Friday, December 26, 2014

Too Stupid For Christ? A Study in Overcoming Illusory Obstacles to Christ

The Apostle Peter was a walking laugh.  Blurting out confessions of faith in Christ as Lord, and the next minute saying what Satan wanted to say.  Throwing himself into the sea at the sight of Christ on the shore.  Wanting to take a full bath when he only needed a foot washing.  Asking "how many times shall I forgive my brother?  Up to seven times?" Leading all the disciples in a staunch declaration that they will never forsake Jesus, only to become the boldest denier at the fire.

And yet Peter's place in the Kingdom is not only certain, but his status as an apostle is going to be celebrated on one of the gates of the New Jerusalem.  How does a fumbler and a man of such silly capacity become one of God's precious vessels?

Now the devil has many devices, which we are not ignorant of.  If he knows we've memorized all the scriptures about God's promise of forgiveness, and we objectively know our sin is no match for his saving grace, he will try another tack:  "You're too silly!"

I bought this one recently.  But it took some time walking alone and meditating on Scripture to get the needed spiritual chiropractic.  "Nothing can separate us from his love" (From Romans 8:37-end of chapter)

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This must include the propensity to be silly.

I'm not condoning being foolish for it's own sake, but we should never be afraid of taking the Savior's hand, even when we've just made a fool of ourselves.  It's the fact that we take his hand that saves us.

And that has a way of straightening me up...


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