We are not made to travel life's path with stipulations and conditions made for our own comfort, safety and ease. It's too large a load to carry. How much easier is it to say "yes" to God's will when we are untangled from our own plans and desires, when we haven't made a stipulation on Him that we must at all times be well dressed, well fed, well rested, well respected, received with admiration by our friends, respected by our neighbors, with money in our accounts, well traveled, educated in the best schools, and a brightly laid out plan for our future. When we demand our life to be exciting, in line with the culture, free, and full of our own pursuits, we are in great danger of forfeiting His plans for us. What a dreadful trade that is! It reminds me of this: John 2 :16 All the things the world can offer you-the allure of pleasure, the passion to have things, and the pompous sense of superiority-do not come from the Father. These are the rotten fruits of the world. This corrupt world is already wasting away, as are it's selfish desires. But the person really doing God's will-that person will never cease to be.
My thoughts sweetly shook me today and my prayers are forming anew. If He asks something hard of us, it's best to jump right in. In His plans lay hidden our greatest moments and best pleasures, though we may have to endure secret hardship mingled with our reward.
So, in my words I lay bare some of my struggles and triumphs! And if I sound like I jumped right out of the 1800's today, it is because I have been reading Stepping Heavenward, by Elizabeth Prentiss and now my thoughts are all in Elizabethan English today (grinning). But, I'm sure that will straighten out soon as I am almost to the end of the book and because I share a home with teenagers! :)
Travelling a winding road on two wheels with only the essentials; can’t think of a better life. In a car you miss what the environment has to offer. The smell of a forest, the warm sun shining down on is, the wind in your face, the feeling of freedom that few can comprehend, but with that comes rain, hail, high winds, offensive or distracted drivers and high velocity bugs… roll it all up and it includes the good and the bad; aka life. The bad helps you appreciate the good so, whereas I do not like the bad, I welcome it because I know the good is right around the next bend. When we accept Christ and what comes with it we accept the good that comes from Christ and the bad that the world trusts upon us. But, having Christ as our main essential on that road less traveled means that no matter how bad it gets, no matter what evil the world throws our way, the greatness and mercy of Christ is right around the next bend… so long as we focus and stay on the road and push through the bad.
ReplyDeleteWords of whit? Maybe, maybe not.
I love this response of yours. Sounds like you've had experience in both the physical and spiritual realms of this; the real and the metaphor. Loved your thoughts, Steve, and thanks for sharing them.
DeleteThink I may have to add this book to my reading list. You seem to be on the same line of thought I have been on.. I posted this quote on my private blog:
ReplyDelete"I wonder if churches do to people what zoos do to animals. I love the church. I bleed the church. And I'm not saying that the way the church cages people is intentional. In fact, it may be well intentioned. But too often we take people out of their natural habitat and try to tame them in the name of Christ. We try to remove the risk. We try to remove the danger. We try to remove the struggle. And what we end up with is a caged Christian. Deep down inside, all of us long for more.
Sure, the tamed part of us grows accustomed to the safety of the cage. But the untamed part longs for some danger, some challenge, some adventure. And at some point in our spiritual journey, the safety and predictability of the cage no longer satisfies. We have a primal longing to be uncaged. And the cage opens when we recognize that Jesus didn't die on the cross to keep us safe. Jesus died to make us dangerous. Praying for protection is fine. I pray for a hedge of protection around my three children all the time. You probably pray that kind of prayer too. But when was the last time you asked God to make you dangerous? ---Batterson, Mark (2009-03-30). Wild Goose Chase: Reclaim the Adventure of Pursuing God"
What a question?!
Tessy, I LOVE this.....yes, you and I are running in very similar lines of thinking! Thanks so much for sharing this.
DeleteWe heard recently someone saying that the church has made it their job to manage Christians and church services, and noted how good we've gotten at it, when Jesus sent us out of our churches to the lost...yet we stay inside making our programs bigger and better and the lost stay away.
I love the church too...we are HIS own! And I love hearing stories of the church carrying HIS light to the lost. I think many are opening their eyes and seeing the bars of the cage and are not willing to hide in the cage any more....that's a great parrallel you brought...