2012. 3. 16. 11:48
카테고리 없음
Broken
People are broken for many reasons today. It may be that they come from a broken family, or that they ended a relationship that meant a lot to them, or someone dear to them passed away. Either way, we are all broken because we all share the ultimate symbol of brokenness--sin. Sin is brokenness because it separates us from our loving father. The Holy Spirit is the sin doctor who detects our sin and diagnoses us in His speaking to our hearts.
So despite this brokenness, how can we have a healthy relationship with our God and yet not be lulled into a false sense of security that we are "good" with God?
In this day and age, we live in a "performance society", where you work hard and you get more money or more of something. Actions have their rewards. The Devil tries to use this notion of a performance society to blind us as to what our relationship with God should be. But when you think about it, numbers and progress reports don't work when you apply them to your commitment to your spouse or children--why would they work with God?
If we take a look in the Word of God, in Revelation 3:14-17 it says, "And unto the angel of the church of Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; (15) I know thy works that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would rather thou wert cold or hot. (16) So then because thou art lukewarm and neither cold or hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (17) Because thou sayest, I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor and blind and naked." (KJV)
We may read this, and many times we think, "I am not a Laodicean. I don't feel rich, nor do I profess that I need nothing. God continues saying "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried by fire that thou mayest be rich: and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear, and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see." Rev. 3:18 (KJV)
The real tragedy with the Laodiceans is that they were blind. So blind, they couldn't see they were blind and what they were blinded too.
Laodicea's tragedy was that they saw something in their life that was not there. We can lull ourselves into security that we are fine as we are. You and I too could fall into this dangerous blindness. We can lull ourselves into security that we are fine as we are--especially as long as we keep doing the right things, saying the right words.
In getting a relationship with God we need to remember that knowledge does not equal relationship. We often think that to have a deep relationship with God we must know much about Him. Knowing God is a crucial part of having a deep relationship with him but just because you know a lot about God does not mean that you are close to Him.
Luckily for us, the King of the entire Universe wants to meet with us constantly, and we can hold audience with Him. The key is his promise: "And ye shall seek me and find me when you search for me with all of your heart," Jeremiah 29:13. We must search for Him with all of our hearts.
So what can we do to have a strong walk with God daily? How can we strengthen this relationship much goes against? How can we avoid the snare of the Laodiceans and see the truth about our walk with God?
I call you to remember the butterfly effect, the simple notion that one tiny action (like the flapping of butterfly wings) can affect something big in the universe. Every thing that may seem small that we do to get closer to God builds a strong foundation and affects so much more around us.
I pray that we may stop performing for God, but instead serve him with all of our hearts. That we may press on, and hope forever in the Lord; that we may praise Him every day of our live.
Remember there is One that can heal our condition of sin and brokenness, and that He says to us each and every minute "Behold I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him and I will sup with him, and he with me." Rev. 4:20 (KJV).
So despite this brokenness, how can we have a healthy relationship with our God and yet not be lulled into a false sense of security that we are "good" with God?
In this day and age, we live in a "performance society", where you work hard and you get more money or more of something. Actions have their rewards. The Devil tries to use this notion of a performance society to blind us as to what our relationship with God should be. But when you think about it, numbers and progress reports don't work when you apply them to your commitment to your spouse or children--why would they work with God?
If we take a look in the Word of God, in Revelation 3:14-17 it says, "And unto the angel of the church of Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; (15) I know thy works that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would rather thou wert cold or hot. (16) So then because thou art lukewarm and neither cold or hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (17) Because thou sayest, I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor and blind and naked." (KJV)
We may read this, and many times we think, "I am not a Laodicean. I don't feel rich, nor do I profess that I need nothing. God continues saying "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried by fire that thou mayest be rich: and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear, and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see." Rev. 3:18 (KJV)
The real tragedy with the Laodiceans is that they were blind. So blind, they couldn't see they were blind and what they were blinded too.
Laodicea's tragedy was that they saw something in their life that was not there. We can lull ourselves into security that we are fine as we are. You and I too could fall into this dangerous blindness. We can lull ourselves into security that we are fine as we are--especially as long as we keep doing the right things, saying the right words.
In getting a relationship with God we need to remember that knowledge does not equal relationship. We often think that to have a deep relationship with God we must know much about Him. Knowing God is a crucial part of having a deep relationship with him but just because you know a lot about God does not mean that you are close to Him.
Luckily for us, the King of the entire Universe wants to meet with us constantly, and we can hold audience with Him. The key is his promise: "And ye shall seek me and find me when you search for me with all of your heart," Jeremiah 29:13. We must search for Him with all of our hearts.
So what can we do to have a strong walk with God daily? How can we strengthen this relationship much goes against? How can we avoid the snare of the Laodiceans and see the truth about our walk with God?
I call you to remember the butterfly effect, the simple notion that one tiny action (like the flapping of butterfly wings) can affect something big in the universe. Every thing that may seem small that we do to get closer to God builds a strong foundation and affects so much more around us.
I pray that we may stop performing for God, but instead serve him with all of our hearts. That we may press on, and hope forever in the Lord; that we may praise Him every day of our live.
Remember there is One that can heal our condition of sin and brokenness, and that He says to us each and every minute "Behold I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him and I will sup with him, and he with me." Rev. 4:20 (KJV).
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