Tradition

So I am wide awake right now and it is close to three in the morning. Lately, I have had this stirring inside of me to write and sort out my thoughts on various topics. A topic that has recently popped into my head is the idea of tradition. Tradition is something that can be a good or bad thing in our lives. Traditions can be good when we spend time with our family during certain times of the year for the holidays. We can enjoy being with one another as we celebrate different rituals that make us come together as a family. Tradition can be good even in the church with communion as we remember what Jesus did by symbolically taking the bread and wine to remember His body being broken and the blood that redeemed our souls. The part that tends to be bad about tradition is how we can become content and comfortable with where we are in our walk with Christ. We go through the motions and we don't work forward. We become the lukewarm cup of water that God would rather spit out of His mouth than savor and enjoy. It's so easy to fall into the snares and traps of complacency. We can use tradition to get off course and focus on the insignificant details. It's important that we keep focused on Christ. I think if Jesus came back to the world today, He would have some different ideas. I think Jesus would be more concerned with the condition of a person's heart rather than the people who are religious and point fingers at others. The Bible says that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God but we seem to overlook that. We can be very religious people who are so arrogant in thinking that we have "arrived". We feel like we have the license to pass judgement on anyone. If you read in the New Testament, Jesus detested these people. The Pharisees would use their religious acts and rituals in public to give the perception of being holy. I think the only way we will see change is by allowing God to take our traditions and examine our hearts to rid us of our arrogance and pride. He is the only one who can bring change to our lives and help us to live a genuine life without sin.

The will of God

Hey everyone! I know it's been a while since I have posted a blog. I have been going through much transition in my life which is a very awesome thing. I feel in a sense that I have been in a standstill and nothing has been productive in my spiritual life. I allowed school to take a lot of precedence in my life and placed it before God. I have placed friends among other things before God until recently. I became numb to this mentality of "I can do this. Jesus won't care. I am just living my life". I was beginning to listen to "the enemy" so to speak. I was allowing myself to fall into certain traps of a content attitude. I wanted comfort over what God wanted for me. My world has also been turned upside down. I recently started going to Liberty Church. I love the pastor and the people there. It feels very genuine and seems like everyone is onboard with changing their lives and allowing God to come in and change their hearts. It seems like there are too many churches these days that are sugarcoating their ministry. Certain churches want to water everything down and please everyone. If Jesus came back, I highly doubt he would come into our church buildings and say "Hey everybody! Boy, do I have a feel good message for you guys today." I think it would be more like "Hey everyone! Turn your Bibles to the Gospels. You remember those books of the Bible that show how much I love you and want you to love others. How I died on a cross for you and became sin on your behalf. I need you guys to change your hearts and take up your cross for Me. Do as I did and lay your burdens at the cross." I can't say that I know exactly what Jesus would say if he came back and visited the church today but I have a feeling it wouldn't make us feel good. The best things aren't always the easiest to achieve.

Another thing I have been dealing with is this whole "What is God's will for my life?" I have always said this but it never really clicked in my mind that I am doing the will of God. If I am seeking Him and keeping my focus on Him, He directs my paths and makes a way for me. It isn't always going to be a bed of roses but I will know that He is at work and guides my steps. It's easy to read certain things in the Bible but then to actually do it takes courage and discipline. God asks certain things of us but it is for our benefit that we obey and follow. Our flesh gets in the way and we become a slave to our sinful desires. We become free when we allow God to work through us and in us. We have to allow God to come into our lives and change our hearts. This might mean that God has to take away certain relationships that are of detriment to the plan He has. Unhealthy relationships with people can halt what God wants to ultimately achieve because we become set on those relationships rather than God's will.

These are just a few thoughts and ideas that I have been thinking about recently. If you could, please pray for me. I want God to search me completely and take away anything that He finds unfit or unpleasing. I usually pray this prayer and almost expect God to become a magical genie and allow me to become this perfect follower but now I realize it takes work. It is very hard work to cut my fleshy desires and seek out the spiritual direction.