Reasons We Have Difficulty Following Christ’s Lead

I have been going through Beth Moore’s study A Woman’s Heart: God’s Dwelling Place. It is a study about the tabernacle and much of the study this far has been spent in the early parts of the Old Testament, but tonight Beth made a link to the story of Christ washing the feet of his disciples. She closed today’s study with this list of seven reasons we have difficulty following Christ’s example and his commands. The list really impacted me as I thought through how each of these at times has been true in my life and how I desire to have a changed life and heart so they will no longer be a part of my life and I will follow without reservation or fear. I choose this day to live differently and this list gives me a some specific areas to work on.

1. We lack the assurance of who we are.
2. We don’t want to leave the table to do it. (It would require being humble and leaving our comfort.)
3. We would have to lay aside the outer garments. (Be willing to be vulnerable.)
4. Our pitchers are empty because we fail to be filled by Christ.
5. We do not like feet. (Do not like taking risks, getting messy, and being uncomfortable.)
6. We would have to get on our knees. (Be humble enough to deny our selves and put Christ first.)
7. Refuse to let Christ wash our feet or minister to us.

 

Thinking About Community

I have been thinking about and talking to other about community a lot lately. As I have been talking about community a couple statements have been made that have really stirred my heart and mind.

1) Community, real community, must be centered on Christ. I would agree. I know we can have congenial and friendly relations where we condone and accept certain things, but can we truly have community in a Biblical sense by just being present with each other through meals and doing life together? If the relationship does not have a foundation on Christ it will be like the house built on the sand and will fall when times get difficult.

2) True community knows how to resolve community. Church, community, and relationships can get messy because we are individual people that God has made unique and we are also sinful and independent. True community embraces the beauty of those differences with passion and commitment that Christ can and will help us reconcile our differences. Do we believe that Christ is big enough to resolve and strengthen things between us? Are we committed to loving God with our all and loving our neighbor as ourselves?

I read a great article today on a disturbing trend that is occurring in our Church which is causing disunity, lack of community, and is communicating division and separation is acceptable in God’s family. I am deeply saddened by the message this communicates to unbelievers and how it cheapens the amazing Good News of the Gospel.

Read The Gospel in Real Life  then click on the link to  Read the entire post at Grace for Life from that site or from here.