Stirred By The Scriptures

I was given a picture again today of the power and necessity of the Body of Christ. Funerals are always hard, even more so when someone takes their own life. How grateful I am that there is a strength that comes when believers care for and minister to those who are in need. How blessed I am to pastor a community of people who love well even in the most difficult of situations.

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Those are the words of the Psalmist in Psalm 147 and while I don’t know the circumstances under which he wrote, I do know that it fits the needs of many people today. So Lord that is my prayer today, for the many friends whose hearts are breaking, bring your healing to their lives.

If you have been following the blog over the last week or so, you know that my thoughts have come from Romans 12. So many of the verses have a feel of proverbs. They are short sayings calling us to action and to live a certain way. The question is how to accomplish living in those ways without it becoming an exhausting pressure to do more and more?

Paul begins the chapter with two incredible verses that hold the key for us to live like Christ calls us to without turning it into my ability to perform.

““Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

I need to be presenting all of my life, surrendered to the Holy Spirit on a daily basis. It is a surrender of my mind and not my will that begins the process of living life as God wants me to.

Sometimes I just get plain worn out. I recently decided that my grass needed to be mowed and I wanted to finish it before company arrived. So out I went on one of our “Heat index over 100” days to tackle the job. A couple of hours later the job was done and so was I! I dragged myself into the garage where I fell on the floor too exhausted to move. I find myself feeling that way in my spiritual walk at times as well. That is why I have been pondering what Paul says:

“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” (Romans 12:11)

Keeping our spiritual energy going is not an easy task. God’s people can sometimes wear you out. So how do you manage to maintain zeal and fervor? Stay tuned until tomorrow. I believe we can find some help.