More Thoughts from a Notebook

I just noticed this today and found it encouraging and convicting, as many good things are. I am quite sure that I was listening to a sermon (probably by Dr. Ortlund) and writing my own thoughts based on what was being taught...

Sin is running to the arms and beds of other lovers. They call out to us, but they do not truly satisfy us. At His right hand are pleasures forevermore! (Psalm 16:11)

Are we thrilled with God? Is that the statement that our lives are making to the universe? Are we living in such a joyful way that people actually ask about the hope that is in us? (I Peter 3:15) Who cares if we have the right answers if people aren't compelled to ask us the questions?

Christianity is about radically changing people so that we don't think, talk, and act like others do. This is what it means to be a new creation! What makes us think we are a new creation if nobody can tell the difference in our lives? This is especially difficult in the U.S. where we are expected to live a very tame version of Christianity where nobody is offended and we don't seem too out of touch with modern American trends (or we can't be relevant). But modern American Christianity certainly doesn't look like the early church! As Christians, our hope is not supposed to be in comfort, entertainment, financial security and early retirement. Our hope is not in the same things that the world hopes in, and that fact radically changes us. Our hope is in a faithful God who keeps all of his astounding promises to us to take care of us, satisfies us most deeply, and fills us with a true love, joy and peace (and all the other fruits of the Spirit) that make us irresistible to others and causes them to ask about the glorious hope that is in us since we are living in the radical ways of love that can only come through faith in Jesus.

May God break us and grant that we find our hope in Him!

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

~The Apostle Paul, Romans 15:13