Love as christ has loved. Live humbly and obediently. Give up the world and gain everlasting life. Put faith in Christ, He is the only way. Love your neighbor as yourself. Do not think more highly of yourself than you ought, instead esteem others above yourself. Give to the poor. Feed the starving. Love the fatherless. Care for the elderly. Honor your parents. Love your wife. Respect your husband. Live humbly. Do nothing out of selfish ambition. Live not in vain conceit. Be a living sacrifice. We are ambassadors of Christ. Do not gossip. Do not boast. Do not lie. Do not murder. Above all, bring glory to God. Oh if I could count the times I have heard these words from pastors, parents, sister, brothers, elders, wives, teachers, and saints! In my solitude I have thought a great deal, and my conclusion is this; the church is filled with endless chatter and idle hearts. We know what is required, and how we are to live. Most christians have have repeatedly heard the commands and been taught what is righteous and just. We can all recite the scriptures, and decipher meaning, application. The body of Christ has been educated in the way to live as a light.
However, often when surrounded by those proclaiming faith I am slapped in the face with the harsh reality that the abundance of conversations centers around gossip or slander, or the empty proclamations of how suzy should have acted, or what tommy might have done instead. Tell me what good does it do judge the deeds of another when in their face you see your own sins staring back at you? It is a side-effect of human nature indeed, and its cold prideful desire for self-esteem.
Humanity is dead and lost, fallen and crushed by their own depravity. We have been given life, and in the first few months of birth, like a young child, are enamored by the novelty of it all. We burn with passion to "go and do!" Share our faith without shame and evangelize the lost! But like the child, in a short time new life has lost its splendor, and we are reluctant to have anything to do with it. Our day-to-day lives, and slovenly ways begin to overpower the passions that once drove us forward, unbending and unswerving for so short a time. But what now? Is it acceptable to pardon off our offenses for "this" or "that"? Or declare what we know to be true and right, but then fail an attempt to work it out in our own lives, and yet point out the shortcomming of others? I pray we have not come to that! Then I am reminded of our despicable condition, and offer thanks that I, and others, are not as vile as we could be.
This summer, life has allowed me ample time for reflecting on myself, and humanity. As a result, I find myself appalled by the general contentment of Christians, myself included, to remain in the state in which we were saved. The Spirit did not petrify us, so please do not sit so still and unaltered! Our Father has promised to make us new, sanctify us by fire, and by His power and will He shall. Praise God that we will not remain in the state in which He called us, and it is only by His refining fire that we can hope to shed our sinful nature, though uncomfortable and extremely painful at times. Yet, I find it hard to consider that this absolves us from daily pursuing our thoughts, actions and motives. I came across this quote the other day: "Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself"- Leo Tolstoy. I find in it a challenge, especially for Christians. At times we can be so overcome with a passion to change the world, and spread the gospel, but often fail to do a bit of introspection. What good is it if we can share so eloquently the Word of God, if our hearts are not constantly being sanctified? What benefit comes from noticing the faults of the world, yet being blind to those same faults which dwell in us?
I realize that from this quote, and my reflections after, that I seem to be implying that we are in control of how "good" we are, or that we foster a change in ourselves. That is simply not true. My design in writing this is not to demean Christians and then tell you to pluck up, and find the will power to be better! Because we would fail miserably as we have all along when we forget to look to God, and come humbly to his feet. It is not about strength and pride, but brokenness and a contrite heart. God will mold us and make us, and continually sanctify us, that he has promised. Although, I believe that with each new day should come our renewed sentiments of an adamant desire to change. With every breath we should pray, "Father, break me, change me, do whatever it takes. Cut away my sin and any part of me that clings to this world. Open my eyes to my own depravity, sanctify me and make me a child who brings honor and glory to your name." God will have His way in us, but that does not mean we need not willingly prostrate ourselves at His feet.
