"Consider it a pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." James 1:2-3
Are the things we endure here in America really what is referred to here? The things we face such as searching for a new job in a country with a failing economy, attempting to finish our degrees despite spiteful professors, or caring for children in a world of sin are so meaningless compared to what so many have endured in the name of the Lord before us. Sure, we do not live in days of simplicity or security, but are we even supposed to do so? When have we ever been promised times of prosperity?
In Psalm 85, it is stated that the Lord "promises peace to his people." This is true enough, but how many of us have this inward peace that David speaks of here in verse 8? We are far too busy with making ourselves greater in society because so many of us assume that our ability to share God's word with others comes from the power we receive through "success" in today's society. Do we really want such success in this world of death?
We excuse ourselves and our accomplishments in the name of the Lord in attempt to bring our wasted lives to Him. He does not need us to be completed. None of us deserve anything but hell and here we are in America attempting to bring God something that our human hands have done without giving Him any glory for such action.
Our sense of humility before God has been devoured by the selfishness of the world we live in. We have allowed this to happen. We have concerned ourselves with finding security and purpose in the world before sharing God's word with others, when our security and purpose should be in Him.
If we were to find ourselves on the bottom of the world's standards, what could possibly be taken from us if God lived within us?
Are the things we endure here in America really what is referred to here? The things we face such as searching for a new job in a country with a failing economy, attempting to finish our degrees despite spiteful professors, or caring for children in a world of sin are so meaningless compared to what so many have endured in the name of the Lord before us. Sure, we do not live in days of simplicity or security, but are we even supposed to do so? When have we ever been promised times of prosperity?
In Psalm 85, it is stated that the Lord "promises peace to his people." This is true enough, but how many of us have this inward peace that David speaks of here in verse 8? We are far too busy with making ourselves greater in society because so many of us assume that our ability to share God's word with others comes from the power we receive through "success" in today's society. Do we really want such success in this world of death?
We excuse ourselves and our accomplishments in the name of the Lord in attempt to bring our wasted lives to Him. He does not need us to be completed. None of us deserve anything but hell and here we are in America attempting to bring God something that our human hands have done without giving Him any glory for such action.
Our sense of humility before God has been devoured by the selfishness of the world we live in. We have allowed this to happen. We have concerned ourselves with finding security and purpose in the world before sharing God's word with others, when our security and purpose should be in Him.
If we were to find ourselves on the bottom of the world's standards, what could possibly be taken from us if God lived within us?
1 comment:
Amen. I was thinking about this yesterday - there was a front-page article in the NY times the other day about persecuted Christians in India, and though the Times painted a bleak picture, you could still see the hope that they had found in Christ, in the midst of their burning homes and churches. How many of us here in America will have the opportunity to glorify God in such a tremendous way? Would we even be open to it if we did?
I guess what I'm saying is that being a follower of Christ isn't as much of a gimme here as people like to think. I think you hit it spot on with,
"Our sense of humility before God has been devoured by the selfishness of the world we live in."
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