Boundless (Focus on the Family's Young Adult website) recently posted a challenge to describe yourself in 30 words or less. It's harder than you think!
Here's my stab at it:
Sinner saved by grace. Christ follower. Passionate about cross-cultural ministry. Grad student. I love family, laughter, traveling, deep conversations, photography, bright colors, adventure, flip flops, and talking politics and religion.
I think that's a pretty good picture of me.
Are you up for a challenge? Can you describe yourself in 30 words or less?
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Justifying Disobedience
The phrase "justifying disobedience" has been on my mind a lot lately. More than likely because I'm doing it. Go figure.
I recently read this passage from Dr. Jerry Rankin:
“… most likely we never hear and respond to God’s call because of a reluctant will that is unwilling to trust God to lead us and use us. It is tragic that we have to term a response to God’s call as a decision of ‘surrender’ to His will. It does mean giving up our own selfish plans and ambitions, but the natural inclination of every Christian should be to willingly and joyfully place our lives in the Father’s hands and count it a privilege of following wherever He leads. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, there should be no other desire except to serve Him and be obedient to His lordship. It is at the point of a surrendered will that most Christians struggle with God’s call, rationalizing how to be obedient without sacrifice or denial of material comforts. Negotiating with God, expressing a willingness to serve Him where we are without having to go to the other side of the world. We seek to justify disobedience by questioning whether or not God is really calling us. But I assure you it is not Satan that is breaking your heart over a lost world and stirring your emotions with an inclination to walk the aisle and lay your life on the alter to go wherever God leads. That’s your Lord speaking to your heart in the still small voice of His Spirit, and if He is Lord, your response is not optional.”
- Dr. Jerry Rankin The Challenge To Great Commission Obedience (p 8-9)
--
Then I ran across an old bookmark from the IMB with this prayer on the back of it:
Father, You did love the whole world. You sent Jesus, the Savior.
Father, You do love the whole world. You send us, the messengers.
Forgive us for where we won’t go.
Illumine our justifications and rationalizations and procrastinations for the sins that they are.
Lord Jesus, You are the way of life. Show people that other ways aren’t.
Father, wait for no church, no denomination. Send forth Your Word.
Break our hearts, save our world. Even quickly, we pray.
Amen.
--
I hear you, Lord.
I recently read this passage from Dr. Jerry Rankin:
“… most likely we never hear and respond to God’s call because of a reluctant will that is unwilling to trust God to lead us and use us. It is tragic that we have to term a response to God’s call as a decision of ‘surrender’ to His will. It does mean giving up our own selfish plans and ambitions, but the natural inclination of every Christian should be to willingly and joyfully place our lives in the Father’s hands and count it a privilege of following wherever He leads. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, there should be no other desire except to serve Him and be obedient to His lordship. It is at the point of a surrendered will that most Christians struggle with God’s call, rationalizing how to be obedient without sacrifice or denial of material comforts. Negotiating with God, expressing a willingness to serve Him where we are without having to go to the other side of the world. We seek to justify disobedience by questioning whether or not God is really calling us. But I assure you it is not Satan that is breaking your heart over a lost world and stirring your emotions with an inclination to walk the aisle and lay your life on the alter to go wherever God leads. That’s your Lord speaking to your heart in the still small voice of His Spirit, and if He is Lord, your response is not optional.”
- Dr. Jerry Rankin The Challenge To Great Commission Obedience (p 8-9)
--
Then I ran across an old bookmark from the IMB with this prayer on the back of it:
Father, You did love the whole world. You sent Jesus, the Savior.
Father, You do love the whole world. You send us, the messengers.
Forgive us for where we won’t go.
Illumine our justifications and rationalizations and procrastinations for the sins that they are.
Lord Jesus, You are the way of life. Show people that other ways aren’t.
Father, wait for no church, no denomination. Send forth Your Word.
Break our hearts, save our world. Even quickly, we pray.
Amen.
--
I hear you, Lord.
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