AUGUST 17, 2023

 

“But the line between moral behavior and narcissistic self-righteousness is thin and difficult to discern” 
― Dean Koontz, Deeply Odd

PSALM 107-108

17Some became fools through their rebellious ways

and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.

18They loathed all food

and drew near the gates of death.

19Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,

and he saved them from their distress.

20He sent out his word and healed them;

he rescued them from the grave.

21Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love

and his wonderful deeds for mankind.

22Let them sacrifice thank offerings

and tell of his works with songs of joy. (107:17-22)

ROMANS 15:21-23

30I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. 31Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people there, 32so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed. 33The God of peace be with you all. Amen.

JOURNAL 

The danger of the gospel is something that haunts me.  For it is something that I have never really experienced. I have never faced death or punishment because of my belief. I have never faced scorn or hardship because I chose to follow God. This is troubling...in fact it somehow feels wrong. As if I need to experience hardship if I am to follow Christ. Yet in our culture it is to my benefit to follow Christ. I am more accepted rather than rejected. When this is juxtaposed with the Gospel it makes things seem backwards. 

However the deeper I dig the more I realize that there always is a battle and that battle is with myself. It is with the part of me that wants to find a way to dismiss spending time with God. It is with that part of me that wants to be right at all cost. It is with that part of me that wants things at the expense of others. It is with that part of me that avoids and turns away instead of engaging with a difficult situation or person.   It is in that part of me that seeks to secure things instead of give in to obedience. 

The reality is the battle is always there and the choice to follow always looms. Yet without God's grace, without forgiveness, without his love I would spin forever in my own narcissism. Yet it is through his daily patient love that I have the power to fight and the hope to endure. 

1Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

- PHILIPPIANS 2:3