Committed, but cheating?

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

What does 'wholehearted' devotion look like? It is more than just being 'committed'. I can be 'committed' to a diet and still 'cheat' on occasion! My 'commitment' may only go so far and then I need to satisfy some craving! When God asks for a wholehearted commitment to him, it doesn't make room for 'cheating'. 

There is a sense of 'abiding' that is involved. We don't look to the right or left or behind. We focus on what is right in front of us - Christ Jesus. We 'abide' - remain and are loyal to him alone. We don't 'take leave' from our relationship for any reason. It is as though the 'attachment' we form with him is 'life-giving' and cannot be broken.

There is a 'steadiness' that comes when one is 'committed' in a wholehearted manner. There is no shallowness, but deep-rooted connection. Those deep roots actually lend a much-needed stability to our lives that makes it easier to endure even the toughest of trials without wavering in our attentiveness to the relationship. 

Some have a 'cordial' relationship with Jesus. They know him, have likely even asked him to forgive their sins, but they really haven't determined to follow him with any intensity or integrity. They are 'casual' Christians - something that is much like the 'lukewarm' church goer. They attest to faith, but their lives are not centered on Christ at all.

God's promise to those who make a 'wholehearted' commitment to follow him is that they will find him. As a matter of fact, they have fellowship with him, so the 'finding' is really not a 'physical' thing as much as it is a heart thing. Their emotions, mind, will - all of their inner being is connected to him in a living, vital relationship. They have a passionate steadfastness in their walk that reveals the depth of their connection with him. Are you in such a relationship? Just askin!

Peace Keepers and Peace Bringers

For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. (Titus 2:11-14)

Grace revealed - in each of his children - so salvation can come to all people. How do we reveal the true magnitude of his grace to others? It is revealed primarily in the choices we make and the actions those choices lead us to do. Sinful pleasures seem to matter less and less to one who has been touched by the grace of God, leaving a transformed life for those around us to see. 

God sent his Son - so he could give his life to free us from everything that kept us from God's presence. Isn't it a silly thing to reject such a magnificent gift? That gift is one that 'keeps on giving', as the saying goes. Grace upon grace, until one day we find our choices reflect we are totally committed to doing good. Too many of us believe the transition from 'sinner' to 'holy one' is kind of a long shot. It is like we don't believe the grace that saved us from sin could be the same grace that brings us into transformed lives.

Grace is good, but there are some actions required of us if we are to find ourselves living as Christ intends. We must turn from godless living. In other words, we don't listen to the world's wisdom, but pay close attention to the wisdom given by God through his Word and wise teaching. We stop looking for some way to 'be well' and we start living well! We find that we don't resist the movement of God in our lives as much when we make the decision to turn away and turn toward. 

What does a transformed life accomplish? Greater and greater things because of the power of God at work within us. What can a grace-filled life bring into relationships? Much love, goodness, and even forgiveness. Some of the greatest work God does in transforming our lives is in redeeming lost relationships. People totally committed to Christ are 'peace-keepers' and 'peace-bringers'. That means we might just find ourselves as instruments of his grace more and more the closer we get to him. Just sayin!

Better duck now

A prudent person sees trouble coming and ducks; a simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered. (Proverbs 22:3)

Some might equate 'prudent' to being "street-wise". The individual who is prudent has learned who and what can be trusted, when each needs to be put to practical use, and what can be counted on to deliver the best results. There is another definition of the prudent man or woman: thrifty or frugal. I guess this might be why the word is used in this passage - it is kind of like a prudent person who is streetwise knows when to expend their energies and when to let things go because the energies expended will just be way too much! A simpleton is just an ignorant, silly or foolish person; what some may call a numskull. It really points out the way the simpleton works - with his or her brain asleep! This is a direct contrast to how the prudent operates - for the prudent is always on alert. There is something quite dangerous about letting one's mind be lulled into a place of laziness or slumber. There are times we need to "shut off" for a while, but when it becomes a way of life for us, we open ourselves up to every whim of silliness around us! Two contrasts - one who exercises attentiveness to their ways and another who just flies by the seat of their pants. The difference - one will actually be able to duck quick enough to avoid disaster (natural, spiritual, or emotional)! The other will simply be hit head-on. Perhaps even knocked out by the blows.

In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls, but those who would preserve their life stay far from them. (vs. 5) I like to take hikes up in the high country. Most trails are marked with a difficulty level, so when engaging in the hike one knows ahead of time what type of climb might be encountered. Sometimes there are no markings, so I take a trail in faith. I kind of think life is like that a little - sometimes we get the well-marked trail which gives us plenty of warning about the amount of effort which will be required of us to traverse from one point to another; other times we get the trails which have no markings, give us no warning of their dangers, and which present some unknown hazards to the one on the journey. The simpleton plods ahead; the prudent examines the path as it is presented. The simpleton takes the steps which will do nothing more than tire and present unwanted "slipping" points. The prudent will examine the course and see the shortest distance may not be the best for preserving strength, stamina, and avoiding injury. 

We are afforded many paths in life - we can face them as the simpleton or the prudent. The choice is ours. Not every path will be well-marked, giving us every chance to prepare for it, or avoid it completely. I think God might just do this on purpose, for if we knew the end from the beginning, let alone the way we'd have to traverse to get there, we probably would pull back and declare the paths presented just way too hard for our travels! Prepare for the path ahead and the pitfalls of the path will be more evident. Plod ahead without any preparation or consideration and you could just be putting yourself in danger. Not every path will be 'hazard-free', so when we are alert, prepared, and consistently focused, we are likely to avoid those 'hazards' that pop up out of nowhere. Once we are well on our way down the path, it is too late to consider our commitment to it! Just sayin!