Matthew 7:14 - 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Matthew 11:28-30 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
TO YOU:
I just realized a greater understanding of our short little journey on Earth and I hope that through this post, the Holy Spirit will work in you, bringing you to a greater realization about our short little journey on Earth (a realization to whatever magnitude it may be).
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2 Points:
WAR:
My whole life people have been telling me to "fight the good fight of faith" (1Tim6:12) and have been telling me how difficult it is to live the Christian life. That it's war against ourselves, our sinful natures and we need to battle our sins with Scripture.
REST:
Yet, at the same time, I have been told to rely on Jesus Christ. To rest in the complete work of Jesus. Jesus has done it all for us and all we need to do is rest in Him.
So what is it? Is it war or is it rest?
Yea I know it may be obvious for some, but it is BOTH.
1.
"the war is to rest in the right place. and the whole world is telling you to rest in the wrong places" - John Piper
Clarification:
Now don't confuse things. We are not saved by works, by our efforts, by our war. Nope...this is not a war for justification, for God's favor. NO, we are saved by faith in Jesus, that's the beauty of grace, that is God's favor, freely given, unworked for, unmerited.
So what is this war for?
To rest in the right place, to fight the good fight of faith.
2.
We are not alone in this war. God is helping us.
And as the gospel explains, those sins are already forgiven...defeated. That is how we can defeat those sins, by bearing in mind that those sins are defeated...boom! ANOTHER reason to preach to yourself the gospel everyday.. =D
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Yea so that's something I learned yesterday and a little bit today. Sorry if the authoritative tone bothers you, that's how I heard them....heh (John Piper's sermons).
So please understand the magnitude all of these truths.
We are at war and the whole world is telling us to rest in:
the comfort of our American lives
the justice and protection of the government
our economy that ensures jobs and businesses
our jobs and businesses that provide money
our money that provide payments for food, shelter, and convenience
our resumes which provide greater odds at getting those jobs
our four year plans or any the security of having our whole lives planned ahead of us
our spouses who helps us as a teammate along our journey in life
our boyfriend/girlfriend who just makes me happy
our families who always show us unconditional love
our friends who always make us laugh and make us feel special
our works which we can control (externally to appear good in human standards)
But, thank and praise God, that He shatters those realities, that He shakes those things, brings them to dust through life's storms, through human fallibility SO THAT it is easier to find the only Solid Rock, the only Firm Foundation that we can rest in...Jesus Christ.
Only through our faith in Jesus can we find rest, can we find joy, can we find peace, can we find satisfaction, and can we find salvation.
3 comments:
God bless your efforts as you war against sin for greater joy and faith in Jesus Christ.
Thanks Henrik, I needed that. In serving in ministry and church, I often find myself warring fruitlessly in my own strength. Instead I should battle to find my rest in God and His work in my life. Thanks again :)
thank you for the encouragements guys =]
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