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So, what box do you put Jesus in? This very question was recently asked by the pastor at Park Church last Sunday and slowly began creeping under my skin and tugging at my conscience. I realized that I have a ton of boxes, not just one.
Sometimes I put God in the "if you do this, then I'll do this" box.
- "God, if you give me ______________, I'll resist temptation and walk in your word."
- "God, if you take away ____________, I'll be sure to read scripture more."
- "Lord if you just give me a different desire for ___________ I'll trust you more."
Another box that diminishes God's greatness and limits my own growth is one of the most threatening of all. It's the box that I have hidden under my bed. The one I don't acknowledge and shove into an invisible area for as long as I can stand. This box holds my ego. This box is full of my illusions I believe when I'm not in His word.
To categorize God in our own minds is dangerous and deceitful. God can not be compartmentalized according to our will or our plans. God is not something we can schedule in if we have time. If you're a believer in Christ and you pray to the Lord only when you "want" something to go your way, but don't know what it means to live your life following, pursuing, thirsting after His rich word, then you are living a life that is malnourished, driven by selfishness and fearless pride. I only say this from experience, not to scold or point my finger at those who know no better or haven't searched their hearts. Everything is according to God's will, but he also instills in us a personal desire for things. And if your will and desire constantly are being fed by the culture we live in and the people you surround yourself with, then I beckon you to ask yourself:
Love it. Your message is direct, sensitive and definitely the truth.
ReplyDeleteYou're very talented! Love you
Thanks hunny bunny! I appreciate your thoughts. Sometimes I just get to thinkin and gotta get it out! xOxO Can't wait to read more Inspired By Purpose posts!
ReplyDeleteThis is a new subject but it references off what you wrote. Do you believe that your life has been written by God and you are playing it out? Or something like he gives us freewill and he plays key parts on how things go. My buddy Mike and I discus this all the time. I feel as we live we are playing out the most amazing love story written by God.
ReplyDeleteSean that's an awesome question and a beautiful way you look at it. I am still studying the doctrine of election and predestination according to scripture so my views are not with 100% conviction...but I do think we have a will to decide things in our lives. We wake up and decide what outfit we will wear that day and how we want to style our hair (girls usually have more freedom than guys with that one.) But I think God's grace is irresistible. I think he choses us and draws us to himself...we don't wake up one day and say, well I guess I'll follow God today...unless it's His will and unless He has planned that. I wish I could live out a love story for God every day, but I sin and things aren't always smooth sailing. I go through tribulations and turn away from truth when I know better...but I think the most important word you used was "love." My favorite passage is Corinthians 1:13 :) If we don't have love, we are nothing.
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