As I read this, this morning I couldn't help but think of the "dogs," or "joy robbers," that Paul talks about. How often is it that I twist the scriptures in order to make it more comfortable for me? I like to add anything I can to Christ so that I feel comfortable, yet I am mutilating the gospel.
It's so hard to believe and accept the reality that we CAN NOT do anything to save ourselves. I like to add Christ + good works. I feel comfortable with that because I can control that. I've been told over and over again that this isn't the gospel, this isn't Christ, but I continue because I like to be comfortable. Christ + nothing = uncomfortableness. When I surrender myself and my ability to control I allow the uncomfortable purifying fire of Christ transform my life and experience pure joy.
I heard a pastor at Hume one year say, "the gospel is always necessarily offensive." When I take the offensiveness out of the gospel for the sake of feeling comfortable, I am chewing it up and yanking out the joy. As Jesus did with His disciples, I always picture Him turning to me and saying, "do I offend you?" After I respond with yes, I imagine Jesus saying "GOOD!"
"When I surrender myself and my ability to control I allow the uncomfortable purifying fire of Christ to transform my life and experience pure joy". Yes, Jesus, you offend me...but still I want to surrender. This is a good reminder to lean into being uncomfortable, to recognize the tension that Jesus reveals to us. Thanks, Collin!
ReplyDeleteYour all caps GOOD with an exclamation point created for me a messiah mic drop.
ReplyDelete"Do I offend you?" After I respond with yes, I imagine Jesus saying "GOOD!" -- mic drop.....
Like the staging of this scene Collin. Thx!!