Yesterday, was a really good day. Some days are not like yesterday though. We struggle to discern God's plan or in being patient with others and we succumb to fleshly desires through anger, greed, pride, and many other sins. It is in those difficult days and in the best of days that we echo with the apostle Paul, "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!"
God's grace is always amazing. We can become fickle with our emotions and lives but God is always faithful. As I was reading and answering emails a few nights ago, I saw this excellent blog post by Kelley Brown entitled, "Out of the Ashes Beauty will Rise" and was reminded again of God's redemptive plan that shows mercy to us as wretched sinners.
Immediately, I thought, "Let me tweet this or put a link on facebook or on my blog!" Then, I thought instead of pouring my heart out on the blogosphere or to the Internet I should spend some time in prayer thanking God and pouring my heart out to Him. It was a sweet time of prayer. I encourage you to spend a moment or two in prayer thanking God for his mercy to you even now. The blogging world and twitbook can be a great place to encourage other believers and to point others to the grace and mercy at the Cross but the technological world can have its drawbacks. Without a doubt, it doesn't take the place of having a personal relationship with Christ and being committed to His bride, the Church. It is through the church and small groups (community groups, core groups, life groups, etc.) that we can truly live out what it means to follow Christ by loving, encouraging, correcting, admonishing, and strengthening one another as Scripture tells us to do. Instead, at times, I find myself running away from believers instead of to them (obviously a source of pride). We see through the life of Paul how he longed to be with and learn from his sisters and brothers in Christ. Paul (the man who knew hardship, persecution, adversity and was a theological giant) knew well God's design for the church because at one time he was persecuting it himself. He saw how they lived in radical contradiction to the world and in deep love for one another. It was the type of love that is in response to Christ's love. Paul's perspective of what it means to follow Christ is always encouraging because he doesn't hold back what he is thinking nor mask his emotions in generic prayer requests. He runs the race in response to God's unfathomable and irresistible grace.
But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service
coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. -- Philippians 2:17
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. -- Romans 12:1
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