Blasé Battler

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood..."

-Ephesians 6:12

Have you reconciled yourself to the fact of sin? If not, you should... There is an enemy of our souls, he DOES exist, and he will take advantage of our blasé attitude toward sin and use it to compromise with us.

And to make compromises with us.

"Time doesn't really make a difference does it? Just one more week living in this sin. That's all I want. One more week."

Sorry to say, but that's all that Satan wants too. For us to not realize the ramifications of our "precious" sin life.

"... For he is a liar and the father of lies."

-John 8:44

But if you reconcile yourself to sin, you can recognize the potential danger, and the potential destruction.

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

-Ephesians 6:12

Authorities? It's true--if we give the enemy the power of our ignorance and our "blasé" attitude about sin, we give him power over our very lives. 

Its true, no one is innocent of sin. But there is a greater authority that asks for purity of hearts, not innocence. And purity begins with the realization that sin exists in your life.

"Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts..."

-Psalm 95:7,8

And once it is achieved, and we finally realize that sin is real, and that we actually do struggle with it, we can finally start to climb the ladder toward a deeper relationship with the Almighty.

"For this reason, make every effort to add to your faith, goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love."

I know for a fact that my sin is my lack of self-control--turning to idols instead of the living God for comfort and entertainment. If I don't reconcile myself to this sin, I'll never be able to persevere. And I'll never taste godliness. And I'll never love my brothers and sisters the way God has intended me to love. And I'll never love in the manner that God wants for me.

"For if you possess these things in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins."

-2 Peter 1:5-9

I had a thought

Well, it's a thought inspired by a passage of a book I've started, One Thousand Gifts. The passage reads like so:

     "From all our beginnings, we keep reliving the Garden story.

     Satan, he wanted more. More power, more glory.

     Ultimately, in his essence, Satan is an ingrate. And he sinks his venom into the heart of Eden. Satan's sin becomes the first sin of all humanity: the sin of ingratitude. Adam and Eve are, simply, painfully, ungrateful for what God gave.

     Isn't that the catalyst of all my sins?

     Our fall was, has always been, and always will be that we aren't satisfied in God and what He gives. We hunger for something more, something other..."

     "...Standing before that tree, laden with fruit withheld, we listen to Evil's murmur, "In the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened..." (Genesis 3:5 NASB). But in the beginning, our eyes were already open. Our sight was perfect. Our vision let us see a world spilling with goodness. Our eyes fell on nothing but the glory of God. We saw God as He truly is: good. But we were lured by the deception that there was more to a full life, there was more to see. And, true, there was more to see: the ugliness we hadn't beheld, the sinfulness we hadn't witnessed, the loss we hadn't known" (page 15, emphasis mine).

Here's my inspired thought: If we know now that there is nothing more to a full life outside of Jesus; that there's nothing more to taste or see that won't rot in our mouths or pass away in this lifetime, how might we then choose to live our lives for God?

In other words, if you know the Truth: Jesus (John 14:6), then you know that once you've confessed that Jesus is Lord and believed full-heartedly that God raised Him from the dead, you are saved (Romans 10:9) and are included in His will as His children (Romans 8:15-17). 

So, in light of that, how will you choose to live out your God-breathed life? How will you pass your free time? How might God inspire your career path? What you allow God to do with your money? Your energy? Your time? 

If we really believe that we can be truly satisfied in God and what He gives us, how would that change the way you currently live your life? 

I believe you could experience that lifestyle for yourself if you haven't found yourself in it already. It looks different from person to person but there is a common belief: that Jesus is life and in Him we can truly live. If you don't know where to start with Jesus, start with a conversation called prayer. He'll meet you there. 

As for me, I am a mess, I have worries like anyone else, but at my core I am satisfied and it is only because of God. I choose to let that change how I live today.

Prayer: God, we find ourselves in You, whole and complete, lacking nothing. May we give today to You to use and every day evermore. Amen.

Step forward

So, now what? 

We've come to the realization that we're still tethered to the dock, we've knocked on the door, the door swung open.

Now what?

"Come to me..."

-Matthew 11:28

Isn't that funny? God's words aren't what we expect them to be. He could have said "first you must do this" or "you must STOP the sin you are in the midst of before approaching me."

But he chooses not to say these things. Instead, he asks you to step forward. "Come to me..."

It takes a child-like faith to be able to drop all inhibitions, all the wisdom of man, all the weight of the world, and to cut the last strings of control you have on your life... It takes a childish person to do these things and, instead of setting to work on correcting yourself, running to God to correct your life instead.

Could it really be so simple?

"The attitude necessary for you to come to Him is one where your will has made the determination to let go of everything and deliberately commit it all to Him."

-Oswald Chambers; My Utmost For His Highest

No, it isn't easy. To force your subconscious will to give up to God is never an easy thing. Especially to someone who we can't physically see. 

But in order to get to the next cozy step in this process, it's entirely necessary.

"...and I will give you rest."

-Matthew 11:28

Does this mean he'll put you to sleep? Tuck you in and thrust a warm bottle into your mouth, rocking you to sleep? I don't think so! He's promising something else. Something called redemption.

Redemption is action. The kind of rest Jesus is talking about is the deep, spiritual kind that inspires you, sustains you, drags you from your listlessness an hopelessness and into vital activity.

Have you come across people in your life who never seem to get tired? My mom is one of these people. It's because she listens when Jesus says "come to me," and her brother and best friend gives her rest.

Yes, Jesus loves us way too much to leave us where we are.

"'But what about you?' He asked. 'Who do you say I am?'"

-Matthew 16:15 (Jesus speaking to Simon Peter)

This coming to Jesus and "resting" in His presence is just the beginning of the Lord's majestic plan for our salvation.

Desperation

Run up to the door.

Begin to knock. 

You want answers, you want to go deeper into an understanding of Christ, and it's at THIS address you know such answers are given.

"Cleanse your hands..."

-James 4:8

As you knock, you realize your hands are dirty. You knock louder, knowing you need the help of Him who lives on the other side of this blockade.

"Purify your hearts..."

-James 4:8

"I can't, Lord, not without your help!" Your knocking is more desperate, louder.

"Lament..."

-James 4:9

In his devotional, My Utmost For His Highest, Oswald Chambers asks the question: "Have you ever lamented, expressing your sorrow before God for the condition of your inner life?"

Remembering David after Bathsheba, the thief on the cross, the bleeding woman who touched this holy man's robe, you begin to pound on this door. While doing so, in an unsightly mess of boogers an tears, you subconsciously realize how ridiculous you must seem!!

But how much stronger is the Desperation-- you want to see his face!! And not because you just lost your job, not because a family member or close friend is sick... but because it isn't enough. Only He who exists behind the door is enough. 

And Lord help you if you were going to let this block of wood keep you from meeting him face to face!

Slowly, the door creaks upon, rays of light like warm water touching your face.

"...to him who knocks it will be opened."

-Luke 11:10

Learn or stay shallow

"Never stop learning." 

I read these three words at the bottom of a card signed by my former boss and current friend, Gabriella Van Breta. For some reason, it stuck with me. Having graduated college just two days ago, Jesus decided to teach me a new lesson: a lesson on learning.

Imagine yourself. About to graduate, but still tethered to the dock. In fact, you realize you've been tethered to that dock, learning the same thing, over and over again for years. And you just can't get it.

Out there, in the wild, untamed sea, is a deeper connection with God Almighty. You want to get there, but something is holding you back. Something is tying you to the dock; keeping you in shallow water. 

Oswald Chambers (you'll soon enough realize I quote him often), says "it's a dangerous thing to refuse to continue learning and knowing more."

What exactly does this imply? That there is a choice behind your inability to go deeper. 

"I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready."

-1Corinthians 2:3

Trace back to a time in your life where God wanted to teach you something, and it had you reeling.

"Oh no. Not this lesson again. I hate this lesson... I'll learn that one some other time."

Did your spiritual self-control turn into spiritual distraction? In other words, did you ignore God and find yourself in a mess of sin: turning to other comforts such as TV, video games, and other distractions? 

Suddenly, did you grapple for an easier lesson, maybe one closer to shore, only to find yourself in a knee-deep, surface-level relationship with your Lord Jesus Christ?

Instead of sulking close to shore, ask yourself these questions. When have you refused to learn something? What's keeping you from cutting the line and going out to sea on the great swelling tide of His purpose?

"Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

-(spoken by Jesus Christ while walking on water; Matthew 14:27)

Prayer:

Where have I refused to learn an important lesson? Help me to see, oh Lord! Help me to not be afraid to learn! Only you can change this rebellious heart of mine and turn it into something pleasing to you! Mature me, oh Lord, so that I can go deeper into your purpose and will for my life. I want to know you more!

Amen

Why do you believe in Jesus?

In theory this question should come up with people that don't share our faith or are not yet able to believe. 

"Well, why do you believe what you believe?"

...

"Why do you believe in God?"

...

"Why do you believe in Jesus?"

1 Peter chapter 3 verse 15 says this, "Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it."

So this was the situation I found myself in the other day: I was catching up with a teenager that I knew through youth group but hadn't seen in a year due to life and various circumstances. I missed her and God had put it on my heart to see her again.

As we caught up on all of the life details, she began talking about the same topic that we left on the year previously: her faith.

See this girl is so special. A year ago when I asked the youth group honestly where they were at in their faith, she raised her hand to say that she wasn't sure what she believed or if she believed but she was there at youth group to figure it out. That has been my favorite answer to that question to this day! 

So she said that again. She wasn't what she believed or if she believed and she wasn't sure if it was okay to go to youth group or church if she didn't really believe yet. 

Yes. Yes yes yes yes yes, I assured her that in every way that she should go to youth group again to discover her faith and her beliefs. 

We were heading home and I don't think she asked it as much as it was hanging between the two of us: why I believe. 

I hadn't been asked that for a while but I still had my response ready, and it's the same response that the man in John chapter 9, who was born, blind told the Pharisees after Jesus put mud over his eyes and healed his sight.

The Pharisees had called this man in for the second time to explain what he thinks of Jesus and how it is that he can see.

To the first, the man replied, "He must be a prophet."

And to the second, after the Pharisees claimed that Jesus couldn't have healed him because Jesus was a sinner (false), the man said, "I don't know whether he is a sinner. But I know this: I was blind and now I can see!" 

That once blind man ended up defending Jesus until he was thrown out of the synagogue.

So when the time came for me to answer the lingering question of why I believe what I believe, my response is the same: I was blind and now I see, I was broken and now I am healed, I was lost and now I am found. 

I told her about how too was unsure about my beliefs during the first three years that I went to youth group. It wasn't until the end of my 8th grade year when I felt God's presence (hello Holy Spirit!) and His love wash over me like a waterfall that I was able to confess: I believe and this Jesus thing is real. 

As I was reading John 9 this morning and came across the story of the man born blind that Jesus healed, I realized his claim to faith was the same one I share, and it's the same reason I hear countless believers relay. 

"I don't know about that other stuff, but this I know: I was blind and now I can see."

After I dropped her off at home and was driving away, I had a thought that I have not yet shared with her: that it's okay to believe and not understand. I think it's rare that when asked why you believe on God, someone would say, because I completely understand and can make sense of everything the Bible says about Him. Our understanding is always going to be limited compared to the unlimited, infinite God that we serve. God can grant understanding to a certain extent but what I think God is seeking in us, beyond understanding, is a relationship with Him. 

So if you haven't thought about your why for your beliefs, ask yourself that question and freely share that with people in your life. It shouldn't be a question that people have to scare out of you with a pointed finger and a stern look--they are your beliefs, so own them. 

Prayer: Lord, may our trust and foundation be so completely in You that when questions are raised, our only answer is You and what You've done to care for Your flock. It's in Your lives that we commit our lives. To Your name be all  glory and honor and praise. Amen. 

True love

Yeah, yeah when I say true love you're probably thinking about the Priest from Princess Bride saying, "Twew wuv"

or a fairytale ending from a Disney Princess movie 

But that's not the true love that has been plaguing my thoughts for the past week and a half. 

The kind of love that I've been struck by lately looks more like this

and this.

Which makes perfect sense when you think about the word-painted pictures we have for Jesus, the embodiment of love, who is painted in the Bible as being like this

and this.

This is this Scripture that God brought me to after watching the Christian documentary called Furious Love that God used to quake my idea of love:

1 John 3:11-24 NIV

"11For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. 13Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. 14We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. 

16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be that person? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 

19This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: 20If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. 23And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 24The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us" 

So I've been asking God because now He's shown true love to me through His Son, He's shown me where the Word confirms what true love is, and so I wanted to see what it could look like in my life--and what a ride this past week and a half has been! 

I keep asking God and He keeps showing me: true love looks like loving people where they're at, true love looks like taking time to express to people your appreciation for them and how God loves them, true love looks like physically sitting down on the pavement and talking to the homeless woman and her dog.

I hear it all the time from teenagers, young adults, and well-aged adults: what could I do? I'm too.... Or I don't have enough....

Love. 

You want to call that pointless or too general or already completed in your life? Then tell me why when I see true love that comes from God in my life I erupt in tears of gratitude? And if true love is already done, already there, then why is it that I am only able to see it once or twice every day? 

God can use you. God wants to use you. To love Him and to love His people. 

True love is rocking my world, so try asking God today, tomorrow, this week, this month: what could true love look like in my life? 

Be obedient to do and go and say what He tells you and you'll see it too and see why it's powerful enough to bring you to release thick tears of gratitude. 

Prayer: God, allow us to be Your hands, Your feet, Your heart today and tomorrow and the next day and the next day. We hunger for You Lord, we thirst for You--fill us with Your presence and Your Holy Spirit that we may be capable of experiencing and reproducing Your love, Your true, pure, perfect love. Amen.