Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts (Hebrews 3:8) and if you cannot hear his voice, consider whose you’re listening to. Is it the voice of your Shepherd? Or the one of the thief? The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy(John 10:10); as accuser and deceiver (Rev 12:9-10). When you hear the narrative run through your mind, is it riddled with accusations and lies? Or is righteousness and holiness laced throughout? Does your tongue taste of gospel and grace?
Far too often I think we move into this world from a place of selfish ambition. Far too often we look at other people as if they are too much work or too big of a project. What if instead of work, we saw one another as opportunity and privilege? What if instead of moving toward people with defense and apprehension, we let down our guard and saw them as people the Lord has given us to uncover more of who he is?
As we walk side-by-side with one another, even from afar, we are still given opportunity to speak hope and life into the lives of the people around us, to remind them of the deep truths of the Gospel, and to remind one another of the great love of Jesus.
It would do us well to be aware of our usual exchanges for safety because to battle the darkness — to actively walk in and follow the Light — we must choose it above all else.
To hold both the broken pieces and the eternal perspective in tension at the Cross…this is the way. This is the way we see God’s glory underneath all of the stuff the world throws at us. – Christie Lacy
The relationships we enter into with the people in our communities are meant for us, but are ultimately created to serve our sovereign God for His glory and kingdom. We need to understand that our God who holds all things together, placed us all here together for a specific purpose: for all of His sons and daughters to be etched and chiseled into the image of His Son.
Reflection Day 4 | This new year, what do you need to honor or keep sacred in order to walk more freely in how the Father is leading you?
Here’s the thing, if I determine that my spiritual and/or emotional health is based on any measure or ladder of success (successful ministry, successful relationships, accomplished Bible study, positional influence, etc), I am only living out of my own pride and ego, not out of the fullness and freedom that Jesus gives me.
The graciousness of being in community with men and women whose hearts are after Kingdom-things allows us to walk more confidently in who, through the grace of Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit, God intended us to be.