Two weeks in a row and no Super Cool Person, I can feel your disappointment. I have good intentions, but I am, at heart a slacker. I had a talk with Dodd yesterday and we were talking about his new quiet time adventure into the book of Daniel. It got me thinking so I started the book of Job last night. I know why God lead me there now. You see I've been thinking a lot lately about cheap grace, and how we continue to sin and say God's grace is sufficient and the debt has been paid,so.......I can ask for forgiveness and keep on sinning.
Back to Job, here was a man who lost everything and yet he still gave God the glory and praise. Wow, I would like to think that my faith would be strong enough to not even question God, but the reality is that I would. Can you imagine loosing everything and saying that the Lord God giveth and He taketh away, and falling down and worshipping? What a great story of dedication and trust in the Lord. I have a study bible and the foot notes directed me to 1 John 3. It deals directly with the call to be perfect and to get away from the cheap grace mindset. Take a look:
7 So, my dear children, don't let anyone divert you from the truth. It's the person who acts right who is right, just as we see it lived out in our righteous Messiah. 8 Those who make a practice of sin are straight from the Devil, the pioneer in the practice of sin. The Son of God entered the scene to abolish the Devil's ways. 9 People conceived and brought into life by God don't make a practice of sin. How could they? God's seed is deep within them, making them who they are. It's not in the nature of the God-begotten to practice and parade sin. 10 Here's how you tell the difference between God's children and the Devil's children: The one who won't practice righteous ways isn't from God, nor is the one who won't love brother or sister. A simple test.
1 John 3:7-10 (MSG)
That is as straight forward as you can get. Would you pass the test? God does forgive us of our sins, but it is a relationship and if we truly love God then we will want to do all we can to be more like Him daily. Are you striving to daily die to self? Paul said it best in Philippians:
13 Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.
Phil 4:13 (MSG)
I hope everyone has a great weekend and whatever happens try to be like Job and give God the glory in everything.
Have a Blessed Day!!!
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My name is Michael Locke and I am the mad mind behind what you read here. I represent a body of christians who are looking for an encouraging word to combat the daily struggle. We are not and do not claim to be perfect, just doing what we can to live for Jesus.
The Narrow Path
About Me
- Michael Locke
- I am 36 years old, have been married for eleven of those to Lori, and have two beautiful children: a boy Sidney, 7 and daddy's little girl Lillie, 4. We truly put the fun in disfunctional as a family, but we are definitely in love with Jesus.
1 comment:
Dude that is awesome! I read this and immediately thought of Romans 8:29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and also Matthew 5:48 "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." ou know right before I walked in the door me and this guy were talking across the street at t6he church and we were talking about how we live defeated and live to "Liberal". Grace dose not give us license to sin, if anything; grace gives me a responsibility. Thank you Michael!
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