Wednesday, August 11, 2004
Small thought--Big implications!
Some days are easy to stay "on course" when it comes to maintaining some sort of "Christian conduct code" that alludes one to believe that God is in His Heaven; all's right with the world.
Other days, there's a creeping vine of inward hostility that tries to climb up the trunk of one's tree that is planted by the water and attempts to choke the forward movement into Grace and Love towards God, others, and self.
Today, the cashier at the grocery store counter said "Have a nice day!" after I paid for my groceries and started to wander back to my truck outside. My immediate thought after hearing her words were, "Don't tell me what to do!"
No telling what instigated this non-verbal response within the confines of my soul, but it's sure a gander into how I have some hostilities within that pop up spontaneously and without obvious reason for doing so.
At least I didn't verbalize the angry thought. Also, at the least, I recognized the seeds of an angry spirit inside me and diverted my direction towards One who has given resolution to overcoming the battle of flesh and spirit.
A small victory, but nonetheless, a victory! My history books are full of those who didn't "check" themselves when the small bouts of fleshly vines began to choke out their inner sanctum of God's garden of trees.
Molehills of anger spurts became mountains of hate that have colored our lineage with shameful bouts of fleshly thoughts becoming fleshly feelings and then becoming fleshly actions that killed others' spirits and bodies.
I'm sure glad that grace abounds much more than sin does! Even in the little corners of one's secret parts that cashiers can't hear!
Other days, there's a creeping vine of inward hostility that tries to climb up the trunk of one's tree that is planted by the water and attempts to choke the forward movement into Grace and Love towards God, others, and self.
Today, the cashier at the grocery store counter said "Have a nice day!" after I paid for my groceries and started to wander back to my truck outside. My immediate thought after hearing her words were, "Don't tell me what to do!"
No telling what instigated this non-verbal response within the confines of my soul, but it's sure a gander into how I have some hostilities within that pop up spontaneously and without obvious reason for doing so.
At least I didn't verbalize the angry thought. Also, at the least, I recognized the seeds of an angry spirit inside me and diverted my direction towards One who has given resolution to overcoming the battle of flesh and spirit.
A small victory, but nonetheless, a victory! My history books are full of those who didn't "check" themselves when the small bouts of fleshly vines began to choke out their inner sanctum of God's garden of trees.
Molehills of anger spurts became mountains of hate that have colored our lineage with shameful bouts of fleshly thoughts becoming fleshly feelings and then becoming fleshly actions that killed others' spirits and bodies.
I'm sure glad that grace abounds much more than sin does! Even in the little corners of one's secret parts that cashiers can't hear!
Comments:
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Yeah, the "Christian conduct code" doesn't really work out when we look within our hearts, does it? It can help us be proud of looking better than someone else in the eyes of men, but it sure doesn't look better in the eyes of the One who sees our hearts.
As you say, our road lies in agreeing with Father about the wickedness we often contain and trusting only in Jesus, the grace giver, for our righteousness. Lord, I believe; help me in my unbelief!
As you say, our road lies in agreeing with Father about the wickedness we often contain and trusting only in Jesus, the grace giver, for our righteousness. Lord, I believe; help me in my unbelief!
Agree Matthew! When the facade is broken through and we see the light of what's really going on within us, it's a real eye-opener at times.
Grace keeps us from being so myopic that we strain and break from the truth of our conditional state of the flesh.
Thank God for unconditional love as we realize our real condition.
Grace keeps us from being so myopic that we strain and break from the truth of our conditional state of the flesh.
Thank God for unconditional love as we realize our real condition.
When the enemy whispers -don't get discouraged. He is the father of lies and the author of discouragement.
As Paul says, 'put on the new self'. Know you are worth everthing to your heavenly father.
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As Paul says, 'put on the new self'. Know you are worth everthing to your heavenly father.
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