Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Restoration from Timothy

It's good to walk in life, amen?
The past couple weeks have been great. I've experienced a lot of trial and messy conversations, but that's what I desire. The friendship I have with Chris has been restored and renewed through Christ. To see God change our hearts to burn for His power has encouraged my life more than most things recently. He's there to hold me accountable for things and I trust that Christ is providing us with cleansed hearts to be there to be uncomfortably close in accountability. It's not easy being rebuked, but we are to love rebuke (Proverbs 9:8), and "Those whom [He] love[s], [He] reprove[s] and discipline[s], so be zealous and repent. (Revelation 3:19)" I encourage all to be zealous for the fear of the Lord.
I can recall something from the sermon Daniel spoke on Sunday, which was something similar to, "We are not act then receive, but we have received, so we must act, and do so in joy." This is specifically speaking to our bursting forth in tithe, but it also is spoken in the sense of Christ and the gospel speaking and transforming all areas of our lives. Because He has given His only Son, we must give Him our lives. He was "like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth... Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him... and he shall bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:7, 10, 11)" He bears our iniquities so we are grateful.
Chris recently directed my thinking to 1 and 2 Timothy. A young man in charge of the church at Ephesus. This passage, to the relief of my conscience, spoke truth to me about the speaker that came last tuesday. And it's an unsettling truth, because I discern that he was a false teacher. How great he will be judged in heaven for the role he has on this earth, and I pray for his soul that he would escape that judgment and recognize his wickedness. His poor public speaking skills were the least of the worries my brothers and I had with this man. His ability to boast in himself was somewhat amazing. The main beef I had with him, was his intense lack of humility and I think that (in the words of certain people I know) is CRUCIAL for a person advocating the scriptures. It was unsettling, but my hope is that Sojourn is not heading in the direction in the wayward direction of death. Pray for us.
With God immersed in my thought, I think it's just extremely comforting (at times) to know that I have a person to care for and have as my companion through these times. I say 'at times', mainly because it is scary. A relationship? It's a big deal. I'm almost blindly embarking with Audra on this journey. I say blindly because I'm not sure what is going to happen. I've never experienced such Christ-centered interaction before from a girl and it's refreshing to know it exists. My main fear is that I'm not available to provide the appropriate amount of commitment that bursts forth when a relationship gets rolling. But I must say gentlemen, it's great. I find myself not having to provide happiness for her, for Christ fills her completely. I praise God first and love Christ first and from that flows love of unconditional purpose. Thank God for His Son, and thank God for Audra Todd.