Keep the Vow

Well, we are all about honesty and truth here, so let us be truthful with ourselves, and one another.

In my ignorance, I used to think that the saints had it all together from birth, that they somehow lived perfect lives and we were to aspire to be like them because of it. Oh how silly I was.

The fact of the matter is, there is only one who was born perfect, and lived His entire life perfectly.

You see, ignorance is actually the garden in which wisdom MUST be planted.

If we think we know, we fail to seek, if we fail to seek, we fail to find, just how little we ever knew in the first place.

“I think, therefore I am…” – Descartes

Let’s expand on that just a little.

I think, therefore I am, capable of screwing it up, if my thinking is incorrect.

The beauty is, we will screw it up. Multiple times. Thus the need for grace in the first place. If we were able to keep the perfect law, perfectly, then it must be asked, would Jesus have had to come in the first place? I would suspect not, because we would have been able to do what we were told, without error.

But, we err, because we live in a fallen world, crafted by the desires of “the flesh”. (More on that later.)

We need guidance and direction, constantly, lest we be led astray by the next “shiny” thing. Thanks to God and His saving grace, mercy, and love, through His Son our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we are able to make mistakes and learn from them.

This is in fact part of the Wesleyan Quadrilateral.

God does not ask us to completely discount the ability to reason that He has given us, no, instead He instructs us. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

We ask, guide and use our reason, to align with Your will, that we may know the path we are to walk. This is not in a let me see the future type sense, but let me rely on you to provide for me, like a child.

A child does not know what tomorrow holds, anymore than we do; yet, as adults, we certainly try to plan the day, week, month, and year; do we not? (Proverbs 19:21)

This is why submission is key.

And, it is in our very nature to resist submission, and resistance is the very thing that keeps us from entering the Garden of Eden, where joy is found. The joy of walking with God, again. When we left the Garden of Eden the first time, or, more accurately, when we were kicked out, this was an act of grace.

You see, as a species, we ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, if we then would have eaten from the tree of life afterwards, well, no bueno. We would have been stuck in our fallen condition. Thank God, for His grace, and infinite wisdom.

You see, it is grace that corrects us.

Discipline, when done properly, is ALWAYS done out of love. It is done to correct a behavior that is harmful to us. God WANTS to refine us, He WANTS to be near us; but, it is us that have strayed from Him through sin and sinful desires. He, in His perfect nature, cannot be near sin, for that would change His nature.

Instead, He instructs us in the “method” to change ours, through the saving, and sanctifying work of Jesus Christ.

We CANNOT do it ourselves.

Yes, we can change our behavior and be “good people,” but we are not called to be “good people.” We are called… in fact chosen. (1 Peter 2:9)

We are to be a HOLY people.

And it takes daily practice, daily submission, picking up our cross daily, denying ourselves, and following Him. (More on the illusion of self later.)

This is a process, one where you show intent and desire, one where you will trip and sometimes fall. He knows all, so He most certainly knows this, hence His grace.

When we come to Jesus, we admit, Lord, I cannot be Holy, I cannot be righteous, for only you are Holy and righteous. Help me, be more like you every day. And in that is growth… a little at a time.

Imagine, if we knew everything we were supposed to in one instant, our heads would probably explode. If we saw, all the ways we have lived wrong, the shame and guilt would come flooding in and destroy us. So, we pass through the waters, and walk through the fires. The water that cleanses us, and the fire that refines us.

We start faking it, because we are not there, but we do it, putting into practice the very teachings of Jesus, until He brings us near to Him. We slowly put off the old self, and put on the new. You cannot put on a new robe, until you first remove the old one.

As Paul says in Romans 12:2.

If we are continuing in being honest with ourselves, we must ask, how much have I conformed to the pattern of this world? How much have I submitted to the renewing of my mind?

And, we must also remember, it is a renewing, not an instant renewal.

Give yourself some grace, by accepting the grace He has given you in Jesus Christ. It is not only ok to ask for help, it is required.

If you feel the calling, submit to it.

It is human nature to think, “This is going to take forever,” and then put it off.

Yes, it is… but, you will be surprised how much your life starts to change for the better. There will be trials, there will be persecution, there will be doubts, fears, and days you wonder if you will ever reach the finish of the race you have started.

But you will, because He is with you.

Never forget that, and never let anyone convince you otherwise.

Every lie the evil one tells, is built upon the first.

“Did God really say?”

Yes, yes He did.

And He who has promised is faithful, and knowing that, every time you hear it, rebuke it.

St. Michael, the most powerful of Archangels, did not destroy the devil… For the Lord Jesus Christ crushed the head of the serpent.

St. Michael, did not condemn him, he simply rebuked him.

“The Lord rebuke you.” (Jude 1:9)

We, rely on the power of the Lord.

If you ever wonder how you will do it, you can’t, because He already has. Rely then, on the victory that has been won.

(Zachariah 4:6)

And may God continually bless you, and keep you in the peace and presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, always.

There is something a very wise pastor says at the end of our worship time together, and I feel that the best things have already been said, we simply relay them differently to one another in an attempt to learn better. This one, I will quote verbatim.

“May I speak a word of blessing upon you… My brothers and sisters, do not pray for easy lives, but rather pray to be strong men and women, do not pray for a task that is equal to your power, but pray for a power that is equal to your task, and your work will not be the miracle, but you will become the miracle, and you will be constantly amazed at all that you can do through the power of the living Christ within you. And now, unto Him be all Glory, Majesty, Power, and Dominion, and His greatest blessings upon us all. Amen”

And to that I echo,

AMEN!

Thank you for your time today, and always. May we grow in Christ, not burying our talents in the ground, but multiplying them.

Always, In Christ Jesus…

March onward.