Do Not Think...

The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
rom. 13.

How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
psalm 119.9-11

it's a foreign thought to me that paul had to tell the roman church to refrain from sexual immorality, drunkenness, etc.? i can only imagine what we americans would call that roman church... we think the problems in our churches are bad? i can only imagine my pastor preaching from the pulpit: "people, you need to stop having drunken parties where you end up having sex with one another." that would be the day.

so am i saying that this type of sinful behavior doesn't happen in the church? no, i'm not saying that. i know people who attend church services every sunday, people who struggle with low self-esteem and those who give into peer pressure. sometimes i fall into the catergory. perhaps we need to hear the bold words of paul, 'put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light, and this is what we as the church are going to do to help you along the journey...' i'm guilty of forgetting that last part, "and this is what i'm going to do to help you..." followed up by, 'i'm not going to leave you in the midst of this struggle. together we are going to make it thru."

so what can the church do to better help us along our journey Home? how can the church nuture it's people? (that's been the question on my heart lately.) what can the church do better to get people discussing their daily struggles, instead of feeling guilty of concealing their sin? we all sin - there are none who don't, even tho the people in the church often come across as being 'perfect'. God knows the condition of each of our hearts; we can't conceal our sin from Him.

i'm as guilty as they come about confess my sin to others. (confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. james 5.16) so since paul said to do it, and i'm not doing it, am i sinning by keeping my mouth shut? are we as the church sinning by not offering an environment where people feel comfortable to express their struggles and sins? are we aleinating those who need Jesus?

the psalmist asked a spiritual question, and came up with a 'practical' answer. i'm praying for the same to happen for our church.

Loving Father,
how can we keep our lives pure? only by living according to Your word. let us seek You with all our hearts; don't let us stray from Your commands. let us hide Your word in our hearts that we might not sin against You. let Your words resound thru our minds throughout the day, beckoning us to be pure. just as You calmed the storm for Your disciples, may You calm the storm raging in our hearts. may You transform Your church to be a place for sinners and the sick. may Your healing flood Your church with abundance. may Your Spirit dwell in our hearts as we go to meet Your children. may You teach us to invest in the lives of others. help us to love our neighbors the way You love us. and help us to love You with a steadfast love. break us of the sin of concealing our sin. bring something into Your church to break us from our arrogance. we are not perfect, not put together. sometimes we are lonely. let us be able to express that to one another. help us to confess our sin to You and to others. teach us how to be listeners and communicators of Your truth. teach me to be able to ask questions which enable others to speak their heart openly and honestly. teach me ways to encourage others to open up with me. shine Your truth thru me.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen.
*Courtney *landra *karensa