All in Jesus
This morning is Independence Day in the United States and as a citizen of such, I think about the significance of this celebration to me as an American. But what this leads me to is a deeper consideration of that day when I announced my personal independence from all but Jesus Christ... seeking to become a citizen of a heavenly realm... a Christian.
I am more than just a sinner in the general sense; I am a person who commits very specific sins. It is easy to make the open ended statement "I am a sinner", but God wants to deal with each of us regarding our specific sins. We are led to understand what our sins are when we stand in the presence of God.
This morning I am asking myself the same question that the resurrected Jesus asked Peter... Do I love Jesus? And, in so doing, I think about what love truly is. Then I measure the depths of my love and ask yet again, Do I love Jesus? Finally, I explore what Jesus desires of me and ask one more time... Do I love Jesus? Am I worshiping, obeying, and following what Jesus expects of me out of love? How about the love He asked Peter if he had?
Do I leave a smidgeon of discontent behind when I resolve conflict or forgive others? Am I truly a free man, unbound from sin, if the smallest speck of what brought it on in the first place remains? What does the Word say about doing God's bidding completely?
Carrying anger or hatred in us for long periods of time, that is my concentration this morning. Do we resolve issues quickly and move to forgive in a timely manner, or are we suffering as we carry that baggage day after day. What does God's Word tell us about this?
I am looking at my life this morning in such a way as to identify those things that are stumbling blocks to my faith. I am asking myself the simple question... "Am I separating myself from those things that stand between God and me?" Is my life focused sufficiently on Him, and cleansed of those encumbrances to my faith?
Being true to the Word of God while dealing gently with those who I come into contact with, as I spread the news of Christ's love and sacrifice. This is my concentration this morning; how to turn the heart of a failing individual without losing the patient in the process.
Am I placing my focus on the eternal, or concentrating my efforts on those things that are fleeting, and that will fall away? Is my pride in the possessions of this world, at the demise of my very soul that lives forever? This is my thought today as I seek to redirect my attention towards the single most important attribute of my life.
Am I reluctant to claim the grace of God in all aspects of my Christian life? Do I attempt to walk the Christian way and only call on the grace of God when I stumble or face hardship? If so, then I am not trusting in Him, and my prayers are not without ceasing.
How many times have I experienced sorrow in my life? I would be unable to count them. Sorrow is a fact and the result of caring, loving, and regret. God uses sorrow for His purposes, and we should see His hand there. In our sorrow God teaches us of Himself.
Am I a sinner? Am I leading a life of innocence, or seeking to be pure? Will God forgive me when I sin against Him? These are the questions I am asking myself as I contemplate sin in my life, and the world around me.
We suffer in our lives, but no suffering is experienced without God using it for His good purposes. The question becomes this... do we see Him working in our most dire circumstances? If we are attuned to the will of God in our lives we should acknowledge His mark, even in our misery... unless, of course, we are blinded to Him by our disbelief.
I fail in a certain regard almost every day. It is so hard for me not to judge the actions of those around me, and in this, if it were not for the Atonement of Christ, I would be lost. Seeing, and turning our noses up at sinners is just too natural for us.
There comes a point in our faith when we have given ourselves over to God, and we trust so completely in Christ, that the struggle for righteousness ends and our faith becomes as natural as taking our next breath. Is this what you seek, or do you fight daily with your nature in an attempt to walk the fine line between your earthly life and heaven... not becoming a resident in either place.
Who have we prayed for today? Does the heart of an intercessor live within us? Are we hoarding the atonement of Christ, or sharing its realization with others? These are the questions to ask ourselves this morning.