So to begin my year, I have been going through Ephesians for my personal devotion time.
Have you read this stuff??
It's insane!
I've read through this book many times, but for this season of life God is truly sanctifying my heart in new ways through some incredible truths.
Reading Chapter two shook me to my core yesterday; convicting me and compelling me.
I have been so disobedient to my Jesus.
I posted a photo last week of my feet on a Japanese train station platform. During my time home, I was taking a series of photos of "patterns from my past", and the dotted yellow lines are ones that flooded my mind with memories of my childhood. The yellow line represents the barrier you are suppose to stand behind as the train comes.
My sweet sister pointed out to me that this photo represents my "Straddling the lines, pushing limits, embracing a little rebellion..." My stubborn heart is evident to all. It's a characteristic that can be both a strength and a weakness (most characteristics are this way).
This year, I plan on harnessing this characteristic in my blogging. I have been told in the past that I'm not allowed to speak on certain topics for petty reasonings. But I'm officially calling BS on that.
Christ has been pressing on my heart for over a year to speak on difficult topics; controversial topics that need to be discussed. I have been disobedient because of the fear of people's responses and critiques, it has kept me quiet on so many issues I feel compelled to speak on.
I will stubbornly (but lovingly) choose to obey my Jesus and not the world (a struggle I have had).
So here I go, straddling the line, pushing limits, and embracing my rebellious nature for the sake of keeping myself and others uncomfortable with the state we are in. Topics of controversy are some of my favorite, because I feel they are ones that hold the deepest sheltered truths- thus people wish to keep those truths unexposed for the sake of "comfortability". Let's get uncomfortable. Let's discuss difficult topics. Let's break down these barriers that we refuse to acknowledge. Let's flee from the pathetic estate of being a culture that merely "tolerates" one another and seek to be a culture that LOVES one another despite differences- that can't be done when we are too afraid to discuss differences.
So, with humility and love and with hope in truth and the power that it holds, I invite you to join me in some terrifying and uncomfortable conversations that are long overdue.
My hope is in Christs ability to bring unity through His redemption and His ability to reconcile what is broken in me, in you, and in this world.
Yesterday, as I feasted on Ephesians, my heart was so freed in the beautiful truths of chapter 2 verses 14-16.
"For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one, and has destroyed barriers, the dividing wall of hostility... His purpose was to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility."
This is what Jesus has for us, this peace was His full purpose.
With this knowledge, how can I not strive to obtain what Jesus has in store for this world?
Through Him, and Him only, can these differences be discussed and dismembered for the sake of peace. Gods peace is not the lack of conflict, but rather the love and grace expressed amidst conflict.
So as we seek this peace, we have to acknowledge that differences shouldn't be seen as barriers to cause hostility, but rather greater reason to cling to Jesus to bring unity despite differences.
I need to cling to Jesus. My heart struggles so much with what differs from me, but I believe that as I cling to Jesus, He will help me to love more and more what I do not understand.
I believe He will do that for each of us as we all cling to Him and cling to His promise of restoring our brokenness.
In the knowledge that topics being discussed may bring strife, I will be praying (and hope you pray with me) that our ultimate and common goal would be loving and gracious discussion that respresents the peace that Ephesians is talking about. Through Christ and Christ alone can these barriers be brought down.
Have you read this stuff??
It's insane!
I've read through this book many times, but for this season of life God is truly sanctifying my heart in new ways through some incredible truths.
Reading Chapter two shook me to my core yesterday; convicting me and compelling me.
I have been so disobedient to my Jesus.
I posted a photo last week of my feet on a Japanese train station platform. During my time home, I was taking a series of photos of "patterns from my past", and the dotted yellow lines are ones that flooded my mind with memories of my childhood. The yellow line represents the barrier you are suppose to stand behind as the train comes.
My sweet sister pointed out to me that this photo represents my "Straddling the lines, pushing limits, embracing a little rebellion..." My stubborn heart is evident to all. It's a characteristic that can be both a strength and a weakness (most characteristics are this way).
This year, I plan on harnessing this characteristic in my blogging. I have been told in the past that I'm not allowed to speak on certain topics for petty reasonings. But I'm officially calling BS on that.
Christ has been pressing on my heart for over a year to speak on difficult topics; controversial topics that need to be discussed. I have been disobedient because of the fear of people's responses and critiques, it has kept me quiet on so many issues I feel compelled to speak on.
I will stubbornly (but lovingly) choose to obey my Jesus and not the world (a struggle I have had).
So here I go, straddling the line, pushing limits, and embracing my rebellious nature for the sake of keeping myself and others uncomfortable with the state we are in. Topics of controversy are some of my favorite, because I feel they are ones that hold the deepest sheltered truths- thus people wish to keep those truths unexposed for the sake of "comfortability". Let's get uncomfortable. Let's discuss difficult topics. Let's break down these barriers that we refuse to acknowledge. Let's flee from the pathetic estate of being a culture that merely "tolerates" one another and seek to be a culture that LOVES one another despite differences- that can't be done when we are too afraid to discuss differences.
So, with humility and love and with hope in truth and the power that it holds, I invite you to join me in some terrifying and uncomfortable conversations that are long overdue.
My hope is in Christs ability to bring unity through His redemption and His ability to reconcile what is broken in me, in you, and in this world.
Yesterday, as I feasted on Ephesians, my heart was so freed in the beautiful truths of chapter 2 verses 14-16.
"For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one, and has destroyed barriers, the dividing wall of hostility... His purpose was to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility."
This is what Jesus has for us, this peace was His full purpose.
With this knowledge, how can I not strive to obtain what Jesus has in store for this world?
Through Him, and Him only, can these differences be discussed and dismembered for the sake of peace. Gods peace is not the lack of conflict, but rather the love and grace expressed amidst conflict.
So as we seek this peace, we have to acknowledge that differences shouldn't be seen as barriers to cause hostility, but rather greater reason to cling to Jesus to bring unity despite differences.
I need to cling to Jesus. My heart struggles so much with what differs from me, but I believe that as I cling to Jesus, He will help me to love more and more what I do not understand.
I believe He will do that for each of us as we all cling to Him and cling to His promise of restoring our brokenness.
In the knowledge that topics being discussed may bring strife, I will be praying (and hope you pray with me) that our ultimate and common goal would be loving and gracious discussion that respresents the peace that Ephesians is talking about. Through Christ and Christ alone can these barriers be brought down.
No comments:
Post a Comment