Monday, April 16, 2012

An honest look that isn't easy

What does God think about your life?

Better yet, what do you think God thinks about your life? 

Which of the following statements (if any) sound like you?

1.        I feel guilty about how bad I fail at obeying God.

2.       Sometimes I avoid prayer because I’m sure God is frustrated with me and I don’t want to deal with what it will feel like to be with him.

3.       I am scared of how mad God probably is with me

4.       I try really hard to make up for my inadequacies and my imperfect obedience to God

5.       I try really hard to do what God wants because I’m supposed to, but often wish I could just do what I want for a change.

Every felt any of those (or multiples) in your life?  How about within the last year?  Last month?

One thing that I love about working with students (that I think sometimes they get a bad reputation for) is their honesty and openness.   I asked them these questions just last night.  Now, I won’t reveal who said what (I told them I wouldn’t) but I will say that every point got at least one hand raised after being said.  So, how about you?  How many times would you have raised your hand if you were being completely open and honest? 

Does it make you feel frustrated?  Guilty?  Desire to try harder? 

What if I said God loves you so much he doesn’t want to see you that way?

So how does he want you to feel?  He wants you to love!  (See Galatians 5: 13-14)

The biggest question though.  How do you serve God?  Is it out of Love, or is it out of some “moral obligation”?  (Or some kind of combination of the two?)

Does your Christian life really feel free?  Or do you feel you are bound to obey some system of moral commands?

Do you have a best friend?  What makes them your best friend?  How long have you known them?

How would you compare your relationship with your best friend to that of God?  Are there things your best friend knows about you that Jesus doesn’t?  (Yes I know, Jesus knows all things, but I’m referring to what you have “told” your friend compared to what you have “told” Christ)

How do you show your love to God?

Love (of Christ/God/Holy Spirit) is the foundation of Christian life.  The “solution” on loving God is not to “try harder”, it instead requires letting God work in your heart.  Remember “Love” is one of the Fruits of the Spirit.”  More importantly to remember though (and it can be hard to think of this way) but, it is o.k. to ask God for more love.  We have plenty of reason to love God, but since we are depending on him for every aspect of existence, we still need to rely on Him.  1 John 4:19 says “We love because He first loved us.”  Instead of feeling guilty about any of the above statements, instead of vowing to try harder in the future, ask God to increase the Love in your heart.  He is a never-ending supply of love, he can’t run out.  He always has more to give for you and to you. 

It’s time to stop talking about loving God, and start spending time with him directly!  If we love completely, the frustration will melt away, the feeling of Guilt will disappear, and the need to try harder won’t exist because to love is to live as Christ lived.  And that is what we are all striving for.  Right?



Blessings in Christ.

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