Thoughts [3.11.09]

Some insight I gained from LG:

1. We always have to be on guard to make sure we're not being complacent. So many times, we are unaware of our complacency. These are some questions we can ask ourselves:

A. What are you doing with the blessings God has given you?
Has there been fruit or some sort of dividend?
B. Are you making the best of your time: inquiring after, preparing for, investing in, or partaking in your calling?
C. What are you doing with your time? Your energy?
D. What are you thinking about?
E. What are you striving after?

I think it takes a lot of humility to admit the possibility of being complacent, and then even more to put down our pride and evaluate our lives. Makes me realize how alive I am, as in how much I don't die to myself. It also makes me realize how much I still value the temporal things of this world.

I want to err on the side of destitution, not out of a desire to please God with works alone, but so I can guard against complacency. To go without yet be content. Even so, my life is filled with complacency, with the type of comfort we're supposed to guard against, still so much self centered pleasure. Sometimes I (selfishly) wish that it was a heckuvalot easier.

2. More and more, I look at these people in the Bible that are supposed to be the "bad guys". We study about what they are doing wrong, how they have the most crooked of intentions and warped perspectives of God. We evaluate their pride and inability to comprehend who Jesus really is. We condemn their hypocritical actions with righteous fury.

Then we realize, not only do these people represent us, but in many cases, we're worse than they are.

3. I love inductive Bible study.

4. Thought that came to me as I reflected: "Christians have spectacular thoughts and grandiose ideas, but only normal lives."

overnOUT