Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Recent Ponderings
My hives are still with me. I had a second shot this morning and got put on a new antihistamine. We are praying this will help me out. I can't thank you enough for your prayers! Thank you, Kathy, for the wonderful meal for my family last night. It was truly a blessing and we had more of it for lunch today! One word--Delicious!
As I sit and ponder my own life, my sin and examine everything, I have been reading through Jesus' sermon on the mount where He says that not everybody who says, Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. From a study our youth pastor has been teaching on the last few weeks, he made some great points...many will think they are saved because of something they did or trusting in calling Him Lord... Also, in relation to the wise man who built his house on the rock and the foolish man who built his house on the sand---did you know that it says that both men heard the gospel and thought they were both right. Both heard, but only one obeyed His words. The foolish man did not obey. Read through Matthew 7:21-27...very convicting. Also, don't you think we should be very careful assuring someone of their salvation...so many churches say if they walked the aisle, said a prayer, they are fine...scripture does not teach this...it says we trust in Christ alone for what He did for us and we walk in obedience to His Word. We can assure others from Biblical assurances, but not from anything they have done. That is dangerous territory. Matthew 7 clearly shows the validity of examining our own hearts.
We must always be examining our hearts in light of our obedience to Christ.
This is a grace gem I received recently. Read through it slowly. It really explains how a true believer handles sin in their lives. It was convicting. I NEVER want to be a curtain sinner. After all, God sees all. Doesn't this make you fear the Lord and want so much to honor Him with your life?
As I sit and ponder my own life, my sin and examine everything, I have been reading through Jesus' sermon on the mount where He says that not everybody who says, Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. From a study our youth pastor has been teaching on the last few weeks, he made some great points...many will think they are saved because of something they did or trusting in calling Him Lord... Also, in relation to the wise man who built his house on the rock and the foolish man who built his house on the sand---did you know that it says that both men heard the gospel and thought they were both right. Both heard, but only one obeyed His words. The foolish man did not obey. Read through Matthew 7:21-27...very convicting. Also, don't you think we should be very careful assuring someone of their salvation...so many churches say if they walked the aisle, said a prayer, they are fine...scripture does not teach this...it says we trust in Christ alone for what He did for us and we walk in obedience to His Word. We can assure others from Biblical assurances, but not from anything they have done. That is dangerous territory. Matthew 7 clearly shows the validity of examining our own hearts.
We must always be examining our hearts in light of our obedience to Christ.
This is a grace gem I received recently. Read through it slowly. It really explains how a true believer handles sin in their lives. It was convicting. I NEVER want to be a curtain sinner. After all, God sees all. Doesn't this make you fear the Lord and want so much to honor Him with your life?
The curtain-sinner
(Thomas Watson, "The Godly Man's
Picture Drawn with a Scripture Pencil)
A godly man does not indulge himself in any sin.
Though sin lives in him--yet he does not live in sin.
A godly man may step into sin through infirmity--
but he does not keep on that road.
What is it to indulge sin? To indulge sin is to give the
breast to it and feed it. To indulge sin is to commit it
with delight. The ungodly "delight in wickedness."
(2 Thess. 2:12). In this sense, a godly man does not
indulge sin. Though sin is in him--he is troubled at it
and would gladly get rid of it.
There is as much difference between sin in the
wicked, and sin in the godly--as between poison
being in a serpent, and poison being in a man.
Poison in a serpent is in its natural place and is
delightful--but poison in a man's body is harmful
and he uses antidotes to expel it. So sin in a
wicked man is delightful, being in its natural
place--but sin in a child of God is burdensome
and he uses all means to expel it.
A godly man will not allow himself in secret sins.
Some are more modest than to commit open gross
sin. That would be a stain on their reputation. All
will not sin on a balcony--but perhaps they will
sin behind the curtain!
But a godly man dare not sin secretly, for he knows
that God can neither be deceived by our subtlety, nor
excluded by our secrecy. He knows that secret sins are
in some sense worse than others. They reveal more
deceit and atheism. "He knows the secrets of every
heart." (Psalm 44:21)
But the curtain-sinner thinks that God does not see:
"Have you seen what the leaders of Israel are doing with
their idols in dark rooms? They are saying--The Lord
doesn't see us!" (Ezek. 8:12). How it provokes God, that
men's atheism should give the lie to His omniscience! "He
who formed the eye--shall He not see?" (Psalm 94:9).
A godly man knows that secret sins shall not escape God's
justice. A judge on the bench cannot punish the treason of
the heart. But the sins of the heart are as visible to God,
as if they were written upon the forehead! As God will
reward secret duties; so He will revenge secret sins!
A godly man enters his protest against sin: "Oh,
what a miserable person I am! Who will free me
from this life that is dominated by sin?" (Romans
7:24). A child of God, while he commits sin, hates
the sin he commits!
grace gems
I am a stay at home mother to 4. I am very blessed to have a godly husband who loves the Lord and his family. I welcome the days of much needed grace,the times of sweet victories,and the tears of trials,knowing it is all for God's glory. I want my lifesong to sing to Him,the author and finisher of my faith. Soli Deo Gloria--To the Glory of God alone.
15 Comments:
Kim, you can't possibly know how much this speaks to my heart. I have sheltered my children even in my own church because I don't want them to be 'led' to salvation and then deceived their whole lives. I've talked with too many youth that 'thought' they were saved and then realized they weren't. Until my E. accepted the Lord, I wouldn't let her be involved in much. She has always sat with us during service and not attended children's church because of it.
So, to summarize, YES, I believe we should be extremel careful to tell someone they are saved. I believe we will be held accountable one day for that very thing.
Oh, one more thing.... I do continue to pray you are feeling better. I pray that shot today helps you.
Wow, Kim. That is so good and so right on. I fear that the narrow gate is so much narrower than I once thought it to be. As I have seen fellow 'christians' indulge and justify it, it scares the life out of me. I agree with you, Lord, may we not be found behind the curtain. It is a very dangerous place to play.
Praying for quick healing.
We are alike like Deidre in that we know salvation can be forced upon a child by a well meaning adult and not brought about by the Holy Spirit. I also think it a continually checking in to examine the heart.
After being in student ministry so long, we have seen it all. Fortunately, I think a lot of churches are beginning to re-evaluate the walk the aisle mentality!
Hope you are feeling better! Many prayers for you.
Could it be shingles?
This truly is a "gem". I plan to print it out and keep it with my Bible and other devotional book/journal. Thank you so much for sharing.
Praying for you tonight before I go to bed, Kim. May you awaken free of any symptoms, back to full health.
I agree, we should be careful in assuring someone they are saved. It is way too easy to tell someone that so everyone will just feel good. But it's not the case and it's actually sinning against that person to do so.
Sometimes it shocks me what "Christians" think is okay, or even what doctrine they believe. Then when you question them, they really don't know WHAT they believe. I struggle with being honest and open about it because so many find it "narrow-minded" and "too puritan" for them. I pray that I would be able to say it like it is, in a loving way. I also pray that I would not harbour secret sins in my heart, cherishing them instead of expelling them.
And I pray for YOU, my friend,that this sickness would leave you!
I love this! Our pastor once used the analogy that we may pass through Sodom, but we (the converted) would never pitch our tents there. It just isn't possible. It (sin)cannot abide. I agree with what Janet has said. It is so hard to be close to someone who appears to be lost in every single way and is sitting under false teaching and feel like you cannot speak the truth because you cannot find the words.
Blessings sweet Kim! I am so sorry you are struggling and with something that is so closely tied to your rest & well-being. He is close and at work. Prayers as you recover.
This is good. I am doing Wayne Mack's bible study on sin (A Fight to the Death) with a young lady in our church. I want her to read this. Thanks.
"You are NOT alone" in the hives thing that is! I was just catching up on your blog and couldn't believe what I read! I have been there too!!! I woke up on a Friday a few months ago with the same thing! Went to Dr. Shots... blah.. Saturday morning Hives were BACK! .. Urgent care... shots .. STREP THROAT!! NO soreness in the throat AT ALL. no fever either!!! It took 4 or 5 days for them all to finally go away... If you get sick of taking 2 allegra a day, Singulair is GREAT.. and once a day...
Just wanted you to know I've been there too.. and can really sympathize!!!
Glad you are better!!
Danielle,
Could you email me?
Thanks!
Kim, if you keep getting the hives, please go to a rheumatologist just to make sure it's nothing else causing them. I'm praying it's over and done with---maybe you do have strep!
Your post hit home for me because I was one of those that believed my good works was enough. Praise God that I no longer sit in darkness.
Hi Kim! I hope you are feeling better, and your hives are clearing up, I am praying for you! I loved this post, it is such a great reminder, to never get too comfortable in our walks with Christ, and to never take our salvation for granted.
I also wanted to let you know that I awarded you the "Nice Matters Award!" Stop by me blog and check it out!!
It could be Scarlet Fever.........a round of anitbitotics will clear that right up.
ABout salvation, that is so true. I cringe at the word "Saved". I love my salvation, don't get me wrong.......but the statement that if you are "saved" you have a ticket. It really is so much more than that. It is a change in you and in who you are. God can tell the difference, I just pray, for so many people who get "saved" but don't recieve salvation.
I hope it clears up and stays gone.
Kim, I was just checking in on you---hope you're better now. One thing I forgot to tell you was that hot showers tend to make hives worse (at least they do for my husband and myself).
Blessings~
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