“The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.” - Timothy Keller
PSALM 28-30
Paul faithfully continues toward his fate in Jerusalem despite his certain death...
10After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’ ”12When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”
JOURNAL
The only way to deal with the courage and discipline of Paul is to understand that he sees his life as being given in service to God. For him there really is no other path. He is undeterred in his commitment to follow God...even unto death.
To me this brings up such an inner turmoil. I can see how I would be so tempted to stay where I was loved and still "doing good". Paul doesn't see it this way. It is all about obedience regardless of what that means to him or even to his close friends and disciples. They are pleading for him to stay and yet he continues on to Jerusalem.
I can honestly say that I don't live my life this way. I definitely gauge and determine my path within the context of my own comfort and joy. I also definitely seek what is good for my family and that usually involves "good times, comfort and happiness"...this really rocks my world.
I have been really been struck lately how sin usually revolves around shame and fear. Yet in digging deeper what I am finding is that this shame and fear may go to the core of a deep rebellion. Deep down I want the fruits of being a God, I want my own way, I want to be served, I want to know the future, I want immortality. Could the shame I deal with really at it's core be because I am not God and am ashamed and angry that I am not.
Could the beginning of sin in the Garden and the shame of Adam be about wanting to be equal to God and then realizing he is not. Would this have put an end to a relationship of how we were created to exist with God?...In service, in obedience and as stewards and caretakers of God's creation?
Are the actions of man continually caught in this battle...the desire to be God, yet never having been created for that purpose. Could sin be the result of dealing with this dilemma? Trying to find ways to be independent of God...or using God for the purpose of helping us achieve independence from him. Is this why the death and sacrifice of Christ was essential to salvation? He mending this rift of humanity...being fully righteous yet submitting to suffering and sacrifice?
I am finding that I am more sinful and flawed than I ever dared believe, yet at the very same time I am more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than I ever dared hope.
To me this brings up such an inner turmoil. I can see how I would be so tempted to stay where I was loved and still "doing good". Paul doesn't see it this way. It is all about obedience regardless of what that means to him or even to his close friends and disciples. They are pleading for him to stay and yet he continues on to Jerusalem.
I can honestly say that I don't live my life this way. I definitely gauge and determine my path within the context of my own comfort and joy. I also definitely seek what is good for my family and that usually involves "good times, comfort and happiness"...this really rocks my world.
I have been really been struck lately how sin usually revolves around shame and fear. Yet in digging deeper what I am finding is that this shame and fear may go to the core of a deep rebellion. Deep down I want the fruits of being a God, I want my own way, I want to be served, I want to know the future, I want immortality. Could the shame I deal with really at it's core be because I am not God and am ashamed and angry that I am not.
Could the beginning of sin in the Garden and the shame of Adam be about wanting to be equal to God and then realizing he is not. Would this have put an end to a relationship of how we were created to exist with God?...In service, in obedience and as stewards and caretakers of God's creation?
Are the actions of man continually caught in this battle...the desire to be God, yet never having been created for that purpose. Could sin be the result of dealing with this dilemma? Trying to find ways to be independent of God...or using God for the purpose of helping us achieve independence from him. Is this why the death and sacrifice of Christ was essential to salvation? He mending this rift of humanity...being fully righteous yet submitting to suffering and sacrifice?
I am finding that I am more sinful and flawed than I ever dared believe, yet at the very same time I am more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than I ever dared hope.
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