During reflection time on my way to work today I was thinking of the entitlement generation not only amongst the secular world but of individuals within the church walls. Not just entitlement from the U.S. government and social programs and companies but in the pews and at the throne of God. When I focus in on my habits down to how I ask God for things or how I treat or talk to people, it really is not different other than God owes you nothing and you owe him everything. No matter how much you "do for God" or "do in his name" nothing can pay you debt, except for your life. With people you loan and expect back, God says different. You expect people to be as honest and "holy" as you, God says different. See if we adjust to God's law (the word of God [bible]) you might see an adjustment in how you think act and respond to situations in your life that would breed self entitlement. God says loan to those in need and expect nothing in return and THEN He will bless you. Putting the expectancy on others to live the way you do breeds the entitlement of you deserving to be treated a different way. But God says I'll be persecuted for his sake and be blessed in that. Meaning not everyone is going to be honest forthcoming and holy as you think you are. AND I hate to burst your bubble but we aren't as holy as some might think. This path of learning in God never ends until the day you start eternity, the moment you think you have the whole "religion" or "relationship" with God/Jesus thing down you set yourself up for failure.
I hear a lot of this Jesus movement and I believe he was our savior, God, mentor, healer, and our rock. You shall not enter in the kingdom of heaven without him in your heart. GOT THAT. But God didn't start nor does he continue his kingdom on the sole principle of Jesus is in your heart and that's ALL you need. Its a mandatory thing to get into heaven but its not the only thing you have to do or partake in as a christian. There are additional commandments ( BTW: there are WAY more than just the 10, just to let you know) to follow, law to adhere to and so on. A lot of talk seems to be about if I have a relationship with Jesus personally I don't need the church. All the church does is take money money money and then tells us how to live and judges us. As I believe there are churches out there that are partaking in this it doesn't give us a free pass to not do our obligations and ignore our commandments from God. See commandments aren't rules to follow, they are standards to uphold. Actively upholding them is the commandment part. The bible tells us for those without sin cast the first stone, we can't cast it. There is structure in the church along with guidelines just as Paul set up in the new testament for people to follow because without the structure the building will fall, even with a firm foundation..... The law is no reproach for the obedient... Meaning if your follow the law the law isn't a problem for you. If you're are an anarchist or rebel or dare I say "I have my own relationship MAAAN" type person then the law will be a big pill, hard to swallow for you. A relationship is individualized based on the experiences you have that others do not, It is not individualized by the God YOU serve or his rules in which you chose to recognize or ignore. As Christians we believe the whole Bible and all its passages not part, not new testament and throw out the old. History is doomed to repeat itself if we don't acknowledge it and in the old testament He set up laws for the people and gave us them and the written words for an example of what not to do and what to do not just a history book for "That was a different time". Just as the kingdoms and established areas fell into curses of God and into rebellion then it still happens today, dare I also say worse. Look at today's political leaders ignoring the "old" constitution...How's that working for your first and second amendments and your taxes?? Not only in the world put now Christians ,or so called, are falling into the same trap but are not keeping it solely in the backyard anymore they are coming into the house and using the same secular ways to push their own agendas right in the house on the couch feet kicked up. That's dangerous..... We need to get back to studying the bible and living what people had the chance to live and messed up. Being obedient to the word of God is so much more than praise and blessings, "Jesus forgives, I'm good" attitude is a trap. Christianity is a lifestyle not just a bypass to heaven, that way of thinking could lead you to hell.
As Christians we need to sacrifice some stuff. No not a ram, lamb or goat, not giving up food or time for others. but the almost hidden "sacrifice" that no one but God really considers a sacrifice....Thanksgiving.. in Psalm 50:23 is states (NLT) "But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors Me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God." **This is pre-Jesus talk**! Sacrifice in this text isn't a burnt offering its a praise in the act of thanksgiving. So when someone says obedience is better than sacrifice the context could be taken as, obeying my law is better than thanking me. For without obedience you'll find there isn't much to thank God for. In this verse he stresses how a thanksgiving praise truly honors him, how much then does obeying him honor him? Don't forget those laws, follow them so you have SOMETHING to be thankful for and to keep being thankful for day in and day out and give him the due thanksgiving praise for it and you will truly show that you honor him instead of just saying it. See I believe to honor is to obey and to obey is to honor. Like honor your father and mother?? No kidding... It's not just saying its doing.. That's a true "Relationship" and it's individualized by YOU doing it.
RAMBLIN' RAMBLIN'
In closing let me leave you with a little psalm action from my reading today for some food to chew on.
Psalm 51:5-6NLT "For I was born a sinner-yes, from the moment my mother conceived me but you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there."
Psalm 51:12-13NLT "Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey You. Then I will teach Your ways to the rebels, and they will return to You."
KICKER** Psalm 51:17NLT "The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God."
hope this helps :)
mnixon33
