For all of us called to rise up, according to the mission and vision God has set for our lives, to proclaim the Kingdom of Heaven, we must be willing to abandon our personal desire for the sake of expanding the work of God in the world and revealing His person and nature to the world.
Just as we breathe, we must both spiritually inhale and exhale in order to thrive, we do so spiritually by what we take in and what we express outward.
Just as we breathe, we must both spiritually inhale and exhale in order to thrive, we do so spiritually by what we take in and what we express outward.
The hope of Jesus Christ defeats the empire that rules over people so that we might return to God.
What a difference a year makes. At the start of 2019, I had a fair amount of plans and ideas for where I thought the Lord was leading me. In keeping with the regular pattern of my life, none of them actually happened.
2,000 years ago, the Pharisees heaped requirements for salvation on people they could not possibly bear. Now, Kanye West proclaims his faith in Jesus Christ, produces an album called Jesus is King. Now, “sensible” Christians have heaped more and more requirements on Kanye to “prove” his conversion is real. My brothers and sisters, have we become the Pharisees?
This idea in the book of Exodus of hearts hardening terrifies me to my core. The idea of persistent sin and willful disobedience to God resulting in a hardening of my own heart to the things of the Lord intimidates and scares me to my core. My faith and hope rests in the Lord and I firmly believe He is the King over all creation and that His death on the cross counted for me. Yet, I must admit that there are sins that still seem to be a persistent struggle. Sins that, for whatever reason, I have not seemed to be able to kick for a while. My fear in these is that one day, my heart will become hardened to the effects of sin. We must not put any trust in following our own heart, as we know that our heart craves the things of the flesh and leads us towards our own destruction. Yet, by the work of Jesus Christ on the cross, by the power of the Holy Spirit, God does not leave us in our condemnation but provides a new heart for us.
New chapters can be difficult. We step into the unknown, trusting that God has actually planned our steps and believing that His plan will never fail us. Going off to college is undoubtedly met with both excitement as far as you wander into this new stage. Furthermore, remember God sustains everything, through the highs and lows. You are never alone and never beyond God’s grace or ability to love, guide, and protect you. He is a loving King jealously pursues you.
New chapters can be difficult. We step into the unknown, trusting that God has actually planned our steps and believing that His plan will never fail us. Going off to college is undoubtedly met with both excitement as far as you wander into this new stage. Furthermore, remember God sustains everything, through the highs and lows. You are never alone and never beyond God’s grace or ability to love, guide, and protect you. He is a loving King jealously pursues you.
New chapters can be difficult. We step into the unknown, trusting that God has actually planned our steps and believing that His plan will never fail us. Going off to college is undoubtedly met with both excitement as far as you wander into this new stage. Furthermore, remember God sustains everything, through the highs and lows. You are never alone and never beyond God’s grace or ability to love, guide, and protect you. He is a loving King jealously pursues you.
