With a blameless Heart
I am a live example of the fact that reading or knowing the Bible does not make you anything other than a well-informed sinner, that is, of course, unless you are in Christ.
Between May 1986 and February 1990 I read the Bible cover to cover at least seven times. I knew every nuance in every story, every famous verse, every parable quoted by Jesus. Yet I was walking in complete darkness. I did, somehow, in my own deluded imagination, think that I was righteous and blameless. I was indeed definitely a compassionate person, sort of, other than that, I was completely and unequivocally a fake. A fake with a fantastic ability to argue from scripture.
How did I get there? That is another story; I certainly did not intend for things to be that way. And I didn't see it coming, because I came smoothly, little by little. A tiny little sin here, another one there. Before long, there was no trace of any concern about things that were black or white, All I could see was a big dark grey Blurry area where everything was allowed.
I remember the first day I walked in Christ, after decades of callous and Irresponsible living. Someone tricked me into going to a dinner meeting, which turned out to be an alfa course seminar. The things the speaker talked about were nothing new to me, yet I left the place that night with a lot of questions.
Next day I came to the home of a friend who was a pastor; we started talking about my questions, and within minutes I was on his floor weeping uncontrollably, pleading for God's forgiveness, and begging Jesus to take control of my life.
When I left my friend's house I was feeling light as a feather, it's like a thousand tons' load had been removed from my back. As I walked towards my car I reflected on the moment, on my life, on my past, and I could see rottenness, darkness, perversion, depravity. But, most importantly, I was disgusted and nauseated by it.
The weeks following this event were incomprehensible. I had all of a sudden, developed an extreme hyper-sensitivity to sin; it's like, God had implanted a sin detecting device on my brain, and it even came with features like, alarms, warnings, preemptive procedures, and emergency lock-down. But, what's most extraordinary about this newfound clarity, is the corrective measures the Holy Spirit would take when a sin managed to get through the many layers of filter. I felt like a toddler falling and bruising his knees, and God coming to the rescue with kind words and ointments, and a warm embrace to make me feel better.
Then days and months and years passed, and as they did, the occasional small sin started to not seem like such big deal anymore, and while, as expected, I would consistently "repent" and ask for forgiveness, when I had a slip, they continued to occasionally surface. Then it downed on me, Satan's strategies are artful, and the weakness of the flesh is beyond measure.
Charles Spurgeon tells us, speaking on Romans 7:13; Beware of light thoughts of sin. At the time of conversion, the conscience is so tender, that we are afraid of the slightest sin. Young converts have a holy timidity, a godly fear lest they should offend against God. But alas! Very soon the fine bloom upon these first ripe fruits is removed by the rough handling of the surrounding world: the sensitive plant of young piety turns into a willow in after life, too pliant, too easily yielding. It is sadly true, that even a Christian may grow by degrees so callous, that the sin which once startled him does not alarm him in the least.
This is not a thing, which, sometimes, happen to some Christians, it is a thing which all the time, happens to all the Christians. And only those who are keenly aware of the trend, will stay alert, making constant and persistent corrections, as the wise captain of a vessel traveling through the vast ocean, always making adjustments, always fixing its rout, to stay on course, towards our final destination.
Peter calls us to be sober-minded; to be watchful. For our adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Paul tells us how we ought to purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. Jesus tells us to be perfect, therefore, as you're heavenly Father is perfect
The call of the gospel, is a call to holiness, it's a call to walk in purity of Heart. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5: 8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
My favorite Psalm, as of last night is Psalm 101:2-3 I will be careful to lead a blameless life, when will you come to me? I will conduct the affairs of my house with a blameless heart. I will not look with approval on anything that is vile.
I had read this psalm hundreds of times, yet last night. It hit me straight in the face with this reality. To conduct the affairs of my house with a blameless heart, and to not look with approval on anything that is vile. That's all it takes loved ones, if we make and carry on this one commitment, all else will fall in place, and there won't ever be any doubt in our mind, that we are walking the straight and narrow.
I am up to the challenge, are you? Let's do this together, it will be fun, and God's smile will always shine on our countenance.
Be blessed, and Be Holy, for He is Holy.
Jos� A. Luna
A Servant of Christ Jesus.
https://morador-temporal.blogspot.com/
By Jose Luna
Article Source: With a Blameless Heart
I am a live example of the fact that reading or knowing the Bible does not make you anything other than a well-informed sinner, that is, of course, unless you are in Christ.
Between May 1986 and February 1990 I read the Bible cover to cover at least seven times. I knew every nuance in every story, every famous verse, every parable quoted by Jesus. Yet I was walking in complete darkness. I did, somehow, in my own deluded imagination, think that I was righteous and blameless. I was indeed definitely a compassionate person, sort of, other than that, I was completely and unequivocally a fake. A fake with a fantastic ability to argue from scripture.
How did I get there? That is another story; I certainly did not intend for things to be that way. And I didn't see it coming, because I came smoothly, little by little. A tiny little sin here, another one there. Before long, there was no trace of any concern about things that were black or white, All I could see was a big dark grey Blurry area where everything was allowed.
I remember the first day I walked in Christ, after decades of callous and Irresponsible living. Someone tricked me into going to a dinner meeting, which turned out to be an alfa course seminar. The things the speaker talked about were nothing new to me, yet I left the place that night with a lot of questions.
Next day I came to the home of a friend who was a pastor; we started talking about my questions, and within minutes I was on his floor weeping uncontrollably, pleading for God's forgiveness, and begging Jesus to take control of my life.
When I left my friend's house I was feeling light as a feather, it's like a thousand tons' load had been removed from my back. As I walked towards my car I reflected on the moment, on my life, on my past, and I could see rottenness, darkness, perversion, depravity. But, most importantly, I was disgusted and nauseated by it.
The weeks following this event were incomprehensible. I had all of a sudden, developed an extreme hyper-sensitivity to sin; it's like, God had implanted a sin detecting device on my brain, and it even came with features like, alarms, warnings, preemptive procedures, and emergency lock-down. But, what's most extraordinary about this newfound clarity, is the corrective measures the Holy Spirit would take when a sin managed to get through the many layers of filter. I felt like a toddler falling and bruising his knees, and God coming to the rescue with kind words and ointments, and a warm embrace to make me feel better.
Then days and months and years passed, and as they did, the occasional small sin started to not seem like such big deal anymore, and while, as expected, I would consistently "repent" and ask for forgiveness, when I had a slip, they continued to occasionally surface. Then it downed on me, Satan's strategies are artful, and the weakness of the flesh is beyond measure.
Charles Spurgeon tells us, speaking on Romans 7:13; Beware of light thoughts of sin. At the time of conversion, the conscience is so tender, that we are afraid of the slightest sin. Young converts have a holy timidity, a godly fear lest they should offend against God. But alas! Very soon the fine bloom upon these first ripe fruits is removed by the rough handling of the surrounding world: the sensitive plant of young piety turns into a willow in after life, too pliant, too easily yielding. It is sadly true, that even a Christian may grow by degrees so callous, that the sin which once startled him does not alarm him in the least.
This is not a thing, which, sometimes, happen to some Christians, it is a thing which all the time, happens to all the Christians. And only those who are keenly aware of the trend, will stay alert, making constant and persistent corrections, as the wise captain of a vessel traveling through the vast ocean, always making adjustments, always fixing its rout, to stay on course, towards our final destination.
Peter calls us to be sober-minded; to be watchful. For our adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Paul tells us how we ought to purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. Jesus tells us to be perfect, therefore, as you're heavenly Father is perfect
The call of the gospel, is a call to holiness, it's a call to walk in purity of Heart. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5: 8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
My favorite Psalm, as of last night is Psalm 101:2-3 I will be careful to lead a blameless life, when will you come to me? I will conduct the affairs of my house with a blameless heart. I will not look with approval on anything that is vile.
I had read this psalm hundreds of times, yet last night. It hit me straight in the face with this reality. To conduct the affairs of my house with a blameless heart, and to not look with approval on anything that is vile. That's all it takes loved ones, if we make and carry on this one commitment, all else will fall in place, and there won't ever be any doubt in our mind, that we are walking the straight and narrow.
I am up to the challenge, are you? Let's do this together, it will be fun, and God's smile will always shine on our countenance.
Be blessed, and Be Holy, for He is Holy.
Jos� A. Luna
A Servant of Christ Jesus.
https://morador-temporal.blogspot.com/
By Jose Luna
Article Source: With a Blameless Heart