I have been thinking about how much I have changed since graduating high school. So much has happened in my life. And now, more than ever before, I see God as the Author of it all! He definitely knows what He is doing, and I am so thankful for that. I have been working on a bible study by Dwight Edwards called “Experiencing Christ Within”. This has been the most amazing study I have ever done. Instead of feeling obligated to do it, I want to do it. For those who know me well know that I’m really good at starting things but struggle with finishing them. Not so with this study! Why, you might ask, is this study so good? Glad you asked! J
This study talks about the Old and New Covenants and “Passionately embracing God’s provisions for supernatural living.” Before you get scared off by the word “supernatural”, please finish reading this. I don’t want you to miss out on Truth, which can sometimes be scary.
For anyone who reads my facebook, some of these quotes might sound familiar. Currently I am on week five of the study, and I have noticed that I have at least one favorite quote from each week and I would like to share those quotes with you now.
“He (God) never requires anything from us that He hasn’t already deposited within us.”
“God does not exist for us; we exist for Him.”
“To be transformed, our job is to ‘behold’-to continually contemplate-God’s glory, focusing our spiritual gaze not primarily on things like Christian duties or our unworthiness, but on God’s spectacularness.”
“I cannot by direct moral effort, give myself new motives. After the first few steps in the Christian life we realize that everything which really needs to be done in our souls can be done only by God.” -C.S. Lewis
“Drawing attention to God must be the central purpose behind all our actions.”
“Only after we lose all hope of attaining on our own what God requires will we stop relying on self and start passionately taking hold of what god has provided.”
So, what do you think? See any common themes between the quotes?
I do. God. Okay, I will elaborate. Only God can accomplish in me what I struggle to do on my own. God wants us to live a life that is holy and glorifies Him. I cannot do this, only He can. Hard thing to swallow, I know. I need to stop trying and start being. God has given me the tools and things necessary to live a holy, set a part life for Him. But I have to be willing to use them and let Him work through me. Easier said than done, but so worth it!
Right now I am reading and learning about who God really is, not who we make Him out to be or want Him to be. So many times we want to just see Him as a loving Father, which He is. But in the study the author points out that God’s “most foundational attribute is not love but holiness—the perfect holiness that is the source of His righteous wrath.” There is a reason we need to come before God with fear and awe. Also, as my mother so rightly put it, this is the reason why we pray in the name of Jesus. Because He is our advocate to a Holy and Righteous God. Think about the Old Testament and the Israelites. When they chose to go their own way, God was not happy with them because they were not bringing glory to His name. He would get angry with them and punish them with His righteous wrath. There are times when He restored the Israelites, not because they deserved it, but because it would bring glory to His name. If He punished the Israelites for not bringing glory to His name, then I need to seriously reconsider how I’m living my life and if it is bringing glory and honor to His name. Again, I am so thankful I have Christ to intercede on my behalf!
Hopefully this is all making sense. There is so much more I can talk about, but I will give my soap box a rest for now. J Hopefully this gives you a lot to think about and maybe even challenge you. My purpose on this earth is to live a life that is honoring and glorifying my Creator.