I am wondering why Christians have problems exercising the 'fruits of the Spirit' in everyday life. Though we spend a great deal of time in church and learning about Christ, it seems as though Christians often have difficulty showing "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness,and temperance" when faced with difficulties.
Why is the divorce rate for Christians higher than that of non-Christians? Though over a decade has passed, a 1999 study revealed:
"While it may be alarming to discover that born again Christians are more likely than others to experience a divorce, that pattern has been in place for quite some time. Even more disturbing, perhaps, is that when those individuals experience a divorce many of them feel their community of faith provides rejection rather than support and healing. But the research also raises questions regarding the effectiveness of how churches minister to families. The ultimate responsibility for a marriage belongs to the husband and wife, but the high incidence of divorce within the Christian community challenges the idea that churches provide truly practical and life-changing support for marriages."
George Barna, president and founder of Barna Research Group
(Source: http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_dira.htm)
A 2008 study was no more encouraging when it stated that:
After months of revived debate over divorce and its increasing acceptance among Americans, a new study affirmed born again Christians are just as likely as the average American couple to divorce.
The Barna Group found in its latest study that born again Christians who are not evangelical were indistinguishable from the national average on the matter of divorce with 33 percent having married and divorced at least once. Among all born again Christians, which includes evangelicals, the divorce figure is 32 percent, which is statistically identical to the 33 percent figure among non-born again adults, the research group noted.
( Source: http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080404/study-christian-divorce-rate-identical-to-national-average/index.html )
What are we doing wrong? Why are we no better than the world in spite of our prayers, scriptural knowledge, and relationship with God? Why is the enemy allowed to break up Christian marriages? Is it the work of the enemy or the Matthew 19:8 hardness of our hearts ( which returns me to the original question regarding not demonstrating the 'fruits of the spirit' to one another)? Is this a sign of the Romans 1:26 unnatural affections in the end times? If we do not exercise the fruits of the Spirit to one another, we have already begun to fulfill the end-time scriptures (Mark 13:4-31) and must be vigilant of the second coming of Christ.
Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. (Mark 13:33)
Monday, March 29, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
Modern Psalmist
I was so impressed by this artist's song to/about God that I had to include it in my blog. Listen to this modern psalmist. His lyrics made me think about how we perceive and conceptualize God. What do you think?
God is in charge!Do not limit Him in your mind!!! Lord, write a song upon my heart!
God is in charge!Do not limit Him in your mind!!! Lord, write a song upon my heart!
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Revelation!
God is truly revealing something to me regarding the love of a father (and our Holy Father). After I posted for the day, I clicked on the Daily Manna feed link on my blog. Here is what it said:
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Hebrews 12:7-11 NIV
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
As a father, I must keep this close to my heart. My sons are prescious to me and though they are grown/nearly grown ( in age), they will still require fatherly guidance , instruction, correction, and wisdom so that they can become fathers themselves when the time has come. It seems as though God is preparing them by preparing me for what is to come. I must do my part so that they will be able to do their part. Thank you, God! You always give us what we need before we need it so that we are prepared!
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Hebrews 12:7-11 NIV
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
As a father, I must keep this close to my heart. My sons are prescious to me and though they are grown/nearly grown ( in age), they will still require fatherly guidance , instruction, correction, and wisdom so that they can become fathers themselves when the time has come. It seems as though God is preparing them by preparing me for what is to come. I must do my part so that they will be able to do their part. Thank you, God! You always give us what we need before we need it so that we are prepared!
The Fear of God
Ecclesiastes 12:13
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Psalm 96:4
For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.
Proverbs 2:5
Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
Psalm 89:7
God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.
Psalm 64:9
And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing.
Psalm 66:16
Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.
These are but a few verses that speak of fearing God. I am convinced that wisdom begins with the fear of God but have been conflicted about why we should fear such a loving and caring entity as God. I believe that I have finally found peace with myself regarding this seemingly opposing conflict.
If we consider God as our spiritual father but compare Him to our biological father, the similarity becomes quite clear. As a child, if you told your biological father that you had just stolen from the candy store, how would you want him to react? Should he shrug his shoulders and say 'Ok, I'm glad you're home. Get ready for dinner'? Is that a father's love? Or would you feel more love if he scolded (or spanked you) for doing wrong, took you back to the store to make you return the candy and apologize to the owner, and tell you that what you did was wrong and that you must never do it again?
Strangely, it is the stern father who expressed love to you. You would probably not steal again beacause you would fear that your father would become even angrier with you and respond more harshly. Though it may not seem like it initially, it is the fear of your biological father that helps you (eventually) understand his love and care for your well-being as you mature.
Our Spiritual Father's love is no different. We must fear Him to understand and respect His love toward us and accept his punishment if we need it. Though God's anger could kill us at any given moment, we pray that He will have mercy on us. We hope that He will not turn his back on us or have no regard for us like the example above of the father who did not care about the child's actions. Though we must seek to please God, we must also realize that all that we do is not pleasing to God and that there are consequences for our actions.
Proverbs reminds me:
11My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
12For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
Thank you ,God, for your care and concern and love towards me! Thank you for your instruction and your correction. I walk daily in fear of You but also in Your Love. I believe that the fear of God is a holy fear that we must learn to savor as an important part of our relationship with our Holy Father.
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Psalm 96:4
For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.
Proverbs 2:5
Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
Psalm 89:7
God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.
Psalm 64:9
And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing.
Psalm 66:16
Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.
These are but a few verses that speak of fearing God. I am convinced that wisdom begins with the fear of God but have been conflicted about why we should fear such a loving and caring entity as God. I believe that I have finally found peace with myself regarding this seemingly opposing conflict.
If we consider God as our spiritual father but compare Him to our biological father, the similarity becomes quite clear. As a child, if you told your biological father that you had just stolen from the candy store, how would you want him to react? Should he shrug his shoulders and say 'Ok, I'm glad you're home. Get ready for dinner'? Is that a father's love? Or would you feel more love if he scolded (or spanked you) for doing wrong, took you back to the store to make you return the candy and apologize to the owner, and tell you that what you did was wrong and that you must never do it again?
Strangely, it is the stern father who expressed love to you. You would probably not steal again beacause you would fear that your father would become even angrier with you and respond more harshly. Though it may not seem like it initially, it is the fear of your biological father that helps you (eventually) understand his love and care for your well-being as you mature.
Our Spiritual Father's love is no different. We must fear Him to understand and respect His love toward us and accept his punishment if we need it. Though God's anger could kill us at any given moment, we pray that He will have mercy on us. We hope that He will not turn his back on us or have no regard for us like the example above of the father who did not care about the child's actions. Though we must seek to please God, we must also realize that all that we do is not pleasing to God and that there are consequences for our actions.
Proverbs reminds me:
11My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
12For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
Thank you ,God, for your care and concern and love towards me! Thank you for your instruction and your correction. I walk daily in fear of You but also in Your Love. I believe that the fear of God is a holy fear that we must learn to savor as an important part of our relationship with our Holy Father.
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