I may be kidding myself. I may be kidding you. I miiight be kidding Anna. But Lord knows I’m not kidding Him (God). He knows the truth. He knows what I’m really doing with my time and money and thoughts and deeds. (I promise these aren’t lyrics to an old hymn, although they could be). (Oh, and I also promise I’m not trying to kidd anyone on purpose).
Well, I was reading in Matthew today.
“Whoever hears these sayings of mine and does them I will liken him to a wise man.”
So who’s the guy who heard it and didn’t do it? O.k. o.k. I’ll fess up. I know I fit right in there. I know I’m a guy who has heard those sayings and has not done them. Yeah I’m trying but not enough.
I am so easily distracted. So easily swayed this way or that. I may think I’m doing pretty well at lining my life up with God’s standards for Christian life, but am I really? Are you really? Are any of us?
America is a hard place to live in. There are so many comforts and pats on the back to tell us it’s all o.k. You’re o.k. I’m o.k. but that’s not o.k.
We need truth in our inner man. We need you possess our souls. You and I have both got to get a grip on Biblical reality and then follow through. Those who hear and don’t do are just the same as those who hear, agree, and don’t do. That’s us. We’ve heard the message. We signed up out in the lobby and joined the godly guy’s RSS feed, but we’re not actually following through.
We’re not praying. Not Fasting. Not Giving. Not Loving.
Here’s a challenge for us to do this week:
- Read Matthew 5, 6 & 7
- Pick a meal to fast this week and spend that time doing some form prayer
- Find someone that you want to help financially and ask God how much to give away
- Ask God to show you one area in those chapters that you need help with and then ask Him to help you
If you do it, let us know.
If you have anything else you want to share, please let us know that too. You and I and the rest of us are all in this fight together.
Wendy Vega said:
I feel the same way bro… Honest, humble assessmet is always a good thing, but in the journey be kind to yourself. We can beat ourselves up over the lack or we can just come before The Lord once again and cry out “ABBA HELP ME!!
My question to you, isn’t this the journey of becoming the mature Bride? Step by Step, Day by Day! Teach me how to Love Jesus, Teach me Your ways Jesus.
You don’t know how many times I have wept and say “Lord I don’t get this, fasted lifestyle, prayer thing. I need your help. I feel like I am not moving forward. God I feel stuck! Lord don’t leave me this way! Come encounter me once again.”
But once again this “yes” wells up in my heart, and I encounter God’s grace once again. And that’s all I need.
So Bro… It’s a journey. We are all on this journey towards bridal maturity and love. So
I don’t have profound thoughts or big words to wow people with. I haven’t had my throne room encounter yet, but I can only speak from my journey so far. You are doing the right thing.
Blessings from Chicago!
Wendy
Posted on September 27, 2006 at 12:42 pm
Jerry James said:
I am relatively new to this blogging thing, but there is one thing I have noticed. People are slow to comment on the deep stuff. If you do a “Princess Bride” thing everyone responds and that is all fun, but a heartfelt post such as yours today is seemingly less “successful” as far as comments go. The good thing is that many read, meditate, and appreciate - they just don’t comment. I figure I scare a few that read some of my posts - they are just on a different page, but that’s ok. I relate totally to your comments - it is good to have that I want to step it up - I want to draw closer - I want to get it right thing burning in our spirit. That is very pleasing to God. One thing is for sure . . . we need each other. Thank you for being open and honest, and sharing your heart. My response . . . me too.
Posted on September 27, 2006 at 2:01 pm
Chris Ferguson said:
I hate this post; cause I is that man who so often hears and does not do. I have chronically seen myself as the rich young ruler (though most American’s would say I live in poverty lacking cable and home internet access.)now the Holy Spirit uses this to like flint to spark my heart.
You are someone who plays the drums…but God will use you far beyond playing with a couple of stix’s(not belittling the call of a musician–just saying your gifting and calling is multi-faceted). These things you are learning are deep. The deeper you go the greater the impact the Holy Spirit will give you.
Posted on September 27, 2006 at 2:53 pm
Shawn said:
Wendy - You’re right about the day by day thing. It’s hard to dissatach from the long term goal in a way that gives daily focus and practial followthrough.
And Jerry, I think you hit the nail on the head. That’s something I have noticed about the readership on this blog too. I don’t think it’s because the spiritual folks comment and the heathens don’t, it is just that it takes more energy to comment and give feedback to something that is a deeper issue than something that is light.
Posted on September 28, 2006 at 11:28 am
John Paul Fullerton said:
So who’s the guy who heard it and didn’t do it?
During prayer (coffee drinking) today, I remembered the verse where someone is asked if they received the Holy Spirit when they believed, and they answered, we haven’t so much as heard if there is a Holy Spirit.
I was thinking, what if there was a little upsetness there (not saying there was–just a different sense)? I haven’t so much as heard from customer support if there is a rebate option!
A friend mentioned the other day how he tentatively asked the Lord for the Holy Spirit and I remembered I did the same. Lord, if it’s from you, I want it. I don’t know it it is
What if we said, Lord, that sure is a nice coat, if I could have it, I’d like to.
Posted on September 30, 2006 at 11:13 am
John Paul Fullerton said:
I’m listening to a video from tacf.org’s Soaking conference–where the river runs, I want to be, where the river flows, I want to go, count me in
Posted on September 30, 2006 at 11:43 am
Ronni said:
Ouch Shawn. Thanks!
Posted on October 2, 2006 at 2:12 pm
Shawn said:
Happy to help, Ronni.
Posted on October 3, 2006 at 6:46 pm