. Then the son wastes every last penny of it on worthless living… Could you imagine what that would feel like to be that father? That’s an unthinkable level of disrespect… that your son would want you only for the money you’d leave him when you die, and then every single bit of that is wasted. None of it was invested. There is literally nothing left of the inheritance you built up for your son because the son had no respect for you.
Even then, the Father’s response was “bring out the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” No matter how lost you find yourself, or how dead in sin you find yourself… whether you’ve ever been in a relationship with Jesus Christ or not… it is never too late. Is that surprising to us? It is never too late! As long as there is still life and breath in us, it is never too late to seek after the Father. The prodigal son had nothing left, only energy enough to find his way back home to beg for the chance to become a servant. Instead, he was robed and invited to a party in celebration of his return. It wasn’t too late for him.
Even a man on his last breath isn’t so lost as to be unable to find salvation. The thief on the cross was told by Jesus, “today you will be with me in paradise” because the thief believed in Jesus. The thief was being put to death for being a thieving murderer, and yet Jesus had forgiveness for even him. The thief’s death on the cross was nothing less than justice for his crimes, and he found himself on the doorstep of heaven.
It doesn’t matter where you’ve been or what you’ve done. None of that matters to Jesus. The only thing that matters is this… Will you come? Will you let Jesus see you coming from afar off and run out to meet you? Will you let Him cover you with His blood for your sins? That’s why He died, so that our sins may be forgiven. Will you let that robe of his blood cover everything you’ve ever done? If you repent and turn to Jesus, if you confess that He is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead, you will have eternal life.
Don’t let anything keep you from coming to Jesus; don’t be afraid. There are not words of condemnation. Jesus died so that we may be forgiven of our trespasses, and his response to our confession of our sins is “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.”
But Jesus will not force his robe on you. He waits and watches, and when the lost come He will come out to meet you. No matter what you’ve done, he’ll come out to meet you. No matter what you’ve said, he’ll come out to meet you and put those things in the past.
Come to Jesus.
(the following is a website with this passage of scripture)
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2015:11-31&version=31
As Jesus was teaching, he told the story of a father and his two sons. The younger son approached his father and demanded that he receive all of his inheritance. So the father did what he asked, dividing his estate between the two sons. When the younger son had gathered his possessions and wealth, he went into a far off country to squander everything he had in wild living.
After he had wasted everything he had, a severe famine came. He found himself out of money and out of friends; he found himself in need of a job so he could have enough money to stay alive. So he found the best job he could find at the time: feeding pigs. He was so poor that it says he longed to eat the pods that the pigs were eating. He had reached the point of desperation, willing to work with swine and would have gladly eaten with the swine if someone would have given him some pods to eat.
But then he came to his senses and said, “How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!...” And so he left to go become a hired servant of his father that he too might have food to spare.
So here’s the point… If you know Jesus, or even if you don’t, and have run off to waste everything in wild living, you can come back. It doesn’t matter how low you’ve gone; it doesn’t matter what depths of sin you’ve found yourself in. The prodigal son demanded his inheritance while he was still young, and squandered every last bit of it. What happened to him when he returned to his father?
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” God just doesn’t wait for his children to come back; He watches. When He sees his children turning back to Him, he doesn’t prepare the “I told you so” lecture. He is filled with compassion at the returning of his lost sons. He runs out before they’ve even made it home just to throw His arms around them and kiss them because He loves us.
And we don’t have to worry about fixing ourselves to make ourselves worthy. The son admitted to his father “I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the Father said, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.” Only the Father can cover the mess we get ourselves in, and if we’d only return to Him He would do just that. All the dirt and grime that we’re covered in, He’ll not only cover us. He’ll put the best robe on us that he can find. But He’s the only one who can do it. If we could cover ourselves, we’d have no need to return to Him.
And don’t worry about fixing your reputation either. I’m sure the prodigal son had built up quite a lofty and unappealing reputation as a party animal, and as a rebel. But the son returned to His Father as a has-been, and he was soon covered not just with a robe, but a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Remember, this son had demanded his inheritance from his father. To the younger son, his father’s only worth was the inheritance he would receive. Then the son wastes every last penny of it on worthless living… Could you imagine what that would feel like to be that father? That’s an unthinkable level of disrespect… that your son would want you only for the money you’d leave him when you die, and then every single bit of that is wasted. None of it was invested. There is literally nothing left of the inheritance you built up for your son because the son had no respect for you.
Even then, the Father’s response was “bring out the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” No matter how lost you find yourself, or how dead in sin you find yourself… whether you’ve ever been in a relationship with Jesus Christ or not… it is never too late. Is that surprising to us? It is never too late! As long as there is still life and breath in us, it is never too late to seek after the Father. The prodigal son had nothing left, only energy enough to find his way back home to beg for the chance to become a servant. Instead, he was robed and invited to a party in celebration of his return. It wasn’t too late for him.
Even a man on his last breath isn’t so lost as to be unable to find salvation. The thief on the cross was told by Jesus, “today you will be with me in paradise” because the thief believed in Jesus. The thief was being put to death for being a thieving murderer, and yet Jesus had forgiveness for even him. The thief’s death on the cross was nothing less than justice for his crimes, and he found himself on the doorstep of heaven.
It doesn’t matter where you’ve been or what you’ve done. None of that matters to Jesus. The only thing that matters is this… Will you come? Will you let Jesus see you coming from afar off and run out to meet you? Will you let Him cover you with His blood for your sins? That’s why He died, so that our sins may be forgiven. Will you let that robe of his blood cover everything you’ve ever done? If you repent and turn to Jesus, if you confess that He is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead, you will have eternal life.
Don’t let anything keep you from coming to Jesus; don’t be afraid. There are not words of condemnation. Jesus died so that we may be forgiven of our trespasses, and his response to our confession of our sins is “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.”
But Jesus will not force his robe on you. He waits and watches, and when the lost come He will come out to meet you. No matter what you’ve done, he’ll come out to meet you. No matter what you’ve said, he’ll come out to meet you and put those things in the past.
Come to Jesus.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
If You Love Me...
(John 14:15-31)
Jesus say in verse 15, "If you love me, you will obey what I command." Also in verse 21, "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me." Again in verse 23, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching."
Conversely, verse 24 says, "He who does not love me will not obey my teachings."
Another way of saying this might be, "actions speak louder than words," but everyone has heard that before. It has become cliché, and thus, lost its power and potency. So let's try it again rephrased...
If you love Jesus you will obey what he says. If you don't love Jesus, you won't obey. It's that simple. "But I do love him," one might say. "He knows my heart," says another. But God says in Revelation 2:2 to the church in Ephesus "I know your deeds..." Again to the church in Thyatira (2:19), "I know your deeds..." To the church in Philadelphia (3:8), "I know your deeds..."Also, to the church in Laodicea (3:14), "I know your deeds..." Listen to what God says to the church in Sardis (3:3) "Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent."
To say that we can love Jesus without obeying Him is a lie. Obedience is the indicator of the love we have for God. So if we say we love Him, but our lifestyle is contrary to His teachings, we deceive ourselves. Look at what Jesus says in John 15:30-31.
"[The prince of this world] has no hold on me, but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded Me."
In other words, Jesus' crucifixion was drawing near. Neither the devil, nor the Pharisees, nor anyone (except the Father) had any hold on Jesus. Jesus wasn't controlled by fear of the devil or the Pharisees. They didn't hold any power over Jesus in the least. But even though it might seem to some that His crucifixion would mean He had been defeated by them, He did exactly what the Father had commanded. His obedience to the point of death on a cross revealed the love He had for his Father (as well as the love of the Father for us).
And it's not like Jesus' crucifixion made sense to the people. Jesus even explained things to His disciples and they didn't understand. The disciples knew He was the Messiah; they just didn't know or understand what He had come to do. Some thought he would overthrow the Roman Empire and establish an earthly kingdom, but Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world."
Despite that even his closest companions didn't understand that He had come to die as a ransom for many, He purposed to obey the Father and reveal the love He had for His Father. Obeying God is loving God. To disobey is to not love Him. Obedience to God doesn't need the approval of others. Others don't even have to understand why you're doing a certain thing; they don't need an explanation. They just need to know you're unwavering in your commitment to Jesus.
When it comes to obeying God, getting caught up in explaining things to people to make them understand will get you into trouble if you're looking for someone's approval. But don't let anyone have a hold on you. People need to see that those who love God must do exactly what He says, and nothing else.
What God says to the church in Sardis He says to us. "Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent." I am the guiltiest at times of needing others approval, or wanting them to understand why. But all there's left to do is obey, and walk in the freedom of loving Jesus by obeying Him.
Jesus say in verse 15, "If you love me, you will obey what I command." Also in verse 21, "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me." Again in verse 23, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching."
Conversely, verse 24 says, "He who does not love me will not obey my teachings."
Another way of saying this might be, "actions speak louder than words," but everyone has heard that before. It has become cliché, and thus, lost its power and potency. So let's try it again rephrased...
If you love Jesus you will obey what he says. If you don't love Jesus, you won't obey. It's that simple. "But I do love him," one might say. "He knows my heart," says another. But God says in Revelation 2:2 to the church in Ephesus "I know your deeds..." Again to the church in Thyatira (2:19), "I know your deeds..." To the church in Philadelphia (3:8), "I know your deeds..."Also, to the church in Laodicea (3:14), "I know your deeds..." Listen to what God says to the church in Sardis (3:3) "Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent."
To say that we can love Jesus without obeying Him is a lie. Obedience is the indicator of the love we have for God. So if we say we love Him, but our lifestyle is contrary to His teachings, we deceive ourselves. Look at what Jesus says in John 15:30-31.
"[The prince of this world] has no hold on me, but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded Me."
In other words, Jesus' crucifixion was drawing near. Neither the devil, nor the Pharisees, nor anyone (except the Father) had any hold on Jesus. Jesus wasn't controlled by fear of the devil or the Pharisees. They didn't hold any power over Jesus in the least. But even though it might seem to some that His crucifixion would mean He had been defeated by them, He did exactly what the Father had commanded. His obedience to the point of death on a cross revealed the love He had for his Father (as well as the love of the Father for us).
And it's not like Jesus' crucifixion made sense to the people. Jesus even explained things to His disciples and they didn't understand. The disciples knew He was the Messiah; they just didn't know or understand what He had come to do. Some thought he would overthrow the Roman Empire and establish an earthly kingdom, but Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world."
Despite that even his closest companions didn't understand that He had come to die as a ransom for many, He purposed to obey the Father and reveal the love He had for His Father. Obeying God is loving God. To disobey is to not love Him. Obedience to God doesn't need the approval of others. Others don't even have to understand why you're doing a certain thing; they don't need an explanation. They just need to know you're unwavering in your commitment to Jesus.
When it comes to obeying God, getting caught up in explaining things to people to make them understand will get you into trouble if you're looking for someone's approval. But don't let anyone have a hold on you. People need to see that those who love God must do exactly what He says, and nothing else.
What God says to the church in Sardis He says to us. "Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent." I am the guiltiest at times of needing others approval, or wanting them to understand why. But all there's left to do is obey, and walk in the freedom of loving Jesus by obeying Him.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Regarding my Current Music Selection
Well, my music selection consists entirely of songs that I love. Thus, it's my music selection. Sadly, I do not have all the songs I wish to have on here (they're simply unavailable... nonexistent... no, I'm not pouting...).
Nevertheless, the songs I do have on here mean a lot to me, so I figured I'd briefly write down a reason (or two) why they do.
1) Deeper - It's quite simple; it's an amazing song by an amazing band. And it's just like that old hymn, "I keep falling in love with Him, over and over, and over and over again..." Knowing the Lord is just that good.
2) Mighty is the Power of the Cross - The cross is the place I keep having to return to, remembering that I never earned my salvation, that I don't have to struggle to keep my standing with God. It was through the cross that I was set free and made clean through the blood of Jesus. So to me, the Power of the Cross is indeed Mighty; without it, there is no freedom.
3) All We Need - Here's a fun one. "All we need is [Jesus]." You wouldn't think I believe by the way I carry on and worry at times. But at the end of any circumstance, whether a financial situation, or friendship crisis, you name it, here's what I find. All I need is Jesus. He's more than enough for me. He will provide and take care of any need, any situation. Having Him is having everything I'll ever need.
4) Facedown - Sometimes, I'm just to slow to get on my knees, get on my face, and worship. This song serves as a reminder to me that God sits enthroned above the earth, and I am His servant. He is the King, and when I'm in the glory of the presence of the King, should I not fall facedown in reverence to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords? And what better way to acknowledge the glory of the King, than to not just think it, but fall before Him in worship.
5) Jesus Paid It All - Just like I mentioned earlier, it's amazing that the Lord paid it all in full. There's nothing left for me to do; there's nothing left for me to worry about. That is freedom.
6) Forever and Ever - This is just a fun song, with good truth. Everything I need I find in Jesus when I'm willing to surrender it all to Him. And remembering that "I am His, and He is mine" never gets old. And it won't get old; I'll have eternity to enjoy it.
7) Your Smiling Face - I just so happen to be the luckiest, or rather, the most blessed man I've ever ran into. And this is the song that always (always) puts a smile on my face, because the only thing I can think about is my Hannah. Yeah, we have our moments, but I'm never happier than when I'm with her. She's the greatest blessing I've ever had enter my life, and I love her. She's a treasure to me, and I sure couldn't make it without that smiling face of hers.
8) Never Gonna Be as Big as Jesus - Quite frankly, if ever I'm thinking too highly of myself, I should simply remember the greatest person ever humbled Himself to become a servant; He came to serve, not to be served. So I'll serve Him, the God Most High who humbled Himself even to the point of death on a cross. If that's what a "big" person does, how "big" do I really think I am?
9) Blessed - This is actually the wrong song title... it's a song called "Now that you're near" (or something equivalent). I love it because it say, "Now that you're near, everything is different; everything's so different." And different means good. After all, I'm being changed (or I should be being changed) into the image of Christ. Since He came to save me from my sin, I imagine this 'different' I keep experiencing will become something I love more and more. (note: being forged in the fires may lead to being burned, but at least I know the final product will be better, and it will be lasting)
10) When I think about the Lord - When I think about the Lord, and meditate on Him, what else could my response be but say "Hallelujah, thank you Jesus, Lord you're worthy! Of all the honor, all the glory, and all the praise!" Unless I'm being totally self-centered in the moment, that's the only reasonable conclusion, the only reasonable response. He's taking all my guilt, called me a 'Son of the Lord God Almighty,' thank you Jesus!
These are just some of the songs that mean much to me. I hope they bless you too.
Nevertheless, the songs I do have on here mean a lot to me, so I figured I'd briefly write down a reason (or two) why they do.
1) Deeper - It's quite simple; it's an amazing song by an amazing band. And it's just like that old hymn, "I keep falling in love with Him, over and over, and over and over again..." Knowing the Lord is just that good.
2) Mighty is the Power of the Cross - The cross is the place I keep having to return to, remembering that I never earned my salvation, that I don't have to struggle to keep my standing with God. It was through the cross that I was set free and made clean through the blood of Jesus. So to me, the Power of the Cross is indeed Mighty; without it, there is no freedom.
3) All We Need - Here's a fun one. "All we need is [Jesus]." You wouldn't think I believe by the way I carry on and worry at times. But at the end of any circumstance, whether a financial situation, or friendship crisis, you name it, here's what I find. All I need is Jesus. He's more than enough for me. He will provide and take care of any need, any situation. Having Him is having everything I'll ever need.
4) Facedown - Sometimes, I'm just to slow to get on my knees, get on my face, and worship. This song serves as a reminder to me that God sits enthroned above the earth, and I am His servant. He is the King, and when I'm in the glory of the presence of the King, should I not fall facedown in reverence to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords? And what better way to acknowledge the glory of the King, than to not just think it, but fall before Him in worship.
5) Jesus Paid It All - Just like I mentioned earlier, it's amazing that the Lord paid it all in full. There's nothing left for me to do; there's nothing left for me to worry about. That is freedom.
6) Forever and Ever - This is just a fun song, with good truth. Everything I need I find in Jesus when I'm willing to surrender it all to Him. And remembering that "I am His, and He is mine" never gets old. And it won't get old; I'll have eternity to enjoy it.
7) Your Smiling Face - I just so happen to be the luckiest, or rather, the most blessed man I've ever ran into. And this is the song that always (always) puts a smile on my face, because the only thing I can think about is my Hannah. Yeah, we have our moments, but I'm never happier than when I'm with her. She's the greatest blessing I've ever had enter my life, and I love her. She's a treasure to me, and I sure couldn't make it without that smiling face of hers.
8) Never Gonna Be as Big as Jesus - Quite frankly, if ever I'm thinking too highly of myself, I should simply remember the greatest person ever humbled Himself to become a servant; He came to serve, not to be served. So I'll serve Him, the God Most High who humbled Himself even to the point of death on a cross. If that's what a "big" person does, how "big" do I really think I am?
9) Blessed - This is actually the wrong song title... it's a song called "Now that you're near" (or something equivalent). I love it because it say, "Now that you're near, everything is different; everything's so different." And different means good. After all, I'm being changed (or I should be being changed) into the image of Christ. Since He came to save me from my sin, I imagine this 'different' I keep experiencing will become something I love more and more. (note: being forged in the fires may lead to being burned, but at least I know the final product will be better, and it will be lasting)
10) When I think about the Lord - When I think about the Lord, and meditate on Him, what else could my response be but say "Hallelujah, thank you Jesus, Lord you're worthy! Of all the honor, all the glory, and all the praise!" Unless I'm being totally self-centered in the moment, that's the only reasonable conclusion, the only reasonable response. He's taking all my guilt, called me a 'Son of the Lord God Almighty,' thank you Jesus!
These are just some of the songs that mean much to me. I hope they bless you too.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
"Take Off Your Hat Please"
Let me describe my day to you. I came home from school at two thirty; I hadn't eaten since eight this morning, so I began to feast upon my mother's homemade sourdough bread. My buttered bread was heated in the microwave for just a bit, giving it a fresh out of the oven kind of texture and warmth. And then, rather suddenly, the Lord spoke to me.
It was rather unexpected. He told me to take off my hat (this to a guy who doesn't take off his hat). I've never made a habit of taking off my hat. At the church I used to be plugged into, I would wear it through a whole service. Why? To me, it was just a hat. It wasn't respectful to take it off; it wasn't disrespectful to leave it on; it was a hat.
But nevertheless my Diamondbacks baseball cap came off, and I was reminded of 1 Corinthians 8:1-13. In that passage, the specific issue is eating food that had been sacrificed to idols; in my life, the issue is wearing a baseball cap. I've never been one to offend people by wearing my baseball cap. Rather, around others I'll always take it off for prayer, or try to refrain from wearing it at a gathering for the sake of others.
Let me be honest. I didn't do it for the well-being of others; I did it because I was supposed to, because it could offend someone, to keep me out of trouble. What I failed to see then, what I still have trouble seeing sometimes, is that the point has nothing to do with me; it has everything to do with the other brother or sister in Christ. To some, wearing a hat in a church, or in the Lord's presence in prayer, shows disrespect. Why? Honestly, I don't know; but I would love to know the reasoning behind taking off one's hat.
But nevertheless, my mindset should never be about showcasing my freedom in Christ in trivial things. "But food (or a hat) does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge (that food does not make one better or worse to God) eating in an idol's temple, won't he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall." (1 Cor 8:8-13)
In other words... if you eat food that has been sacrificed to idols, and another eats it without first having the faith to do so, you sin against your brother/sister and against Christ. It does not matter if you had the freedom to or not; if your brother/sister is not acting out of faith, they are not being built up in the faith; rather, they are being destroyed.
Or, in the case of wearing a hat during prayer, if one doesn't take their hat off in faith that it does not disrespect the Lord, they are not acting in freedom; they are searing their conscience. They are acting contrary to what they believe is the right thing. After all, "... the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin." (Romans 14:23)
And this should be our mindset: "Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others." (1 Cor 10:24)
Likewise, "If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love." (Romans 14:15)
Oh that I would act in love more; that I would think of others more highly than myself; that I would be okay to lay down what I want to, or even what I am free to, all for the sake of love for another. That is the example of Christ of which Paul spoke of (1 Cor 11:1), that Christ laid aside all his heavenly glories and rights in order to do the will of the Father. Jesus sought not to do his own will, but to give His life as a ransom for many, so that they may be saved.
Can we do that? That's where the battle begins: dying to ourselves so that others may be edified and others may be saved.
It was rather unexpected. He told me to take off my hat (this to a guy who doesn't take off his hat). I've never made a habit of taking off my hat. At the church I used to be plugged into, I would wear it through a whole service. Why? To me, it was just a hat. It wasn't respectful to take it off; it wasn't disrespectful to leave it on; it was a hat.
But nevertheless my Diamondbacks baseball cap came off, and I was reminded of 1 Corinthians 8:1-13. In that passage, the specific issue is eating food that had been sacrificed to idols; in my life, the issue is wearing a baseball cap. I've never been one to offend people by wearing my baseball cap. Rather, around others I'll always take it off for prayer, or try to refrain from wearing it at a gathering for the sake of others.
Let me be honest. I didn't do it for the well-being of others; I did it because I was supposed to, because it could offend someone, to keep me out of trouble. What I failed to see then, what I still have trouble seeing sometimes, is that the point has nothing to do with me; it has everything to do with the other brother or sister in Christ. To some, wearing a hat in a church, or in the Lord's presence in prayer, shows disrespect. Why? Honestly, I don't know; but I would love to know the reasoning behind taking off one's hat.
But nevertheless, my mindset should never be about showcasing my freedom in Christ in trivial things. "But food (or a hat) does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge (that food does not make one better or worse to God) eating in an idol's temple, won't he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall." (1 Cor 8:8-13)
In other words... if you eat food that has been sacrificed to idols, and another eats it without first having the faith to do so, you sin against your brother/sister and against Christ. It does not matter if you had the freedom to or not; if your brother/sister is not acting out of faith, they are not being built up in the faith; rather, they are being destroyed.
Or, in the case of wearing a hat during prayer, if one doesn't take their hat off in faith that it does not disrespect the Lord, they are not acting in freedom; they are searing their conscience. They are acting contrary to what they believe is the right thing. After all, "... the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin." (Romans 14:23)
And this should be our mindset: "Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others." (1 Cor 10:24)
Likewise, "If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love." (Romans 14:15)
Oh that I would act in love more; that I would think of others more highly than myself; that I would be okay to lay down what I want to, or even what I am free to, all for the sake of love for another. That is the example of Christ of which Paul spoke of (1 Cor 11:1), that Christ laid aside all his heavenly glories and rights in order to do the will of the Father. Jesus sought not to do his own will, but to give His life as a ransom for many, so that they may be saved.
Can we do that? That's where the battle begins: dying to ourselves so that others may be edified and others may be saved.
Welcome, Me (and you too)!
Hello! You are reading the first post of my first blog ever, and I'd like to start by welcoming both you and myself to this new experience for me called blogging. I'll go ahead and admit it; I'm not a great writer. In fact, you may find that I make all sorts of grammatical and spelling errors (or simply that I may use the wrong word in the wrong context). In such a case, laugh at me, or correct me (or if you're an English major, get riled up and verbally berate me for my lack of education). In any case, however, I would love to see you come back and visit. It'd be dreadfully boring to blog for my eyes only.
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