You are not going to be passionate for God everyday.
Yes, I really did say that. Does it mean you don't love Him? No. Does it mean you need to question your salvation? No. It means you are human, and are still fighting the good fight (1 Timothy 6:12). It means you are still alive and have work still to do for His glory!
How do I handle days of spiritual doldrums? I'm honest with God about them and I read His Word - the Bible - whether I want to or not: Especially if NOT. I ask God to help me draw closer to Him, and for a mindset that would bring Him glory. Then, I'm honest with those around me - like you, right now - and ask for mercy and grace from you to remember I'm still human as well. There are days I pray you can now come to me when you experience the same. Then, knowing we have all been in the same boat, we can pray for one another and help to keep accountable.
That's how I handle it. I fight the good fight whether I want to or not. It's not the "good fight" for nothing. I take time to remember it's not the "passion fight", "happy fight", or "enthusiastic fight". It's GOOD: True, righteous, genuine, and sound whether I feel like it or not.
Remembering that, and dwelling on it is often the little spark that gets the fire going....
Showing posts with label Bible-1 Timothy 6. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bible-1 Timothy 6. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Faith Like a Child
My youngest son is one of the best people for stepping on toes. He often calls it like it is and you are left standing there defending, or defenseless.
Here's two recent examples:
1. What we think we know.
Someone in my family just moved into a new house and was telling him excitedly that it was the last house they were ever going to buy. He replied with, "It won't be if God tells you to move."
So often we who call ourselves slaves to Christ Jesus, end up telling Him what we are going to do with the rest of our lives. It's not wrong to make plans. It is, however, wrong to never be prepared to change them at a moments notice if the Spirit moves within us to do so. This not only applies to where we live, but our jobs, schedules, fun activities, and even vacation savings account...
2. We are not called to be coddled.
There were many new houses in this one area where someone lived. They told my son that they were praying for a bunch of nice, Christian families to move in. "But if they are all Christians," he questioned, "how can you teach them about Jesus in the way you live?"
We are not of this world, but we must never forget we are in this world. We are called to be bright lights on a hill. (Matthew 5:14-16) The funny thing about that is, if all us little lights gather together 24/7 not only are there areas left in complete darkness, but each of our lights don't make much of a difference. Take one candle in a dark room full of 100 away and you won't see much change. Take it away when there were only three, two, or none, and the difference is profound. Hebrews 10: 23-24 lets us know that we should regularly meet together for encouragement and the promotion of love and good works, but never once does Scripture tell us to stay there all the time. We are here to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with a dark, lost world.
...Teach and encourage these things. 3 If anyone teaches other doctrine and does not agree with the sound teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the teaching that promotes godliness, 4 he is conceited, understanding nothing, but having a sick interest in disputes and arguments over words. From these come envy, quarreling, slanders, evil suspicions, 5 and constant disagreement among men whose minds are depraved and deprived of the truth, who imagine that godliness is a way to material gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is a great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out.
8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.
9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.
11 Now you, man of God, run from these things; but pursue righteousness, godliness, faith,
love, endurance, and gentleness.
12 Fight the good fight for the faith;
take hold of eternal life,
to which you were called
and have made a good confession
before many witnesses.
1 Timothy 6:2b-12
Here's two recent examples:
1. What we think we know.
Someone in my family just moved into a new house and was telling him excitedly that it was the last house they were ever going to buy. He replied with, "It won't be if God tells you to move."
So often we who call ourselves slaves to Christ Jesus, end up telling Him what we are going to do with the rest of our lives. It's not wrong to make plans. It is, however, wrong to never be prepared to change them at a moments notice if the Spirit moves within us to do so. This not only applies to where we live, but our jobs, schedules, fun activities, and even vacation savings account...
2. We are not called to be coddled.
There were many new houses in this one area where someone lived. They told my son that they were praying for a bunch of nice, Christian families to move in. "But if they are all Christians," he questioned, "how can you teach them about Jesus in the way you live?"
We are not of this world, but we must never forget we are in this world. We are called to be bright lights on a hill. (Matthew 5:14-16) The funny thing about that is, if all us little lights gather together 24/7 not only are there areas left in complete darkness, but each of our lights don't make much of a difference. Take one candle in a dark room full of 100 away and you won't see much change. Take it away when there were only three, two, or none, and the difference is profound. Hebrews 10: 23-24 lets us know that we should regularly meet together for encouragement and the promotion of love and good works, but never once does Scripture tell us to stay there all the time. We are here to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with a dark, lost world.
...Teach and encourage these things. 3 If anyone teaches other doctrine and does not agree with the sound teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the teaching that promotes godliness, 4 he is conceited, understanding nothing, but having a sick interest in disputes and arguments over words. From these come envy, quarreling, slanders, evil suspicions, 5 and constant disagreement among men whose minds are depraved and deprived of the truth, who imagine that godliness is a way to material gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is a great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out.
8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.
9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.
11 Now you, man of God, run from these things; but pursue righteousness, godliness, faith,
love, endurance, and gentleness.
12 Fight the good fight for the faith;
take hold of eternal life,
to which you were called
and have made a good confession
before many witnesses.
1 Timothy 6:2b-12
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