Congruity

Galatians 6:15-16 (New Living Translation)
New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers.
15 It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. 16 May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God.

In a section I just read from the book, Blue Like Jazz, the author Donald Miller, was recounting a conversation he had with his pastor at a pivotal point in his spiritual journey. He said to his pastor, when explaining why he needed to opt out of teaching his College and Careers Sunday School class and go and really find God, that he had become an "infomorcial"God, but he didn't use the product.

Sometimes I feel that way too, as if I look good on the outside, but I wish there were more congruity between the things I believe and say and the things I actually do.

Galatians chapter 6 talks about reaping what you sow, a principle that God built into the universe when he created it. I can't help wondering if God did this because he knew the depth of our potential selfishness. If for no other reason than the principle, we would, if we were wise, be driven to live a life of kindness, goodness and generosity of spirit.

It's not good enough though. I don't want to be driven by such a selfish motivation. I want to be driven by love of him--the One who gave up everything for us. I want to lay down Self, beyond my limited comfort zone, for love alone. That's the only thing that really matters, the only thing that counts; the only thing that makes faith in Christ real and not an "infomercial," and this is the meaning of the cross.

Galatians 6:14 (New Living Translation)
New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers.
14 As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Thanks Belinda, for your compliment. You'll find if you keep checking it out, I can't leave any layout alone for long... :)
Anonymous said…
Have you heard the song "So Long Self" by MercyMe? This post reminded me of it. If not, check it out. It's a good one, and I think it fits this post. And I totally get what you are saying here. I try to remember that this is a RELATIONSHIP and just like ANY relationship, we have ups and downs...but we all strive to make the ups last longer and longer. I'm not sure if that is completely what you are meaning when you say that you want what you say and how you feel to match up, but I think it can apply. Some days I feel REALLY passionate about my work at the church---- no, MOST days I do...but I have to admit that once in a while when I let the outside world creep in and influence me or I let someone's words hurt me, I have days when I go through the motions. I still sing of His faithfulness and my surrender, but I've hidden the most "delicate" and "important" things in my heart away from His grasp. Then I get back to a place that remidns me that it's all seasonal. Although I long for the summer, some times the winter ineviteably comes. Maybe I can use daylight savings time to prolong it all... :) HE HE!

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