Two points stood out to me from the sermon and I've been thinking about them a lot.
1. It's time to look beyond what God says is wrong and begin to believe in what God says is right and brings life.
There is so much that God said is good and right and beautiful. And yet in so many Christian conversations and sermons the focus is on what God said not to do. We talk about what we need to avoid and rant about how the country and the world are going wrong. And in no way should we forget that what God says is wrong, is truly wrong. But neither should we forget all that God said is right. Philippians 4:8 says "Finally, brethren, whatsover things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
2. The only things that God wants to take from you are those things which rob you of life.
We sometimes get the idea that if we follow Christ we have to give up a lot of things and our lives will be miserable. But nothing could be further from the truth. God stands ready to give us a life so much better than we can ever make on our own. There is no giving up, there is only moving up. Moving up from our miserable little existence to the life God created us for. Sounds like a good trade to me.
It doesn't get any plainer said than that! Thanks for the reminder that good outweighs bad!
ReplyDeleteI love that second point. It's so difficult to determine what good and perfect gifts come from God. He has come to give us life, and that life more abundant...I guess the real question is, what is abundant life?
ReplyDeleteI like your concrete thinking here, Rose. Thanks for breaking down those teachings for me into clear language that makes sense!
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