1.12.05
From Galatians 5 - The Message
4I suspect you would never intend this, but this is what happens. When you attempt to live by your own religious plans and projects, you are cut off from Christ, you fall out of grace.

Well, that's certainly a statement. Even the best-intentioned believer can get caught in pride and it doesn't take long before we begin to devise our own tactics and blueprints to see God's will accomplished in our lives. The reality of that way of living is manifest in the lives of Abraham and Sarah in the book of Genesis. I mean seriously...coming to the conclusion that the only way that God's promise can come true is to have an affair?

No. We can reflect on that example and cluck our tongues in disapproval, when honestly, as the body of Christ we do it all the time! We don't trust God to do what He says He's going to do in HIS strength, so we plot and scheme and 'strategize' on how to make it happen ourselves. Holy Ghost just shakes His head...where is there room for Him to direct our lives when we insist on taking up the entire driver's seat?

"25Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives"

So what does that even mean?

When we live God's way, "He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard"

-so that's gradually, but visibly

"things like affection for others"

-imagine having the love of Christ for someone that you don't even know (or maybe some that you do) and it flowing out of you naturally

"exuberance about life, serenity."

-that means actually being excited about what you are doing, and what you are about. Having this 'peace that passes understanding' and maintaining it, drawing others into the Kingdom because you make Christ in you attractive by your very life.

"We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people.
We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments,
23not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely...
26That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original."


It's not so hard to write it. The difficulty lies in just doing it. True dat.
 
posted by Hezza at 5:11 p.m. | Permalink |


4 Comments:


  • At 10:05 p.m., Blogger Carla

    Hey Sister,
    Great to read your recent posts.
    Love you lots.

    CNE

     
  • At 12:55 p.m., Blogger YOU DONT KNOW MEEEeeee

    you sure did have lots to say.good job kid.
    i was goingto comment on all 3- but i decided not to. ima get it all out in one:
    that steeb guy- oh men! my favorite quote of his: "help me up!" (as in "hallelujah" not- "oh crap i fell)
    and the wrestling thing- yeah. i have a problem where i forget. like- i dont want to live by my flesh and i pray to live according to...god...but then i dont think about it and all the sudden- im back to where i started. like- once i was fasting but then i broke my fast not because im a punk or couldnt do it but because i simply forgot that i was fasting. i guess that means that i should a) stop forgetting and b) live like jesus so i dont have to remember to be like him
    and also...i never really thought of abey having an affair- it just never really hit me that that is what he did. once i heard a preach about him and at the end danielle did her preach about this guys topic and her point was- theres a guy with so much favor/grace/good god things that even his mistakes are blessed. that would be nice. also- i should stop making my back-door plan and just stick with gods. its brilliant! mahaha.
    ok, i think ive said enough.

     
  • At 12:55 p.m., Blogger YOU DONT KNOW MEEEeeee

    you sure did have lots to say.good job kid.
    i was goingto comment on all 3- but i decided not to. ima get it all out in one:
    that steeb guy- oh men! my favorite quote of his: "help me up!" (as in "hallelujah" not- "oh crap i fell)
    and the wrestling thing- yeah. i have a problem where i forget. like- i dont want to live by my flesh and i pray to live according to...god...but then i dont think about it and all the sudden- im back to where i started. like- once i was fasting but then i broke my fast not because im a punk or couldnt do it but because i simply forgot that i was fasting. i guess that means that i should a) stop forgetting and b) live like jesus so i dont have to remember to be like him
    and also...i never really thought of abey having an affair- it just never really hit me that that is what he did. once i heard a preach about him and at the end danielle did her preach about this guys topic and her point was- theres a guy with so much favor/grace/good god things that even his mistakes are blessed. that would be nice. also- i should stop making my back-door plan and just stick with gods. its brilliant! mahaha.
    ok, i think ive said enough.

     
  • At 12:55 p.m., Blogger YOU DONT KNOW MEEEeeee

    you sure did have lots to say.good job kid.
    i was goingto comment on all 3- but i decided not to. ima get it all out in one:
    that steeb guy- oh men! my favorite quote of his: "help me up!" (as in "hallelujah" not- "oh crap i fell)
    and the wrestling thing- yeah. i have a problem where i forget. like- i dont want to live by my flesh and i pray to live according to...god...but then i dont think about it and all the sudden- im back to where i started. like- once i was fasting but then i broke my fast not because im a punk or couldnt do it but because i simply forgot that i was fasting. i guess that means that i should a) stop forgetting and b) live like jesus so i dont have to remember to be like him
    and also...i never really thought of abey having an affair- it just never really hit me that that is what he did. once i heard a preach about him and at the end danielle did her preach about this guys topic and her point was- theres a guy with so much favor/grace/good god things that even his mistakes are blessed. that would be nice. also- i should stop making my back-door plan and just stick with gods. its brilliant! mahaha.
    ok, i think ive said enough.