Enemy in the Mirror
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm a firm believer in the complete redemption of Christ and the ministry of the Holy Spirit renewing and transforming me into being more like Jesus. I am sure not the man i could/ought/want to be, but I am not the man I was and the credit goes to the power of Christ in me. I am grateful for this grace. But there is a strange paradox in me. There are three critical elements needed for victory and growth that are strangely absent...at least I seem to avoid them....see if you agree:
Absence of the Cross--constant reluctance to make the Cross the center-piece of my life. I tend to embrace blessing and strength offered and not embrace the suffering that following Christ promises to me. I also seem to be hesitant to speak of the cross w/o a sense that I am somehow out of it...seperate from the "real world" and looked on with suspicion...
Phobic Avoidance of Suffering--this ties into the above, but i am so slow to embrace the truth of Romans 5 and James 1....namely that the road of suffering is where Christ is formed in me. i not only work frantically to avoid suffering, but i run to the rescue of all who suffer around me, when that may be God's plan for them. (I am not speaking here of relief to the poor and abused...)
Finally i seem to have a strange and puzzling indifference to community and the development to the type of relationships that will bring intimacy and meaning to my life. The practice of doing life together is shoved to the bottom of my list of items for the week consistently, even tho I know and believe that it is desperately needed.
God, thank you for not giving up on me. Thank you for the forgiveness that is mine in Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit walking with me to complete the work in my you desire (Ph 1:6). May Christ be formed in me more fully that transforms not only the way i act, but the love i have for others. For YOUR glory and your Kingdoms sake...amen
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