Wednesday, October 21, 2015

“This is an important lesson to remember when you're having a bad day, a bad month, or a shitty year. Things will change: you won't feel this way forever. And anyway, sometimes the hardest lessons to learn are the ones your soul needs most. I believe you can't feel real joy unless you've felt heartache. You can't have a sense of victory unless you know what it means to fail. You can't know what it's like to feel holy until you know what it's like to feel really evil. And you can't be birthed again until you've died.” 
~ Kelly Cutrone

 JEREMIAH 5-6

“Stand at the crossroads and look;

ask for the ancient paths,

ask where the good way is, and walk in it,

and you will find rest for your souls. (6:16)

 

 1 TIMOTHY 1

5The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. 6But some people have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions. (1:5-6)



JOURNAL

The "ancient way" is what Paul refers to in being filled with love, which he states comes from "a pure heart, a clear conscience and genuine faith".  In all of this there then is rest for the soul. Interesting in that Paul states that people have missed the whole point and engage in meaningless discussions.

 

In today's world I think of all the anxiety that surrounds discussions, worries and fears that do not involve obedience and faith in God, rather they surround finances and worries over the future. I often fall into the trap of being more concerned over ensuring and achieving a comfortable life than I am in obeying God with my full heart. I realize more and more that I must choose to serve a God. Is that God worldly comfort and security or is it following and obeying the God of the Bible? That choice greets me every morning...it follows me around every moment. Who do I choose? What am I sold out to protecting and serving? Do my actions reflect my choice?

 

According to Christ there is a litmus test and it is the sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7). It is reflected in the fruit of my life. Is it of the spirit of God?

20Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. (7:20)

Paul clarifies further in Galatians the difference between the two spirits,

19When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 

22But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!