| Seek Me, and you will find MeMany things dawned on me tonight. I apologize in advance for the poor editing:
tonight I spoke with a friend who's distraught about fence Christians. Lukewarm, and those floundering in their faith. Lemmings, he called them. Those who abandon their faith at the perfect moment and come crawling back for an encourageing word from the Holy Spirit. They leave on a happy high, only to repeat the cycle.
I know what he's talking about.
I'm one of those lemmings.
This summer I experienced the most amazing things in my relationship with God. Though I was stubborn and very hesitant to carry my cross in worship, I learned so much about Him just by reading my Bible. I grew, and I knew Christ's personality. I really wanted to obey him, not just because he's big and scary and can destroy the soul, but because I learned and tasted of his Goodness. I saw his love, and his unusual way of doing things. The harsh, strange things that came out of Jesus' mouth soon went beyond my mind and my 21st century American mindset. I understood his righteousness and his love.
"You will guard and keep him in perfect peace whose mind [both its inclination and character] is stayed on You, because he committs himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You." -Isaiah 26:3
That was a process of sanctification for me, and I understood at times, how one can detest sin because of God's righteousness. As a friend said the other day, When God sanctifies you (makes you holy and changes your heart), you'll get to the point where you won't be able to imagine sinning. Those things that you stumble over now will seem so easily left behind, because you're taking on the Character of God (becoming more like him).
Now that I'm in school I don't have those hours every day to read the word. I've been feeling so lost, confused, and faithless. I thank him that he speaks to me in many ways.
I wrote my friend an apology note today, and wasn't sure how to spell contrition. I dictionary.commed it.
con?tri?tion
–noun
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1. |
sincere penitence or remorse. |
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2. |
Theology. sorrow for and detestation of sin with a true purpose of amendment, arising from a love of God for His own perfections (perfect contrition), or from some inferior motive, as fear of divine punishment (imperfect contrition).
For as long as I can remember I've experienced imperfect contrition. With a few sins, I still experience it. I'm not really sorry for the sins, except when I hold in mind the consequences. I just enjoy doing it so much, I always seem to reason myself out of it. But that's ignoring the truth!
I thought about Jesus. He hated sin, and that's the very thing he became on the cross for us. Don't ask me how: I don't know, except to say that the Bible says it. I always thought he merely had to be perfect. I thought he was under pressure. I thought his incentive to not sin was 'the joy set before him.' = Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)
But I remembered that he was God and so he knew completely God's goodness. This is how he so easily threw off the sin that threatened to entangle him. He never had it on him!
We do not know God's goodness completely, that is why Christ had to 'bridge the gap' so we could come to God. But we can be like Christ in seeking God. That is how we become sanctified. When we know him, we know his goodness, and we can honestly disdain the awfulness of sin. How do we know him? Through worship, meditation, reading the word, sharing your life with other believers. Just take some time to be with him. Don't let disbelief get in the way. Belief is a choice.
We all know there's something out there beyond our faces and our eyes. Jesus Christ fits human nature best. Choose Him. He's truth.
'I love you all and thank God every day for the grace he's given to you in Christ Jesus.'
Seek God, and you will find him. | |
