Dangerous For Good

Many wait for God to move first – give us a sign, etc. But, I’ve found that if we make the first step towards the Father in faith – stepping out on His promises or in our understanding of His character or remembrance of what He has done throughout history – then He meets us where we are. As in this example, He RUNS to meet the wayward son. He had been waiting for this moment and now celebrates the son’s return. He doesn’t brow beat or hold past dumb decisions over the son’s head or keep bringing it up, He just celebrates the return – once he was lost; now he is found.

2 Kings 23:6-7 NLT, 2 Kings 23:11-12 NLT, 1 Corinthians 3:16 NLT and 2 Corinthians 6:16 NLT

Man, this hit me yesterday while listening & driving – thank You Lord.

Initial thought: Wow! How bold (and galactically stupid!) for God’s chosen people to bring items of other-god worship into the Holy Temple! It slapped me in the face that these people would have the nerve to do that. I was really shocked.

Then it hit me.

As a child of God/follower of Jesus Christ, I am now the Holy Temple of the Almighty God in the form of Holy Spirit. Ooops. What have I worshiped (given my attention to) in the Temple instead of God? What idols are in there still? What have I duped myself into believing that it’s okay to leave there?

Lord – clean house. I don’t want to take You where You don’t want to go. Or, let in what is not holy in your sight, for when I do, I am just like the many kings who “did evil in the sight of the Lord”. I have allowed this to go on for too long. Thank for for Your revelation yesterday.

Truth is, I am a new creation in Christ – the old is gone; the new has come! The Holy Spirit is living in me. It is true that some of the baggage of the old life/flesh is still laying around. But I’m not double minded…I can act that way sometimes, but that is not who I really am. Kind of like the kings who did as the Lord commanded, but didn’t destroy all of the golden calves, etc…

Ugh. That’s me. Lord, thank You for shining Your light on this for me yesterday.

Jesus-followers: Do you think you are “sinners saved by grace” or “saints who struggle w/ sin”? Consider “No Good Thing?” http://ow.ly/1vqRYe via @ransomedheart. Identity is key – who are you? Whose are you? If you have trusted Jesus as your Savior then the “old is gone; behold the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17) and you are a new creation in Christ. The “in Christ” part is key, and something you’ll see very often in the New Testament writings of the Apostle Paul. “In Christ” is a game changer! Getting you to focus on the old you is a deception ploy/misdirection play crafted by the enemy. Live in the now and focus on the new!

Exodus 5:21-23 NLT and Habakkuk 1:5 NLT

Was reading this very interesting set of verses today.

Hebrew slaves go to plead with Pharaoh about the harsh treatment – of course. The are not privy to the big plan God has crafted and has begun to work out. They are just wanting (at least in Pharaoh’s presence) to keep the status quo. They have been crying out to the Lord for rescue and help is coming, but they can’t see the big picture, so they lash out. I get that.

However, Moses has been told! He knows the score and he knows what he is there to do! This is a “young” (in leadership only, as he was 80-ish at the time) Moses with a ton of self-confidence issues.  Another Hebrew gets on to him about what – in effect – he caused to happen by talking to Pharaoh @ God’s plans/requests/demands and now he is complaining to God too!

Makes me think of Habakkuk 1:5 – where God tells the prophet, “…you wouldn’t believe even if you were told.”

I’m certain that I would be in the same camp. In fact, I am, daily when I complain to the Lord after I forget His promises in the midst of my circumstances.  I’m thankful to have already been forgiven for this!

IT’S FINALLY HERE! Leaving for Girls Getaway & Warrior Week this morning! Pls pray for an awesome week! May Jesus get all the glory!

TOMORROW WE LEAVE FOR CAMP! Pumped about getting on the bus and seeing what the Lord is going to do in our lives at GG & WW!

_Proverbs 4: 23, 25-27