THE TRUTH OF GOD'S WORD (4)
by Joey Rodgers
Scripture: James 1:19-24
This content is part of a series.
The Truth of God's Word (4)
Series: Abiding Life
Joey Rodgers
James 1:19-24
This week, Meg and I were on a call w/ one of Colin's doctors - who made a passing comment that caught my attention. In speaking about some of the challenges we deal w/ in our culture, he said - the problem we're facing as a country is that we've become far too transactional instead of relational in our dealings w/ people. That is - instead of truly caring about one another and desiring to have a genuine relationship, we only engage each other to get something from them. We've become a society of users - thus, people are not relationships to treasure, but commodities to be used and exchanged to get ahead in life.
I think he's more right than wrong. I see it too often. Husbands/wives doing what they do for their spouses to get something in return. Parents/kids manipulating each other to satisfy their wants/needs. Bosses and employees using each other to achieve the bottom line.
Think about it... when was the last time you called someone or someone called you just to talk - to pour into you - w/ no strings attached and no request made?
As I've thought about this - I fear that we've also become transactional in our relationship w/ God - w/ most of us trying to use God to accomplish our wills instead of relating to God to know His will. Just listen to our prayers.
Yet there's NOTHING transactional when it comes to the abiding life. Thankfully, it's just the opposite. God wants us to know Him and to be known by Him. He desires that we have a genuine, intimate, fulfilling relationship w/ Him so that we experience all of Him.
So, while it's possible to be a Christian and not abide; it's impossible to live the Christian life w/out abiding.
To abide is to live plugged into and empowered by H.S. by remaining connected w/ or aligned under God.
Meaning - the abiding life living in a close, continual relationship w/ Jesus that involves choosing to stay con ...
Series: Abiding Life
Joey Rodgers
James 1:19-24
This week, Meg and I were on a call w/ one of Colin's doctors - who made a passing comment that caught my attention. In speaking about some of the challenges we deal w/ in our culture, he said - the problem we're facing as a country is that we've become far too transactional instead of relational in our dealings w/ people. That is - instead of truly caring about one another and desiring to have a genuine relationship, we only engage each other to get something from them. We've become a society of users - thus, people are not relationships to treasure, but commodities to be used and exchanged to get ahead in life.
I think he's more right than wrong. I see it too often. Husbands/wives doing what they do for their spouses to get something in return. Parents/kids manipulating each other to satisfy their wants/needs. Bosses and employees using each other to achieve the bottom line.
Think about it... when was the last time you called someone or someone called you just to talk - to pour into you - w/ no strings attached and no request made?
As I've thought about this - I fear that we've also become transactional in our relationship w/ God - w/ most of us trying to use God to accomplish our wills instead of relating to God to know His will. Just listen to our prayers.
Yet there's NOTHING transactional when it comes to the abiding life. Thankfully, it's just the opposite. God wants us to know Him and to be known by Him. He desires that we have a genuine, intimate, fulfilling relationship w/ Him so that we experience all of Him.
So, while it's possible to be a Christian and not abide; it's impossible to live the Christian life w/out abiding.
To abide is to live plugged into and empowered by H.S. by remaining connected w/ or aligned under God.
Meaning - the abiding life living in a close, continual relationship w/ Jesus that involves choosing to stay con ...
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