Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. - Romans 5

Saturday, August 9, 2014

Me Me Me (feelings post #3)



“Don’t bother too much about your feelings. When they are humble, loving, brave, give thanks for them; when they are conceited, selfish, cowardly, ask to have them altered. In neither case are they you, but only a thing that happens to you. What matters is your intentions and your behavior.” - C.S. Lewis


Again about feelings. Feelings are pretty much...neutral, and created by God. Which makes them good. But guess what, we use them to glorify ourselves, which is idolatrous. Just take a look.

What makes me happy? I get the grade I wanted on my test. I entered into a relationship that I've dreamed about. I got the call back from the job I wanted. I bought a new video game or shoes. Something made me happy. Something I wanted or desired occurred. Me me me.

What makes me sad? Something bad happened to me. Someone crashed into my car. Someone hurt or abandoned me. Something I did caused my reputation to decrease in another's eyes. Today was just a bad day. What can't the world just be the way how I liked it? What can't the world just revolve around me? Seriously, why can't I just end world suffering? Me me me.

What makes me angry? Someone took something from me, something that I was entitled to. Another guy swooped in and swept away my crush. A guy cut in front of my on the freeway. Someone stole my lunch money. The fellowship doesn't acknowledge my hard work and service. Me me me.

We realize that a lot of times our feelings are really about ourselves and we have to admit it, but to be sweetly broken and then molded in the image of Christ is to use our feelings for God. Then it will look like this:

What makes me happy? Someone is saved and I get to call them my brother or sister. There is growth in the church. The Gospel is being preached to all the nations. There is persecution in the Church, but we are rising to it, producing fruit and oil under the pressure. Our happiness comes from the second fruit of the Spirit that was planted in our hearts, Joy. Now we are happy for the Kingdom of God. God God God.

What makes me sad? The hurt and pain and sin within the fellowship. Those who are still lost. The persecution of our brothers and sisters. The groaning of the world since creation, that we live in a fallen world and we still wait for the second coming of Christ, who will restore the world. Christ Christ Christ.

What makes me angry? The wickedness of the World. How there are people who rape people for fun. How there are people who sell others into slavery. How there are people beheading children! May God's wrath and justice have its place in this world and in the future to come. God God God.

To follow God is to realize what God feels. Let our hearts be broken by the things that breaks God's heart. To do that, let us discover what God's heart truly is.

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