I've been thinking a lot lately about how prone we are, how prone I am, to think that the way I think and what I think is right. I become so sure of my rightness that I build a fortified wall around my opinions and my own way of thinking that even the Lord Himself cannot penetrate, not because He's not able, but because I won't let Him. You see, He's not One Who goes around violating my free will and my free will is pretty dog gone stubborn most of the time.
I've also been thinking a lot lately about how prone we are as human beings to perpetually swing to extremes. We see it clearly in the Bible ever since sin entered into the garden. We see it in our world today. We see it in the church today. There are those who swing to the extreme of ultra legalism. Their relationship with God is based on rule keeping. Like the religious people of Jesus' day, they've taken God's basic commandments and added hundreds of manmade traditions on top of them. Then there is the other extreme. In their rejection of legalism, there are those who have taken the concept of liberty to the extreme. In the name of grace, they think that anything goes and that God is okay with that. (Join me for the rest of this post on Sunday, September 3rd, at Woman to Woman Ministries where each Sunday I share a bit of Sunday Soul Food!)
still following,
Oh, yeah. I need to read the rest of this.
ReplyDeletePraying for you and your church family gathering today.
Lift Jesus HIGHER! ♥
Thank you, friend!
DeleteI am guilty of this too...of thinking my thinking is the clearest when of course it's not always. That's actually why I like these link ups because it exposes me to other opinions. I pray God will keep us straight!
ReplyDeleteAmen! I think of the Bible as the plumb line and it's up to us to line up to it.
DeleteIt is good to remember that because God's ways are not our ways, we have to acknowledge Him so that He can direct our ways.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely!
DeleteI've been thinking on many of those same things lately. I find it very difficult to balance my more liberal views with religious dogma. I believe in the teachings of Jesus but not necessarily the teachings of a church.
ReplyDeleteI think it's important to read the Bible for yourself and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you into His truth. The key is to then be willing to embrace what the Bible says even when it is different than what you may have always thought. (Speaking from experience...as they say the truth might make you mad before it says you free!)
DeleteSo enjoy that Scripture reminder. His thoughts are not my thoughts. Sometimes I do hear him reminding me of that when my anger flares at things or I'm impatient. Reading daily has helped, but admit I slip often back into what I think should be....
ReplyDeleteI think a great thing to ask when we read the scriptures is 'what do I need to see?' and 'what needs to change in me because of it?" when we're open to hear these answers then God is able to move us out of our 'right opinions' and into His will. thanks!
ReplyDelete