I always say, you never graduate from the Gospel. The Gospel isn't something you simply believe to get "fire insurance", avoid hell and simply have your soul go to heaven. The Gospel applies to the believers heart and life every moment of every day. It applies to my heart, or at least it should.
I am going through Tim Keller's Luther Project with a couple of men on Friday afternoon. Also, I am going through material with our small group by World Harvest, called Gospel Transformation and I have been reading two books about brokenness and idolatry of the heart. (these books are in addition to these others I just mentioned yesterday - I told you that I read a lot!).
Leading with a Limp, by Dan AllenderIdols of the Heart, by Elyse Fitzpatrick
One of the questions from these readings has been, "Name a few things that worry, stress, or frighten you. How have you recently responded in fear like an orphaned child? When you are worried, where do you look for comfort or security, other than to your heavenly Father?"
I didn't need too long to come up with the answer to that question. My heart has been gripped by fear recently over money. That's right stupid money. Yes, I know God will take of us. I know that He is taking care of us. For over 17 years my family and I lived on support having been part of a "faith mission". God has always been good and taken care of us. But my fear isn't in what I know in my head, it is coming from my heart. My fear is about the future. I fear the unknown. I fear that we are one step or crisis away from severe financial problems. It doesn't sound rational, but it doesn't have to - it's FEAR! Fear isn't rational. I hate the fact that my heart and my mind has been gripped by this fear.
The root of this fear is that I have forgotten that I am part of a new family. My fear is rooted in having lived as an orphaned child. Living as an orphaned child I don't believe that God is good. I don't live in the truth that my Heavenly Dad is crazy, head over heals in love with me.
I have needed to apply the Gospel to my heart and life this week. I have needed to know afresh how much God loves me. That He sees me as a dearly beloved son. I am His child, He cares for me.
I needed to come to Him as His child and listen...and this is what He said.
Romans 8:32 "If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he
wouldn't gladly and freely do for us?"
The Message
Security comes not from my money or stuff. Security comes from the loving arms of my Heavenly Dad. The Apostle John says that perfect love casts out all fear. I am His dearly loved child, Lord help me to live like it!
Technorati Tags: Gospel, World_Harvest, Idols, Sanctification
0 comments:
Post a Comment