I'd really like to hear what you are thinking as we finish up the first chapter of Nehemiah . . .
It's your turn to speak!
Here's our question to consider:
Is it really a sacrifice to lose the world in order to gain Christ? If not, why do we cling so tightly to the things of this world?
Give this some thought and some prayer. If you are moved to leave an answer in a comment, please do. Often we have some wonderful discussions and I know that others will read your answer and be blessed.
I think it is a sacrifice to lose the world. We are all so closely bound to this physical world. God has put us into it. We are dependant on the air of the world to breath, the gravity to stay in place, the food that grows, the people that are in it that we love. All of these things and many more keep us firmly bound to this world, and that’s not even mentioning the cultural things, the material things, the emotional things. And because we are so firmly rooted in this world, it is very easy to give this world and all that is in it priority over God. It’s why we cling to life and are so grieved when we are sick or when our loved ones are sick or dying. I think this world, in part at least, is a glorious and beautiful place. Creation declares the glory of God and we are right to enjoy it and to exercise stewardship over it. The problem arises when we put our love of this world and all that it contains over and above our Love for God and thereby create idols. So we somehow, with God’s help since it is certainly not something we could ever do in our own strength or wills, have to be able to enjoy the physical things that the Lord has graciously given, while holding them loosely enough to be able to love God more. Does that make sense?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! Thanks, Cathy!
ReplyDeleteCathy said it for me as well really.
ReplyDelete