Good Evening!
I pray all
is going well for you this Sunday. As usual, it was a great time at church and
now my task is to get some dinner prepared and ready myself for the return to my
university studies. Will it ever be
complete? At times it feels like it is an elusive fantasy. And yet I am
determined to keep chasing it until it is complete. Thankfully, I at least have
a day off from work tomorrow.
This post
was actually started on Tuesday. As I thought about our theme of Endless Praise
for 2017, I started to consider some of the issues which could derail praise –
to start to examine some of the praise predators which exist, aimed at keeping us from
doing the one thing we were created to do, which is praise the LORD.
This section
has been divided into two parts to ensure that sufficient attention is given to
the items which can get in the way of endless praise in 2017. In this first
section, we will look at the praise predator of sin and its effects on endless praise. Next week, will
be a little lighter … I promise … where we will look at Comfort, Contentment and
Commitment. All are still very significant topics, however, still a little
lighter than the praise predator up for discussion this week – the subject of
sin.
In this
modern day, it has actually become somewhat unpopular to discuss the topic of
sin – unless it is piously scrutinizing the shortcomings and behaviors of
others. It is much harder to examine one’s own life … harder still to be transparent
about what is found.
Jesus, in speaking to His disciples
declared, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s
friends.” Just before saying this, it is noted, “My command is this: Love each
other as I have loved you.”
That being
said, I have wrestled significantly with the idea of sharing this post.
When we look at what Jesus did in
loving us, we find:
He endured the cross, scorning its
shame so that we could be free. (Heb. 12:2)
“He was despised
and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one
from whom people hide their faces He was despised, and we held Him in low
esteem. Surely He took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered
him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our
transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought
us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have
gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us
all.” (Is. 53:3-6)
Beyond the physical act of enduring
the cross in laying down His life for us, Jesus laid aside any claims to personal
pride and individual privacy. He was willing to forfeit the favor of men and to endure
scrutiny and ridicule so that we would be able to praise God with everything
have and everything we are. This is the laying down of life that He did for
each one of us. And He encourages us to love one another in like manner. Now,
there may be instances [and have been instances] where a friend has been tasked
with physically laying down their life for another. It is the ultimate display
of love and sacrifice. However, each of is called to lay down our life in love,
to follow Jesus’ example. So what does that look like practically? To me, it
looks like an individual who has enough love for his friends to lay bare his
life, to be transparent – in hopes that it will help one have a more fruitful
walk with fewer pitfalls.
There is no
discussion on sin which could capture all of the areas of struggle which are
encountered. Therefore, I will focus on just one aspect which has current
relevance for me – this being done with the recognition that the ultimate
solution is the same regardless of the specific iniquity.
Working full
time, going to school, managing my household, taking care of my mom and getting
back to writing, my calendar is pretty packed – leaving little time to meet
people. Therefore, I have recently stepped out of my comfort zone and delved into the
online dating scene - about three months ago. I have not been on a date in
fifteen years. And, without going into graphic detail, when you find yourself attracted
to someone, and those feelings reciprocated, it presents an entire realm of
spiritual wrestling that I did not entirely anticipate. The struggle is real!
And what I
have realized is that I had come to a point where I was – not intentionally but
nevertheless, actually – taking pride in my ‘discipline and self-control’ of
being chaste in thoughts and action/inaction all these years. However, the true test of self-control is not in avoiding
the temptation all together. It is wisdom ... but it is not necessarily
self-control. The true test is having the opportunity and seduction right within
your grasp and choosing to be self-controlled and not entertain it. This is a
much greater challenge. This is why …
It is essential to take every
thought captive.
Trust me … I'm speaking from experience ... left
unchecked, you will find yourself thinking things you have no business thinking
and saying things you have no business saying. Then, riddled
with guilt, there is that feeling – much like Adam and Eve experienced in
the beginning – of the need to hide from God … as if it were possible.
We know from
scripture, ‘Each person is tempted when
they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.' James 1:14-15
A random thought ...
Gives birth to a series of thoughts,
Which gives birth to
enticement and desire:
Desire gives birth to sin
Sin gives birth to death
And what does it kill?
It kills our praise, it kills
our fellowship with the LORD.
Do we not know, ‘He inhabits the praises of His people’?
(Ps. 22:3)
Therefore, if we are left unwilling or unable to
praise – because of sin – what does this do to His dwelling place within our
lives?
Yet despite
these struggles and stumbles, this is all the LORD keeps saying to me: “There
is nothing you could think, or feel, or say, or do … that will ever change
My love for you.”
This does not condone sin or give
license to live without regard. What it does, is remind me – and anyone in a
similar situation – that there is no condemnation for them that are in Christ
Jesus (Rom. 8:1). It declares that the power of sin and death was defeated by
Jesus at the cross. Our praise, our worship, our fellowship does not have to be
hindered or interrupted because of our actions – even when those actions are
not in keeping with the Father’s will for our lives.
For me in,
in this season, I must guard myself relationally. I still have not gone on a date and have removed myself from the online dating community. For you, it will be something
else entirely. Yet, no matter the area of struggle, the solution and response
from our LORD is the same and unchanging: ‘There is
nothing that can change My love for you.’
Our best behavior could never earn
the love of God and our worst could never drive it away.
Ever
thankful for this truth – still we must not allow ourselves to be bogged down in
situations and circumstances which will hinder our praise and worship in any
way.
He caused me to stumble upon a song
recently [definitely not coincidentally] which says, in part: ‘Don’t turn your
eyes from Me, for My love won’t be undone. Don’t hide your face from Me, for My
light has surely come … Lift up your voice and sing, know that My love won’t
let you go … I’m closer than you know.’
Here is a
link to that song which so pointedly captures the heart of this message and the
Father’s response to us in times of struggle. I hope you enjoy it …
Hillsong United … Closer Than You
Know
Praying That You Have a
Truly Blessed & Victorious Week!
“Yes, I have loved you with an
everlasting love …”
—Jeremiah 31:3
—Jeremiah 31:3
