Man its been a long season of "working out my own salvation" I have taken Phil 2:12 and applied it to my life and I've just TODAY! come to realize that I'm applying it somewhat incorrectly and it has affected me for months and weeks. This is what it says:
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Somehow in a recent sticky, ugly situation I began to work out my own salvation ALONE. Just me and God-Jesus. I've been frustrated and angry and without peace.
I know that in the end, our decisions are up to us. What we do will be on us, not being able to blame someone else, I've lived for 32 years with that knowledge. I've wanted to be sure that what I do is what God wants, I've wanted to be according to scripture so that I can stand on his word. I've tried to live my life "without compromising"
Recently a situation at my church caused me much indignation, but I chalked it up to "My Pastor is seeing this and well that's on him. I don't have to agree, I don't have to even speak of it; I have liberty in Christ to judge these situations" Can you picture that emoji perhaps that is kinda smug? or maybe the one that is puffed up with his hands crossed on his chest?
But right here I must say that for a while I've worshipped in my church frustrated with the "decisions", "counsel", and "judgments" of my pastor, thinking that was ok, but again, today, I realize that it's not ok to let these festering sores to go untreated.
Along the same time has been this presidential election which has been a cause of much frustration and dispairs. These two simultaneous events in my personal life, church and country have meshed together and the God of creation has used these things to show me some critical things in my heart that have gone undealt with.
After that season in the ring with God I walked out chastised but at peace. Heres what came of this time:
1. A reminder that Gods ways are higher than mine and his thoughts are too!
2. I realized that having Knowlege isn't having wisdom- wisdom is a gift from God Prov. 2:6
3. Then, having this knowledge and applying wisely to my choices in life does NOT guarantee that others will follow my good example. Thus, I cannot bring someone down to prove they are in the wrong. "take heed lest this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak"
4. In my stubbornness to "be right with God" I was kicking against the pricks, I was rebelling against God and the Man of God. The rebellion snuck in as witchcraft; like magic, unseen, as I fought so hard to decide how to judge a situation and the people involved. Now the issue wasn't the issue, now I was angry with my headship and critical. When this revelation hit me all I could do was cry in shame.
5. Finally, through this all I finally ran to the source I was criticizing for help; God and my pastor. That is when I realized that I didn't have to work out my salvation alone!
After that season in the ring with God I walked out chastised but at peace. Heres what came of this time:
1. A reminder that Gods ways are higher than mine and his thoughts are too!
2. I realized that having Knowlege isn't having wisdom- wisdom is a gift from God Prov. 2:6
3. Then, having this knowledge and applying wisely to my choices in life does NOT guarantee that others will follow my good example. Thus, I cannot bring someone down to prove they are in the wrong. "take heed lest this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak"
4. In my stubbornness to "be right with God" I was kicking against the pricks, I was rebelling against God and the Man of God. The rebellion snuck in as witchcraft; like magic, unseen, as I fought so hard to decide how to judge a situation and the people involved. Now the issue wasn't the issue, now I was angry with my headship and critical. When this revelation hit me all I could do was cry in shame.
5. Finally, through this all I finally ran to the source I was criticizing for help; God and my pastor. That is when I realized that I didn't have to work out my salvation alone!
No comments:
Post a Comment