When Moses led several million children of Israel through the Red Sea and the sea closed behind them, they saw the bodies of their enemies washing ashore. Do you realize that had Moses parted the sea once again, Israel would have been able to waltz into a defenseless Egypt and conquer it? There was nothing stopping them at that point - other than the sea. Pharaoh was dead. He had been both god and king to the Egyptians. Without him, there was no repelling a surprise attack from their former slaves. Why didn't God think of that?
There are so many people who come to salvation in Jesus that spend their strength trying to tame their old flesh. The old man is not to be mastered, he is to be dead and buried! It's not about the ability to harness the old... it's all about stepping into the new! God has told us that He cannot put new wine in old skins without destroying the old skins. That's all so informative... but not very practical for someone who doesn't know how to step into the new.
Have you ever heard of 'meal replacement'? It's something athletes and dieters do. You replace a regular meal with something else that is known to be good for you. The result is - hopefully - that you're so full of carrots and protein that you have no hunger for Twinkies. Or even IF YOU ARE hungry for Twinkies, you are so full of good stuff that there is simply no room for anything else. Friends, this is the victorious Christian life. The world has a lot of nice things. Instead of trying to convince yourself that they really aren't nice (good luck with that), just try replacing them with God and His Kingdom business. You will discover that the worldly temptations fade, your strength will grow, and your hunger for God will grow as well.
Showing posts with label Christianity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christianity. Show all posts
Monday, April 04, 2011
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Silly Crazy
A typical American man - a bachelor - enjoys a 'normal' life of living in the big city. He has a job - makes good money. He enjoys a good party and all that comes with it. Occasionally he will have a few too many, but driving home isn't that big of a deal since he only lives a few miles away (and police are rarely seen). Sometimes a girl comes home with him. Sometimes she stays several days. It's all about living it up while you can... sewing wild oats, they call it.
A foreign man is living in a 2-room earthen home. He can't read or write, but the religious leader down the street tells him all he needs to know about the news, the threats, the injustices, the defilement of his faith... and that is enough. His plan is to carry out justice on his own against those who hate him - and his god. Late nights are spent planning attacks, sharpening knives and oiling weapons. Several times a week he gets together with others like him who yell and scream out against foreigners who plot against them. Sometimes they burn flags, or pictures, or cars...
Then there is a married man living in quiet suburbia. He drives a nice car and brings home a nice paycheck. His kids are good kids, but they barely know dad because he doesn't have the time for them. Things aren't good with the wife because of the late hours at the office. Because of that, she is always angry. She isn't interested in a physical relationship and neither is he - with her. He suspects she finds physical fulfillment, just not from him. Why shouldn't she? He does. Both wish they things were different. Both wish things were the way they 'used' to be. Divorce seems like a good option, but what about the kids? What would they say at church? As long as both are playing their little family game, no harm no foul. Maybe after the kids are gone...
All of these scenarios are madness. Unfulfilling, vicious cycles of worldly passions that lead nowhere but down.
But then the married man finds Jesus. He realizes he has hope. He realizes he has misprioritized everything in his life! He comes clean before his family. They don't know what to think but they are all excited - blown away. They all start going to church and growing in their faith. The year-end raise doesn't come but they don't care - God is so Good! He gets passed over on the promotion because he just isn't putting in the hours he used to - but he has his family back! The guys at work are all shaking their heads... "He has gone CRAZY!"
Christianity is FOOLISHNESS to those who are perishing.
As a dear friend put it this morning... the demoniac of the Gaderenes tore his clothes off and howled at the moon day-in, day-out, and the people were accepting of this. But when he met Jesus and was healed, the people became AFRAID. This... is backwards. We should weigh and measure everything the world exalts as normal and acceptable. For though it may seem right, in the end it could lead to death.
A foreign man is living in a 2-room earthen home. He can't read or write, but the religious leader down the street tells him all he needs to know about the news, the threats, the injustices, the defilement of his faith... and that is enough. His plan is to carry out justice on his own against those who hate him - and his god. Late nights are spent planning attacks, sharpening knives and oiling weapons. Several times a week he gets together with others like him who yell and scream out against foreigners who plot against them. Sometimes they burn flags, or pictures, or cars...
Then there is a married man living in quiet suburbia. He drives a nice car and brings home a nice paycheck. His kids are good kids, but they barely know dad because he doesn't have the time for them. Things aren't good with the wife because of the late hours at the office. Because of that, she is always angry. She isn't interested in a physical relationship and neither is he - with her. He suspects she finds physical fulfillment, just not from him. Why shouldn't she? He does. Both wish they things were different. Both wish things were the way they 'used' to be. Divorce seems like a good option, but what about the kids? What would they say at church? As long as both are playing their little family game, no harm no foul. Maybe after the kids are gone...
All of these scenarios are madness. Unfulfilling, vicious cycles of worldly passions that lead nowhere but down.
But then the married man finds Jesus. He realizes he has hope. He realizes he has misprioritized everything in his life! He comes clean before his family. They don't know what to think but they are all excited - blown away. They all start going to church and growing in their faith. The year-end raise doesn't come but they don't care - God is so Good! He gets passed over on the promotion because he just isn't putting in the hours he used to - but he has his family back! The guys at work are all shaking their heads... "He has gone CRAZY!"
Christianity is FOOLISHNESS to those who are perishing.
As a dear friend put it this morning... the demoniac of the Gaderenes tore his clothes off and howled at the moon day-in, day-out, and the people were accepting of this. But when he met Jesus and was healed, the people became AFRAID. This... is backwards. We should weigh and measure everything the world exalts as normal and acceptable. For though it may seem right, in the end it could lead to death.
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