Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Holy or Happy?

“God is more concerned with our holiness than our happiness and with our character than our comfort.” This is what I heard as I sat in Bible study last week. We are currently in the book of Leviticus which outlines God’s instructions for sacrifices, cleansing and offerings. God was very specific about the way things were to be done. When things weren’t done God’s way, it was death to the individual.

If it seems merciless and unnecessary, you are looking at it though the human perspective. You have to understand that God is a holy God and He demands holiness from His people. Holiness, when applied to the Christian, is being set apart for God. Holiness is living according to God’s word and plan for our lives. God’s punishment in the book of Leviticus is evidence that God demands holiness from His people. “Holiness is not a luxury.”

God’s ways are not to be compromised for our own happiness or comfort. God’s ways are not easy. We are human. We are sinful by nature and we are in a constant battle with our flesh. The Spirit of God inside of us leads us to be holy, to be more like God. But our flesh longs for happiness and comfort. This is evident in my own life every day. I wake up. I pray and worship as I prepare myself for the day ahead. I start with great intentions of being the best person that there ever was. I begin my day longing to be the woman, mother and wife that God has called me to be. Then, I have to come out of my room and bathroom, where I have been preparing for the day and I am greeted by cranky kids that don’t want to go to school and the chaos that is my day. Suddenly, those intentions go flying out the window and I am just looking for the quickest exit out of the “day to day life trials.”

As my day continues, I make choices. As I examine the choices that I make, I find that I often choose the easy route, and I realize that my first concern is often happiness and comfort rather than holiness and character. When I examine the choices I make every day, I have a better understanding of the battle that we all fight from day to day. I see clearly the ways that I have sought happiness over holiness in my own life, a habit that is dangerous and hard to break.

We are faced with choices every moment of every day. Will you choose God’s way, or will you choose your way? There is no “easy button” on God’s path. God’s ways are hard for the flesh because they are contrary to the flesh. But every time we choose God’s way, we become more like Him and that sacrifice of ourselves rises before Him as a sweet smelling offering. Romans chapter 12 verse 1 says that we are to be a living sacrifice, a holy sacrifice. Sacrifices are costly and painful. Jesus offered His own life and blood to cleanse us in God’s eyes and we are asked to freely give our lives as an offering back to God. It’s hard, but God offers us the strength that we need and promises us that He won’t give us anything that we cannot handle (through His strength, not our own).

I encourage you, as I rely on God’s strength to do the same, to choose holiness, not happiness today. Sacrifice your life to God today. It won’t be easy, but true joy and blessings await for those who choose holiness over their own happiness and comfort.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Just As I Am

I woke up in the middle of the night Thursday Night and couldn’t go back to sleep.  I’ve done this a lot more lately than ever before.  This particular night I decided I was not just going to lay there with my mind running, I was going to get up and read and pray.  I grabbed a blanket, my bible, my journal and a pen.  If I was going to be awake, I was going to make good use of it.  

As I began to read through the book of Romans, my mind really began to race over the things that God has done for me.  Just the pure knowledge of His sacrifice alone was enough to get this girl in a mood of worship.  I really began to thank Him for loving me so much.  He loved me while I was still a sinner!  Imagine that!  Loving someone in spite of their faults, failures and rebellion.  This is a love that I can not even comprehend.  

I lifted my voice to Him asking for more.  I want more of Him.  I want His presence in my life always.  It is there I find peace, joy and contentment.  I no longer want to seek success on the road of this world, I want success on the road to Him.  I no longer want to be a people pleaser, I want to be a God pleaser.  I began to feel like Paul did in Romans 7 (a must read).  I am always at war, who will rescue me from this body of death?  

As I continued meditating on the Lord, while writing in my journal, the words, “Just As I Am” were spoken in my mind.  God wants me just as I am.  I don’t have to change anything to come to Him.  He already won the battle for me.  The song that was written almost 200 years ago began to stir my heart.  I quickly began searching for the words on the computer.  I had to see the words.  I had to hear the song.  


Just as I am, without one plea, 
but that thy blood was shed for me, 
and that thou bidst me come to thee, 
O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 

Just as I am, and waiting not 
to rid my soul of one dark blot, 
to thee whose blood can cleanse each spot, 
O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 

Just as I am, though tossed about 
with many a conflict, many a doubt, 
fightings and fears within, without, 
O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind; 
sight, riches, healing of the mind, 
yea, all I need in thee to find, 
O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 

Just as I am, thou wilt receive, 
wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve; 
because thy promise I believe, 
O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 

Just as I am, thy love unknown 
hath broken every barrier down; 
now, to be thine, yea thine alone, 
O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 

Wow!  Powerful words in a song I’ve heard many times.  Words that have new meaning to me.  He wants YOU just as YOU ARE!  Will you COME to HIM?

Here is a great version of the song I found in Youtube.  Be blessed as you watch it.




Father, Just as we are, we come.  We will not wait and try to cleanse ourselves, we will bring it all to You.  You said that while we were sinners, Christ died for us.  No matter where we are, You love us and want us to come to you.  Dirty hands, hearts and souls.  You want all of us, we just have to come.  You will not see our faults, and failures because You see us through the blood of Your Son.  You will not hold
 our past against us, because of the blood of Jesus.  You will not reject us, because of the blood of Jesus.  We are saved from our sins, because of the blood of Jesus.  GOD, WE COME JUST AS WE ARE BECAUSE OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS!!  Amen.

Will YOU Come to HIM?