I must confess that faith is often a struggle. It's hard, and quite frankly, it's been harder over the last several years. Rev. Paul's piece is well worth reading in full, but that bolded excerpt (his emphasis, not mine) was a bit of a bolt from the blue.
We’ve been called to something special – something not found everywhere – and we must not take it for granted. We dare not become complacent. We have to press in – we have to stay hungry – we have to remember how precious this is, remain grateful, and fight to keep it.God has called each of to be where we are for a reason: He has a greater purpose in mind. He doesn’t mind making us uncomfortable to accomplish His purpose, because His purpose is not to make us comfortable.
Read that last sentence again.Remember how much it cost you already, and be determined not to forget what it cost.
It's not supposed to be easy.
Smart man, right there. But the world is filled with smart folks. He has something more - hard won wisdom that's not what you find every day. That's a different thing entirely.
So I'll be following him every day, in hopes of getting topped off with a little wisdom when he wants to send it our way. Feel free to join me.
And added to the blogroll here.
8 comments:
Remember how much it cost you already, and be determined not to forget what it cost. Be determined to hang onto whatever revelation you're received. DON'T forget, and DON'T take the blessings of God for granted.
Thank you for sharing.
Been following Rev Paul's blog for a while now.
One of my daily reads.
Good insight and thus one really speaks the truth.
As it has been a difficult walk for myself these last few years....
Great link.
I've read Rev Paul on and off, but started subbing after that post.
Thanks.
I think it's important to keep in mind the story of Joseph Genesis 37-47. He was constantly allowed to be challenged in order to finally become the man he was meant to be, someone who served Pharaoh the Egyptian king, saved the land from a vicious famine, and ultimately became one of the fathers of the Jews, who later came out of that kingdom under Moses. He was a ruler who viewed himself a servant.
All of us have our difficult walk in this life, some more difficult than others. Today, far too many think the Gospel of Christ, is a "Health-and-Wealth" gospel, where the individual watches a certain Sunday TV evangelist, who tells us that all our dreams will come true if they only just believe. The focus is turned in on the individual rather than serving others like Joseph did.
He has called us to do good works, not just only believe in him and see how many of our dreams will come true.
We should always look at our trials and take the view that, "If it doesn't kill me it will make me stronger" which I suspect is very often His plan for us.
Sorry, this turned into a "come to Jesus meeting", but I too have been contemplating what REV. Paul had to say.
Matt, no reason to apologize. You make a really good point that it's not about "me me me", but about something larger (and external) to ourselves.
"It's not supposed to be easy."
10 out of 10.
And it takes courage to acknowledge it isn't easy, that it will take time and effort, and that the eventual result may not be evident for years... sometimes, *many* years.
It is in such effort that true character is forged and formed.
From my own experience, and watching my kids grow up, one thing is apparent to me. Life on this mortal coil is school. If you can't manage to create a life's lesson situation for yourself via the choices you make, the man upstairs will give you a helping hand.
kx59: And as I am currently finding out, the man upstairs has no qualms whatsoever with throwing you in dentention if you aren't paying attention.
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