Augustine coined the phrase "curved in on itself."
Martin Luther expounded on the phrase by writing:
"Our nature, by the corruption of the first sin,
being so deeply curved in on itself
not only bends the best gifts of God towards itself & enjoys them
(as is plain in the works-righteous and hypocrites),
but rather even uses God Himself in order to attain these gifts,
and also fails to realize that it so wickedly, curvedly, and viciously
seeks all things, even God, for its own sake."
Thank you God, Col. 1:29, there is Greater Energy at work in all of us, powerfully at work! What Energy is greater in me this moment?
Truly. Praising God for Joanne. Just read that she's getting her hair washed and her face moisturized this morning!
ReplyDeletePraise YOU, God!!!
(Scribes and Pharisees Question Christ)
ReplyDeleteVerse 2 "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders?"
(Christ Questions Scribes and Pharisees)
Verse 3
He answered them, "And why do you break the commandment of God...?"
I am always in awe of how Christ responded to these "religious men." And the one thing I tend to keep right in front of my own face is this question...
"How am I like them, Lord?"
It was the religious ones that were most offended by Christ and His teachings. That just humbles me. I am a woman-of-faith in a world-gone-wild. I seek to follow Jesus. Some days tradition just appeals to me so very much. We are to be set apart from the world.
But I can only choose God and His commandments to follow. A few areas I have to really watch for stumbling...
Anger - that leads me to sin
Presuming - God is God. I am not.
Prejudice - who offends me?
Condemnation - who am I to know your standing in Christ?
And all of these are in the religious realm I live in. I'm not even thinking about the world when I ask myself these questions.
It is God's Commands that I want to follow. Culture even in church changes. Climate even in church changes. The only safe road to follow is the way Christ leads us on. Grace, love, firmly supported in Him.
Often times, I have cringed at the words that have come out of my mouth and really cringed at things I have thought but did not say.....and then when the full realization would hit me on how wicked my heart was...I would hang my head and ask for His forgiveness.I truly am the wretch in that song. We are so curved in on ourselves that we do not know how wicked our hearts truly are. Small glimpses of mine have astounded me. He is gracious and forgiving and is helping me, however I do know that I will not be complete till I meet Him face to face. Falling on my face this morning and asking Him to cleanse me and create a new heart in me.
ReplyDeleteI have been praising God along with the all the others, for our sister Joanne. Didn't see any further updates, so holding on tight to the report from last night. What a big God we serve.
My heart is filled with hope for Joanne to continue to be healed. If He has placed her on your heart to pray, please do not grow weary. She still has so very much ahead of her, but last evening was a great victory.
ReplyDeleteAnd Mary Lou, Deborah, Bev: I echo a shameful Amen to the conviction of my heart spilling out of my mouth. But for Grace, who could stand? Still, Lord, sanctify us through and through that we may be presentable in Your Sight on that Fine Day when we bow low before You. Guard our mouths, cleanse our hearts--clean us up to represent You well. Blessed Sunday, my friends.
Next to me in church today was a young girl who was rear ended by an 18-wheeler. 4 Life-Threatening Injuries. Left for dead on the side of the road. She's back to normal after a long road to recovery with next to nothing chance to live. Percentages are just information. God holds us all things together! Every day I look into the eyes of one of my students who landed on his helmetless head in a longboarding accident. Little chance to make it w/ such brain trauma. He's perfectly normal after skullectomies and a long haul. MRI's are just information. God holds all things together, literally. Colossians 1:17. Praising our Good God for holding Joanne together this moment, this day. We are so needy. HE is All-Sufficient. Pain shatters all our perceptions that it's going to be okay. What if not? What we will do with that? Will I find my God in the midst of the wilderness He has wooed me into? I'm just talking to myself over here. Praying for encouragement for Joanne's family in these baby steps of awakening. Open all of our eyes, dear God, to see You standing right in front of us calling us closer.
ReplyDeleteDeborah, I love (well not really) the question you bring up:
ReplyDelete"Why do religious people break the commandments of God?"
"How am I like them, LORD?"
What is my besetting sin?
Looking deeply into our own lives, our own traditions that distance us from the One calling to love well.
And he called the people to him and said to them, "Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person."
ReplyDeleteI cringe at the evil words of my mouth and the evil thoughts in my heart, though I tend to say what I think rather than keeping a tight reign on my mouth. Makes me ever so thankful for the mercy of our Lord and Savior.
Annette H
Good evening Pearls,
ReplyDeleteI'd appreciate your prayers again for our family. My father in law fell again and this time broke his hip, femur and collar bone. We are leaving in the morning to go see him in the hospital in Alexandria, LA. He had surgery this afternoon and it went very well.
Thanks again,
--michele