And when we do, this is a choice we make freely. It is a choice based on our love for God and value of him versus love or value for something else. It is not a choice we make in order to gain his love but because we already have it in Christ and desire to enter into and participate more fully in it, above all other loves.
Though there are always consequences for not pursuing the best things, those consequences are not necessarily or only the loss of material things or comfortable circumstances but can simply be the loss of communion and fellowship with the Father and his Son in the Spirit.
The stronger our relationship with God, the more we feel that loss (the estrangement) and the more impacting it is.
As we mature and our taste and experience of God, in all his infinite love, grows, the loss of fellowship with him becomes an increasingly greater and more significant loss than the loss of material blessings or comfortable circumstances. We begin to care more about losing communion with God then the loss of other things. The loss of comfortable circumstances becomes increasingly less of a concern.
The stronger our relationship with God, the more we feel that loss (the estrangement) and the more impacting it is.
As we mature and our taste and experience of God, in all his infinite love, grows, the loss of fellowship with him becomes an increasingly greater and more significant loss than the loss of material blessings or comfortable circumstances. We begin to care more about losing communion with God then the loss of other things. The loss of comfortable circumstances becomes increasingly less of a concern.
There are many things that are good and to be enjoyed. But when we pick good things over the best thing, we are missing out on the greatest joys and benefits of who God is and who he made us to be.
1Th 5:19 Do not quench the Spirit.
Eph 4:30a And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God...
*and even bad things. Think of Joseph arrogantly flaunting his dream before his brothers. Or his dad sinfully favoring Joseph over his brothers. God incorporates bad choices (ours and others) to bring about his good ends. This is part of the "all things" spoken of in Romans 8:28-29
For more on this last point regarding Rom 8:28-29 click here.
For more on this last point regarding Rom 8:28-29 click here.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks for dropping by. Feel free to leave any comments, questions or thoughts and I will try to reply within 48 hours.
If you like our posts please feel free to subscribe to our blog and recommend others to the same. Just click on the home page at the far left of the navigation bar up top for instructions.
Grace to you
Jim Deal