15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” John 14:15 – 17 ESV
The twenty-fourth of July, 1975, was on a Thursday. It was a day just like any other summer day in South-western Kansas; probably hot and dry. But something happened on this particular day that would change my life forever.
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This past week, Dr. Leonard Sweet posted something on Facebook that really got me to thinking. He wrote,
“Christianity is a religion of incarnation. Any attempt to make it into a religion of explanation, examination or execution is an abomination.”
In a world where Christ has been theologized, sermonized, debated and hated, I think we do well to pay attention to these powerful words.
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There is a good many of us who find living under the government of the Holy Spirit to be a struggle. We are a lot like the gentleman in the picture above. Every day is a struggle to keep our heads above water before we sink down into a life overwhelmed by our flesh. In this post I would like to discuss a fundamental reason as to why we struggle the way we do.
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The title of this post may seem like a strange question to ask. I’m assuming, of course, that the majority of you know how to walk physically, unless some disability prevents you from doing so. Those of us seeking to live our lives under the government of God, however, are called to walk a particular walk. Do you know how to walk in that way?
It has been said many times by many people that love has to look like something. Very true. The problem we have is that love looks different to each individual person. To me love may look like someone bringing me coffee and a plate of cookies. To you love may look like a long walk with your significant other, or like playing with your grandkids. See what I mean? The question we really need to ask is, “What does love look like from God’s standpoint?” Fortunately He has painted us a picture just so we know.
As one looks around the Church today it seems there is a lot of imbalance regarding the character of God. To a large number of people He seems to be the great Sugar Daddy in the sky that exists to fulfill their every whim and fancy. To others He appears to be an austere Being who is constantly angry and poised with an upraised fist, just waiting for the moment He can gleefully rain down fiery judgment on sinful mankind. Talk about extremes! While both these pictures have an element of truth to them, it is easy to see that we need to move toward a more balanced view of the Lord.
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