Come All You Weary

Salvation: How can I help but offer prayers of praise as one who has been saved? One who realizes this free gift that overflows my heart with grace (my only weapon against the glutinous urge to consume the cheap and easy self-righteous, moralistic lie of religion. THEE single thing Christ came to destroy)

It's THIS reason I have joy. THIS is why I have hope. THIS is why I put that hope in a God that claims his purpose is to bring rest to the weary, provision to the needy, guidance to the lost, and freedom to the burdened.

So come all you weary, and find rest for your soul. Not so you can become like us who have already accepted this gift, but that you might also taste and see the freedom that is in Christ.

The simplicity of the gospel goes beyond comprehension but it's in this simplicity that we begin to realize the key difference between those that have been saved and those that have not. For those that have, it's the simple recognition of our own brokenness (sin). The simple recognition that we alone can't DO enough and must therefore accept the free gift of Christs grace; grace that transforms us by means of his overwhelming presence in our lives.

But as soon as we forget what we have been saved from, we lose all joy and become like the Pharisees; thinking more highly of ourselves and our supposed "righteous deeds" than the free gift of Gods eternal grace.

But we must also remember what Paul said; "do I go on sinning that grace may abound? No!" Rather, we pursue Christ and turn from sin that those weary amongst us will see (not me, but Christ in me) as a refreshing drink in a hot, desolate desert.

"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound," that saved wretches like you and I 

The Gradual Fall Into Spiritual Self-Righteousness

1. Recognition of Sin - The individual, moved and called by the Holy Spirit, recognizes the darkness and brokenness within that seeks to destroy every piece of them
2. Salvation - Upon recognizing this brokenness, the individual comes to a crossroad; receive the eternal gift of adoption into the kingdom of Christ, or deny this inheritance and move forward in carnal pursuits with no desire for a relationship with the Creator
3. Restoration - The individual that chooses salvation begins to exemplify the fruits and restorative power seen in one whom has graciously been given this priceless inheritance    
4. Pursuit of Righteousness - And so we enter into the body of Christ (i.e. the Church) and spur each other on towards the things of Him; seeking to live the high standard he has set before us as we utilize the gifts he has instilled within us
5. Righteous Expectations - The more we are able to distinguish darkness from light (good from evil), the more we feel an obligation to live this righteousness in front of our fellow Christians.  Often times with these righteous expectations come less grace from our fellow brothers and sisters and less pursuit of inward accountability.  Therefore, walls are built creating dark shadows of "the heart" (i.e. our spirit). 
6. Self-Righteousness - Instead of restarting the cycle of recognizing sin and pursuing restoration, we allow our spiritual pride to grow, thus killing the Godly fruit that had once defined us.  This not only immobilizes our spiritual growth and effectiveness but creates a different kind of fruit; one that looks shiny and polished but tastes bitter and rotten

Unfortunately, this "fall" into self-righteousness is all too common in the modern church.  We're all guilty of it to some degree, but how do we continue the cycle of spiritual restoration while we still pursue the Christ-like example of one who has been set free from the bondage of sin; including that of spiritual pride? 

The Gospel According to Mumford - Timshel

The world can be a paralyzing place that freezes us in a state of stagnation founded upon fears; fears of success, fears of failure, fears of growth, fears of change, and ultimately a deeply rooted fear of death (i.e. the great unknown). Cold and enslaving it is to live in such a world.

The harsh reality is this: death is daily knocking at your door and is seeking to gradually rob you of your innocence and your youth. The other harsh reality is that death is succeeding. "For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the grass; it's flowers fall and it's beauty perishes." And so it is with us.

But our substance, OUR LEGACY! Now THAT is something death can't rob you of. Freeze you from creating valuable substance, yes, but once that substance is established there is no power in death to rob you of your legacy.

So take heart and know "you are not alone in this."  Again, "you are not alone in this."  As brothers and sisters you will stand, holding fast against this cold world. And so you surround yourself with those that might warm your hearts towards the things that make death irrelevant; spurring you on towards a life that is free from it's enslaving and paralyzing power. Pushing you towards the eternal nature of a life well-lived and well-served.

But be cautious of who you surround yourself with. These people will define you. They will be the roots by which your choices stem from. Choices that can "make you great" and give you "a ladder to the stars"...or, choices that freeze you in a state of nothingness. Choose wisely.

How blessed I am to have friends that would "move mountains" for me. As iron sharpens iron, so a true friend sharpens another friend. Thank you to those that invest in me and push me towards great things; eternal things.