From Robyn:
Revelation 22
Then he instructed me, “Do not seal up the prophetic words in this book, for the time is near. Let the one who is doing harm continue to do harm; let the one who is vile continue to be vile; let the one who is righteous continue to live righteously; let the one who is holy continue to be holy.”
"Let the one who is doing harm continue to do harm . . ." What?? Stand by and let sin continue? Don't get out there and tell those miserable sinners the consequences of their sin? (Remember Bullhorn Guy?) Then I just "continue to live righteously . . . continue to be holy (set apart)"? But who will fix all the wrong and clean up all the mess?
“Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
Oh.
Sorry.
I forgot again. You're God -- I'm not.
Thank God!
This is why we pursue holiness -- we respond to a holy God. How is your pursuit going?
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6 comments:
Thanks, Robyn,
This is something God started working on me about right after I finished high school. It's been 10 years now, and we're still working on it. I am just so weary of Christians expecting non-christians to behave like Christians. Why would they? They have no relationship with God. It reminds me of when I was a little girl and my brother and I were always trying to get each other into trouble with our parents. We're much better off focusing on whether or not our own lives right before God. And even though I understand all of this in my head, I still find myself harboring judgmental thoughts and attitudes sometimes. I thank God for not giving up on me!
Oh no, you're making me think!!
Something that I struggle with concerns itself with mission work. I don't want to be the 'Bullhorn Guy' in a foreign country, but I feel called to spread the word of Christ to my brothers and sisters south of us. For me, I try to let God work through me and on me. I feel that it is only when I turn over the Lordship of my life to Him, that I am truly doing His work. Of course, that being said, I often fail and need to ask for forgiveness.
Matt, I think you're on to something. Holiness is tricky. I believe it is defined as "The state of being set apart for God's purpose" but a lot of the time people confuse holiness with perfection. I like what it says in Ephesians about our new nature, as children of God: "Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy."
Pat gave me a book to read this winter and I was impressed with the author's perception of the world around us. Below is a quote that really made me think about how I react to God myself....
"After all, who in the world is more mysterious than God? But, if a spiritually hungry Christian keeps getting pat explanations of God at church, she/he may turn elsewhere. Maybe to the blog world. Maybe to religions like Buddhism and Taoism.
With mystery comes awe and reverence. In our attempts to show God as an accessible Father, loving and caring, maybe we've made Him too familiar, too common, too trite. Remember when the disciples were in a storm on the sea with Jesus, and He calmed the wind and the waves? "The disciples just sat there in awe. 'Who is this?' they asked themselves." Maybe our prayers should contain more "Who are You?" awe."
I Want to Believe, But I Can ‘t – Perplexing Circumstances – by Karyn Henley
Thank you Robyn!
I prayed this morning, about a situation I am unsure of, and being reminded that I am Pam and not God is critical when I consider my options.
I take care of Pam (Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, TO MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS and to work with your hands...)1 Thess 4:11, I may plant and possibly water, BUT GOD GIVES THE GROWTH! (loosely, 1 Cor. 3:6)
And so what am I going to do? Yield to the one who knows what to do.
Pam
I like what you said, Pam, about using your hands, doing the work. Similarly, I liked what Paula had to say about focusing more on our own lives before God than on peeking over our neighbors fence to see if he has a weed free garden (my analogy, not hers:-).
God does command us to spread the Good News, but I think that sometimes, no, almost always, we make the effort in our own strength. It's not to say that we don't have good intentions, but I know that for me it's so easy to focus on doing something good that I loose my aim. My aim should not be to convert the world, but to please God. If He wants me to spread His word in a particular situation, then I will not only be better prepared, but I will better recognize the opportunity if my entire aim and goal is to please my Father. I say "I will be better prepared" because by chasing my Father's will, I must spend time with Him. I must pursue a strong relationship with the one I yearn to serve. He will provide the rest... desire, endurance, patience, opportunity, wisdom. To God be the glory!
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