Resolution

Resolved that, should I ever have a daughter, I would never let some teenage punk convince her that he loves her more than I do.

The Trap of Faith

Recently I've been increasingly convinced that a great scheme of the Devil is to direct our gaze away from Christ and towards our own faith.  It is a very subtle scheme and has trapped me at many different times in my small, three year walk with God.  I know in my own life there are a couple of ways this comes up.   I thought I might share these things that God's shown me, so that we could serve Him more.  

One way is that I begin to think of verses that talk about how great of faith certain men had like the Roman centurion.  I also think about great men of God like George Muller, Hudson Taylor, Charles Spurgeon, etc, who trusted in God in many more ways than I do.  After thinking of how "great" their faith is, I begin to think about how "great" my faith isn't!  Given that I think that my faith is small, I then begin to wonder if my faith is worth anything.  What if my faith isn't up to God's standards for salvation?  What if it doesn't live up to "saving faith"?  Compared to George Muller's faith, my faith can't be worth anything.  I have trouble reading and praying every morning, I have trouble talking to other Christians about Christ at times, I struggle with fear when it comes to evangelism, so how could my faith be real?  And so, I ultimately begin to doubt whether I'm a Christian at all!  That's the progression (some of you might relate).  

Another way is specific to prayer.  We know from the book of James that when we pray we ought not to doubt.  This is a great verse, and praise God for it!  My struggle comes when I'm trying to work this out practically though.  I pray for a family member to be saved, or for myself to walk in love for the day, and I think about that verse and so the thought comes, "well, God must answer because of my faith".  I've prayed, I trust that my faith is without doubting, and so I must receive it.

In both of these examples there is the theme of looking away from God, looking away from Christ, and looking towards my faith.  This is always dangerous, and in my opinion is a big reason why many true Christians doubt their salvation.  They stop trusting in God and start trusting in their faith.  Faith apart from God fails and doesn't make sense.  Faith always has to have an object related to it, you can't just have "faith", you have to have faith in something, or someone.  The point in which we take our eyes off of Christ and on to our faith is when we turn our faith into a work.  We say, "Yes! We're not under the old Mosaic Law, we're under grace, we're under this new covenant of Christ.", but then we turn our faith into another law, another work that will please God.  

The thing I've learned is to never stop looking at Christ! The moment you do is when you begin to look at other things that are worthless.  Don't rely on your faith by itself to save you, don't rely on faith by itself to have your prayers answered.  God saves a person because of Christ, and He answers because He says He will.  

Flee Youthful Passions

Click the link below for great some thoughts about how arguing can be a youthful passion. We are to heed Paul's instructions to Timothy and flee from it.

Click here:

Flee Youthful Passions - Like Arguing Too Much

Communion With Christ

"For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day."
-1 Timothy 1:12

If you're not careful you can miss a gem of truth that Paul reveals here in this verse. Paul is confident that Christ can guard what has been entrusted to Him by the believer and this is a great verse about the God's faithfulness, but did you catch why Paul is convinced? It is because he knows whom he has believed! He knows Christ and has a personal trust and knowledge of God. No religion can give you knowledge and communion with God like true Christianity can. Do not get caught up in knowledge of facts and creeds. Resolve to KNOW GOD like Paul did and keep your personal relationship and trust in Him warm and loving.

Bible Study Not Cancelled This Week!

I thought it'd be an idea to clarify here - Helena's post was for last week's bible study, March the 6th, that was cancelled. This week, March the 13th, Nathan Rages will be here to share from the Word, Lord willing. All are invited! :D

Bible Study Cancelled

Sorry folks, but the Columbia Tuesday Night Bible Study is cancelled this week due to lots of sickness! :(

Affliction

"For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Neither has He hidden His face from him; but when he cried for help He heard." Psalm 22:24

Christ is pointing us to this psalm and its fulfillment when he quotes this psalm on the cross. Christ doesn't despise your affliction; he has gone through the worst affliction imaginable and He has the ability to enter into your pain and affliction rather than despise it and you when you are in the midst of a trial. Such grace and understanding from our God is beautiful! Not only can He sympathize, but He has the power to answer your call for help as the ascended crucified Savior.

God help us to live in this truth.