Do we know the sins we commit? Are there things we do, or thoughts we have, that are sinful without our recognition? This morning I am considering my life and the possibility that there are indeed sins in it that I am yet to realize. To remove sin requires that we face it, and then, as Jesus said, "go, and sin no more."
Although we know Jesus for His love and mercy, and are overcome by the thought of His suffering and death for us, there was a time in which He was preparing to do battle with the sins of the world, and at that time even His disciples were amazed and afraid. At that moment Jesus was like us... struggling with a determination to defeat sin.
In the time of Jesus, not all slaves were taken in war, or against their will; some sold themselves into slavery for one reason or another. I am not talking about indentured servitude here, but slaves for the rest of their lives. Have you sold yourself as a slave to something or somebody? Before you answer no, are you sure? Do you have an addiction or some sin you keep hidden?
Let's consider this morning how completely God gave of Himself that we should find forgiveness of our sins and an everlasting life with Him. Then, let's ask ourselves if we are willing to give ourselves to Him just as completely and with the same abandon.
This morning I am considering the abandonment of things and people for Jesus. Is it a requirement of salvation, and if not, why do we abandon at all? So let's look at those things we give up along the way of faith and why we do so.
How many times have we taken what God has asked us to do and after starting to do that thing, made it into what we thought it should be? Perhaps the Lord said "Feed this man" and we dutifully did that, but then transformed our call into feeding, clothing, bringing him into our home... well you get the picture. We lost sight of the original vision, the very thing that God had asked us to do. We have attempted to improve upon God's vision... His will.
Are suffering today? Is your life full of hardship that has brought you to your knees... not in the abandonment of life and faith, but in desperate submission to God? If so, then you have been brought to the right place and frame of mind. In this state your soul will call out to God and your humanity will not get in the way of His work in you.
I am going to break from my norm of writing only about my thoughts regarding my morning devotional reading this morning and talk about a subject that came to me on my morning drive to work yesterday. Then I will write my thoughts about my devotional. Firstly, I want to discuss how we begin our prayers. What we do to begin our conversation with the Lord. Then I will write about a question Jesus asked His disciples... "Will ye also go away?"
I read Oswald Chambers this morning. He wrote of giving ourselves to Jesus Christ and what that meant. It is a surrender of not just our bodies, but our sinful lives and all we are. As I contemplated the relief that comes from this conversion, I also thought of the pain that the process brings, because as the new person is born, the old must die.
I am contemplating how we are joyful in God while in the midst of daily distress. I am seeking the source of my victory and my certainty and amazement during the trials and tribulations I face. I am trying to determine how even in the grips of my struggle with them... I feel comfort and joy through Christ Jesus. How is this possible?
Today I am contemplating one of the longer sentences in the Bible. It gives us instruction on how to conduct ourselves as christians and ministers of the gospel, and if you ever have a question regarding good spiritual behavior then you can probably find it listed in this sentence.
We don't choose our calling but we do choose to be loyal to it. This is my concentration this morning, and one of my greatest fears in failing Jesus. Will I find joy in serving Him, or drudgery in performing a service that perhaps was once a calling but has been supplanted by a new one; one I haven't yet grasped?
Are we being busy for Jesus, so busy we never stop to hear what He is really calling us to do? I worry about this often. I fill my life with the things that I know are those which Jesus did, or has told us in scripture to do, but are these things what He is asking of me right now? Today?
I find it interesting that when Jesus questioned Peter and told him to "Feed his sheep", the apostles (including Peter) had already received the Holy Spirit and directions, but here Peter was being given more. Let's review what happened and what was told them when the Holy Spirit was breathed onto them...
This morning I am exploring why Peter was grieved when Jesus asked him three times if he loved Him. I am also considering Peter's response; "Lord, thou knowest all things." This is a powerful moment and fuels Peter's ability to answer his calling.