Going through the motions
A woman is driving in heavy traffic anxious to get home. When approaching a changing light,
as it turned yellow, the car in front of her suddenly stops, causing her to have to brake hard to avoid a collision. In frustration she immediately starts yelling and shaking her arms above her head while laying on the horn, and cursing the driver in front of her. The car behind her slides to a stop inches from her car. A moment later she is looking out her drivers side window and very large policeman. She is taken into custody, taken to the Sheriffs station, searched, booked, fingerprinted,
and placed in a holding cell. After a couple of hours wait, the desk officer comes and lets her out.
He says, “I’m sorry for the mistake, when our officer pulled up behind you, seeing you license plate holder that said “What Would Jesus Do?” and saw the Christian fish symbol on your trunk lid, and then observed your cursing and throwing a fit at the driver of the car in front of you, he naturally assumed you had stolen the car…….”
How do we appear to the outside world when we profess belief in Jesus and then conduct ourselves in a way that doesn’t match that proclamation. The challenge is to live a life worthy of our salvation. While we can’t earn our salvation, but once it is freely given we need to live in a way that is a witness to that pivotal event in our lives.
Philippians 1:27-30 (New Living Translation)
Live as Citizens of Heaven
27 Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. 28 Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. 29 For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. 30 We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.
Alexander the Great was said to have had a young soldier brought before him accused of cowardice, running away during a battle. When the King asked the young man to state his name,
he said while looking down and barely whispered, “Alexander”, the King said again son state your name, again in a low voice the young man said “Alexander”. One last time the King boomed out son state your name, the young man looked up and in a slightly louder voice said “Alexander”.
The King said, “son, change your name or change your behavior!”
If you have convictions, if you know what you believe, it’s time to take a stand. Step up and stand firm. It’s time to man up. It’s time to have the courage to live up to your convictions. If you reject this challenge, it’s time to answer the question; Why?
The Motions – Matthew West
This might hurt
It’s not safe
But I know that I’ve gotta make a change
I don’t care
If I break
At least I’ll be feeling something
‘Cause just ok
Is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of life
I don’t wanna go through the motions
I don’t wanna go one more day
Without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don’t wanna spend my whole life asking
What if I had given everything?
Instead of going through the motions
No regrets
Not this time
I’m gonna let my heart defeat my mind
Let Your love
Make me whole
I think I’m finally feeling something
Take me all the way
Take me all the way
Take me all the way
Prayer:
Father you must increase, as I decrease. Help me to submit my life and my conduct to you without fear of the consequences. Please don’t allow even one to stumble because of what they have seen in my life. Take me all the way Father. Amen
the pilgrim
*Photo Note: Nikon D3, 24-70 AFS f2.8 @ 70mm. F22 @ 2 seconds. Glacier National Park.
This entry was greatly inspired by my Pastor, Tom Thompson’s sermon yesterday morning.
IMPORTANT: A side note, I want to thank all of you that have been praying for me on this new
attempt to get healthy. I have to admit that the battle with my weight and my health has been
a long and mostly loosing battle. My weight has been the source of a lot of pain, both physical and emotional over the years. For the first time in my life I really feel I’m being successful in turning all that around. In just a month my blood sugars have dropped into the ideal range, my blood pressure has come down very significantly, and I feel better than I have in years. On top of all that, I’ve only been on this program for one month! I can’t wait to see how I feel in a couple more months. I know your prayers have been a great source of my strength in this. I also want to thank my dear friend Vinny Colucci who inspired me with his 45 pound loss over the last several months and his constant help with this program. Of course Scott Kelby, who lost almost 100 pounds a year ago, has a been a great inspiration too. My daughter Catherine is on the same Weight Watchers program as well and she has really helped me learn the system.. Bottom line, thanks to all of you, so much……
the pilgrim
This entry was posted on Monday, February 7th, 2011 at 7:24 am
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.