John 17:16 KJV
I never left the world!
This morning I was reflecting on my walk now, and my walk over the 40 years, when I was in denominational churches. Why did I fail the tests so often? Why did the promises elude me? How come I did not discover His peace until I was almost 60 years old? The answer? I never left the world!
I, each time I turned back to God after backsliding, brought with me the weights of the world! I was never taught how to rid myself (or lay aside) of the things which held me in captivity.
“They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.” 1 John 4:5 KJV
I loved the world. I loved my life. I wanted my cake and to eat it too!
“If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” John 15:19 KJV
I looked down on radical Christians and thought "that was okay FOR THEM, but not for me!"
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15 KJV
I wanted to be blessed without inconvenience! And "the church" accommodated my desire. I just had to show up and give my money! And I felt so good about my "service for the kingdom!" I carried my Bible but never read it! I believed it because my family believed! Just like my political affiliation!
Then I started reading The Word! My life was in shambles and I had tried everything else, to no avail! And God called me out of the darkness, and set my feet on the rock!
He led me to a ministry that explained how to rid myself of the world! How to walk in The Way! How to Lay Aside Every Weight!
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Romans 12:2 KJV
I thank God daily for the work He has done in me! And gladly speak boldly of what it takes to get off the broad path and onto the narrow path! How to die to self. How to run the race with victory!
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” Hebrews 12:1 KJV
It's impossible to lay aside the sin, when we love it more than The LORD! Pride, bitterness, unforgiveness, oh and don't forget unbelief, stop us in our tracts! Those traits are the world and are wicked in the sight of God!
“Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” James 1:21 KJV
I have been taught the old way, to follow Jesus Christ! It's a hard road that the worldly church doesn't like! It's one of obedient submission! It's one of servitude! It's radical yet quietly humble! There's order and selflessness! There's love that is not offended!
And all I did was give up.
“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”
Galatians 6:14 KJV
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:6-7 KJV
It begins and ends in daily, never ending, repentance and forgiveness!
Jesus speaking: “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:13-14 KJV
Even so - MARANATHA!
From 6/4/16
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