The Plumbline

Apathy by its very definition describes the condition of a heart that drifts slowly into a pattern of routine pursuit, creating ruts of habit that soon keep us anchored in the things that destroy the very foundations so carefully and passionately provided by God at the time of our salvation. Drifting occurs without any purposeful thought. Think of the snow gently falling on a beautiful winter day. Snowflakes gently fall in random patterns, accumulating in even layers as they gently drift to the ground. There is no established pattern for how they will fall. There is no purposeful placement of that snowflake one upon another. In fact, that snowflake is affected by everything in its environment. If the wind blows a little, the snowflakes are directed toward objects and structures that allow them to accumulate in uneven patterns, causing build-up of snow against those structures until the snow in those areas becomes deeper or denser than the other snowflakes lying on the ground around t...

Understanding the purpose of foundations is essential in our Christian walk. A foundation is the basis upon which something stands or is supported – all that is built upon that foundation is defined and limited by that foundation. Foundations endow the structure of what has been created with that which will allow it to continue in its original form and purpose. In life, God has made a way for foundations to be laid that are solid, purposeful, and systematically planned for our well-being, growth and development. This was the case with the nation of Israel. God had called a nation of believers from out of bondage and captivity. He prepared a way for them to be set-up nicely in a land flowing with all kind of blessing and provision. He had prepared a method for each of them to purposefully give him right placement in their lives through worship, feasts, festivals, and offerings. In short, he had prepared the plan for their redemption, raised up those who would be instrumental in guidin...

I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. (Rom 7:18) For a believer, the first step toward the development of Christian character is to accept the responsibility for being what we are and doing what we do. We have to have the desire to grow – responding to what comes our way in such a manner as to allow growth to be produced instead of bondages to be formed. According to Paul’s statement, he desired to do what was right / good, but he struggled repeatedly with having the ability to carry it out. He knew the steps to take, but found he lacked something within that actually “made” him take the right steps. We need to see the symbiotic relationship between our “will” and God’s ability. We do the “willing” (make the right choices) – God comes alongside to assist us in performing what we have willed. When we understand that the first step in any set of actions is the initial determination of t...