Friday, January 30, 2009

Just taking a commercial break...

Tell me what you think of this...

"Biblically, there is nothing more detestable than a self-righteous disciple. He is so swollen with conceit that his mere presence is unbearable. However, a nagging question arises. Have I so insulated myself in a fortified city of rationalizations that I cannot see that I may not be as different from the self-righteous as I would like to think?
The following scenario plays in my imagination:
A humble woman seeks me out because of my vaunted reputation as a spiritual guide. She is simple and direct:
"Please teach me how to pray."
Tersely, I inquire, "Tell me about your prayer life."
She lowers her eyes and says contritely, "There's not much to tell. I say grace before meals."
Haughtily, I reply, "You say grace before meals! Isn't that nice, Madam. I say grace upon waking and before retiring, and grace again before reading the newspaper and turning on the television. I say grace before ambulating and meditating, before the theater and the opera, before jogging, swimming, biking, dining, lecturing, and writing. I even say grace before I say grace."

That night soggy with self-approval, I go before the Lord.
And He whispers, "You ungrateful turd. Even the desire to say grace is itself My gift."



Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Discipline of Grace Chapter 3...

PREACH THE GOSPEL TO YOURSELF EVERY DAY!

First, before you read this 3rd part of this blog you must read Romans 3:19-26...you must read it at least twice and then pray about it and then read it again! Seriously! DO IT! DOO IT!



Alright, did you read it? Ok, here goes...

"It is not our contrition or sorrow for our sin, it is not our repentance, it is not even the passing of a certain number of hours during which we feel we are on some kind of probation that cleanses us. It is the blood of Christ, shed once for all on Calvary 2000 years ago but appropriated daily or even many times a day, that cleanses our consciences and gives us a renewed sense of peace with God."

"To preach the gospel then to yourself, then, means that you continually face up to your own sinfulness and then flee to Jesus through faith in His shed blood and righteous life. It means that you appropriate, again by faith, the FACT that Jesus FULLY satisified the law of God, that He is your propitiation, and that God's holy wrath is no longer directed toward you!"


"Therefore there is now NO condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus!"

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Now answer the question, "Why do I keep doing it wrong all the time? Why can't I quit? Why can't I stop? How can I stop? Our goal is "preach the gospel to ourselves" EVERYDAY!

Hallelujah! What a Savior!!