so true

Jonathan Edwards once said that godly people can, as it were, smell the depravity of an act before they can explain why it is evil. There is a spiritual sense that something is amiss. It does not fit in a world permeated with God. Ephesians 5:3 says that some things “are not fitting” among saints.” “Fitting-ness” is not always easy to justify with arguments. You discern it before you can defend it. That’s good, because we have to make hundreds of choices every day with no time for extended reflection. But from time to time we need to pause and give rational, biblical expression why something is not fitting.

Heresy?

So Im not really sure if this post will be theologically sound or not... and its again not an analogy. Feel free to comment or disagree. ;) I really feel like this was what God revealed to me this morning, but edification and refinement is always welcome and needed!

So I have been riding into school super early with my dear roommate, and I have been joining her in memorizing Philippians on the way. Today we started in chapter 2. After arriving at MCV, waiting for class to start, I was meditating on the rest of the chapter.
I got to verse 4, which says, "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." In the margin of my Bible I had written out next to this verse- selflessness.

However, as I was meditating this morning- it really struck me that that I don't think that is really what this verse is saying. It is not saying selflessness... it is saying in addition to... look NOT ONLY to my interests, BUT ALSO to yours.

Not that I am justifying selfiSHness either, but it made me feel a little better.
Addendum:
Because of context, the next verse (calling me to have the SAME attitude as Christ, really in fact does make a call to selflessness) My pastor made a great call addition/observation to this post. He thinks that Paul is assuming that we will always be looking out for our own needs, but the part of the command we need to battle with is to also look out for others needs.

He related it to the analogy of 1 Tim 4:8 which I thought was very fitting. People take that verse to mean that physical discipline is of no value which is not what it says. This verse doesn't mean its wrong to look out for our own needs, but the call is to put others first.

Those who honor me I will honor...

I am SO excited to blog about this right now. ;) It is just an awesome testimony to the Lord, when I really struggled with doing the right thing.

SO I have a student membership to the local YMCA that is only $18 a month compared to the normal $40-50 dollars a month rate. The requirements are that you have to be a full time student with at least 12 credits (easily met- Im taking 21 grad credits this semester) and you need to be between the ages of 18-23.

I am 24 (yeah baby), however, since I signed up for this membership when I first moved to Richmond and was 23, they were still just deducting $18 a month from my checking account. After moving to the Southside last month to a different Y, I started to feel convicted that I should tell them that I was 24 now and shouldn't still be getting the student rate. BUT with the conviction also came the justification- Im still a student, Im on loan money, I can't afford $50 a month, they don't really care... you can see how my mind could go on and on.

The analogy that came to mind is from one of my professors at Liberty. This analogy has proven faithful to me over and over. EVERY time it comes to my mind, it makes me realize how stupid my own justification is. My professor, Dr. Ed. Barker, always used to say- 'Your integrity is not worth a chocolate chip cookie.' Meaning that we are so easily tempted to trade our integrity for something SO SMALL and trivial. We so often trade that which is of the utmost value to that which is of no value at all (or at least perishing/fleeting value). It is never worth compromising your integrity to save $2 on your grocery bill, or for me to save $30 a month on a Y bill... forget it. So sheepishly I decided to do the right thing and tell the Y.

AND HERE IS THE BEST PART! I love it so much because this is how God works! ;) This afternoon I called the YMCA and explained to them my age dilemma... and that they need to change my monthly membership fee and the girl on the phone said that I actually qualify for a different membership bracket and my new rate is only going to be $10 a month! ;)
I love it.
Thank you Lord for the positive reinforcement to do hard things. Whether we see the reward in this life or the next- it is always worth it.

Not really an analogy...

The analogies are still swimming in my head, but I have not felt pressed to write about them recently.

A dear friend of mine recently challenged me with something her pastor had mentioned about the miracle of the floating axe head in 2 Kings 6.

She said- God put this miracle in the Bible for a reason. What does he want to teach us thru this? For the past few days it has made me a little more heightened as I am reading. Sometimes you really wonder- why on earth does he mention this? What is the point?

If I can't figure it out from the context, I turn to Mr. Matthew Henry's commentary.
Today it was the 'Death in the pot' story from 2 Kings 4:38-41

One thing Matthew Henry said about these scriptures really brought a smile to my face:
"The sons of the prophets, it seems, were better skilled in divinity than in natural philosophy, and read their Bibles more than their herbals."

The prophet may have been a poor cook, he might not have known how to season soup, and he may have even cooked up poison without even knowing it! But he was more knowlegeable about the Word of God then he was about the plants and the herbs. Isn't it tempting to want to be wise in the ways of the world? To want to be skilled or knowledgeable about many different things, whatever it may be?
Fleeting.

“Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

Spurgeon Says...

Bounteous is Jehovah in his nature; to give is his delight. His gifts are beyond measure precious, and are as freely given as the light of the sun. He gives grace to his elect because he wills it, to his redeemed because of his covenant, to the called because of his promise, to believers because they seek it, to sinners because they need it. He gives grace abundantly, seasonably, constantly, readily, sovereignly; doubly enhancing the value of the boon by the manner of its bestowal. Grace in all its forms he freely renders to his people: comforting, preserving, sanctifying, directing, instructing, assisting grace, he generously pours into their souls without ceasing, and he always will do so, whatever may occur. Sickness may befall, but the Lord will give grace; poverty may happen to us, but grace will surely be afforded; death must come but grace will light a candle at the darkest hour.

Thank you

Do you think the desire to 'pay people back' is an innate sin-nature trait, an innate God-given trait, or a learned-by-society trait?

Im not sure... I know it is partly pride but I wonder if it is originally a God-given trait that has been tainted by pride... or originally a sin-nature trait we have to combat.

There is a couple in my church who have given me so much it is ridiculous. They are constantly giving-giving-giving and it is embarassing! I honestly feel like avoiding it or just not mentioning anything because I don't want them to give me anything else! Being needy is truly not a comfortable situation for most of us. I have been thinking constantly how I can show them my gratitude? Should I buy them a gift card? I feel like a thank you card doesn't have value because Id have to give them one every day and it loses its meaning.

This is how we are before God. We can never ever pay him back! This is why grace is such a hard concept for us and we'd prefer a works salvation because then at least I did something for it! With God, our desire to give back is like slipping someone a buck who just saved your life. 'Here- go have a cup of coffee on me.' Ludicrous. I remember listening to a Piper sermon where he talked about the line in Come though Fount- "O to Grace how great a debtor daily Im constrained to be..." Every day I get further and further indebted!

How can I show God thanks?

"How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people." -Psalm 116:12-14

What is Faith?

This morning I attempted to teach swim lessons to an 8 and a 9 year old girl who were afraid of drowning and didn't know how to swim. One of the little girls wouldn't even try... She had almost drowned once and her fear had completely immobilized her. No matter how much I assured her that I wouldn't let go of her, her fear of drowning was greater than her faith in my words.

This analogy could go many ways. One way that I will leave open for you is that despite her fear she REALLY wanted to learn how to swim. When we left she was almost in tears because she didn't get to really try to swim because she refused to do all the things I asked her to. I sat down with her before we left and asked her if she would try next time and if she really did want to learn how to swim. I have been told before that you will do whatever you desire more... if you desire to be thin more than you desire the chocolate cake- your actions will follow accordingly. If your desire to swim is greater than your fear- you will do what it takes to learn. To that argument many have produced the example Paul sets forth in Romans 7 about conflicting desires. When I asked this little girl- which is stronger, your desire to swim or your fear of the water? And she adamantly shouted BOTH! Infer what you will.

I want to expound on the faith issue. Today I read in Luke 7 about the faith of the centurion. In my opinion, faith is a very hard concept to define. Hence why God gave us an entire chapter of what faith looks like analogies in Hebrews 11. In Luke 7, Jesus says this is the greatest example of faith He's seen in all of Israel. The centurion recognizes the absolute power of Christ and places himself wholeheartedly (and humbly!) under his authority.

Side note: I LOVE the centurion's attitude and I know Christ did as well. In verse 4, the people all come to Jesus and say (Vanesa paraphrase version)- this man DESERVES you to heal his servant- he loves his nation and has even given the money to build our entire church building! WHOA. ;) The centurion however says, "Lord I don't even deserve to have you enter my home!"

Lord keep me in an attitude of humble faith! Recognizing how underserving I am of all your graces. No matter how much I could ever give or do... it is so small! I deserve death.

"Therefore since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this GRACE in which we now stand." -Romans 5:1-2

Beautiful Sovereign Grace song entitled GRACE UPON GRACE. My favorite of the day:

You have ordained every breath we take
In pleasure or pain, there is no mistake
Gladness and grief, both are in Your hand
And sufferings brief carry out Your plan
And our fleeting sorrows will yield an endless prize
When some bright tomorrow we’ll see You with our eyes,
****************
Grace upon grace flows down, flows down
Grace upon grace flows down, flows down
Through the precious blood of Christ.
****************
Father of lights, Giver of all grace
Your mercies crown our lives all our days.
River of Life, quench our thirsty souls
For no true delight does Your love withhold.
And in every season we are satisfied
For just one reason- Christ was crucified