Sunflower Faith

This Week’s “In Other Words”

“The kind of religion that God requires,
and will accept,
does not consist in weak,
dull, and lifeless “wouldings”–
those weak inclinations that lack convictions–
that raise us but a little above indifference.
God, in His word, greatly insists that we be in good earnest, fervent in spirit,and that our hearts be engaged vigorously in our religion.”

by Jonathan Edwards

Hosted this week by:

Tami of The Next Step

There’s a powerful image to the verse,Hebrews 4:11-12

 ¹¹ Therefore, let’s make every effort to enter that rest so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience, ¹² because God’s word is living, active, and sharper than any two-edged sword. It penetrates to the point that it separates the soul from the spirit and the joints from the marrow. It’s able to judge the heart’s thoughts and intentions. (Hebrews 4:11-12, Common English Bible)

It calls us to be active and alive and intentional in our walk, our talk and our life and yes it can be very difficult.

There’s no doubt to that, but that is part of the challenge of the growth of being a believer and follower of Christ.

Jonathan Edwards quote really seems to help capture what Hebrews 4:12-13 speaks about the bible and of knowing Christ.

This isn’t something you can really just be passive about but to really understand and to know..this is a living, growing, challenging faith that requires us to look just as much at ourselves as well as to others, that it becomes a part of everything that it means to be a Christian.

It’s something where we are warned in the bible, that we will be known, NOT just by what we say, but by our fruits (our actions) too:

 ¹⁵Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.¹⁶Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?¹⁷Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.¹⁸A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.¹⁹Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire²⁰Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. (Matthew 7:15-20, King James Version)

 

That’s pretty intimidating in some ways when you stop and think about it….

It’s not a simple checklist and it’s enough…its all or nothing and nothing in between, as a matter of fact, a quick trip to the MHC (Matthew Henry Commentary) and we get the following warning about the passage, Matthew 7:15-20:

“Nothing so much prevents men from entering the strait gate, and becoming true followers of Christ, as the carnal, soothing, flattering doctrines of those who oppose the truth. They may be known by the drift and effects of their doctrines. Some part of their temper and conduct is contrary to the mind of Christ. Those opinions come not from God that lead to sin. (Mt 7:21-29)”

To add this, MHC continues to tell the reader,

“To be doers of the word, not hearers only.

Christ here shows that it will not be enough to own him for our Master, only in word and tongue. It is necessary to our happiness that we believe in Christ, that we repent of sin, that we live a holy life, that we love one another. This is his will, even our sanctification. Let us take heed of resting in outward privileges and doings, lest we deceive ourselves, and perish eternally, as multitudes do, with a lie in our right hand. Let every one that names the name of Christ, depart from all sin.

There are others, whose religion rests in bare hearing, and it goes no further; their heads are filled with empty notions. These two sorts of hearers are represented as two builders. This parable teaches us to hear and do the sayings of the Lord Jesus: some may seem hard to flesh and blood, but they must be done. Christ is laid for a foundation, and every thing besides Christ is sand. Some build their hopes upon worldly prosperity; others upon an outward profession of religion.

Upon these they venture; but they are all sand, too weak to bear such a fabric as our hopes of heaven. There is a storm coming that will try every man’s work. When God takes away the soul, where is the hope of the hypocrite? The house fell in the storm, when the builder had most need of it, and expected it would be a shelter to him. It fell when it was too late to build another. May the Lord make us wise builders for eternity. Then nothing shall separate us from the love of Christ Jesus.

The multitudes were astonished at the wisdom and power of Christ’s doctrine. And this sermon, ever so often read over, is always new. Every word proves its Author to be Divine. Let us be more and more decided and earnest, making some one or other of these blessednesses and Christian graces the main subject of our thoughts, even for weeks together. Let us not rest in general and confused desires after them, whereby we grasp at all, but catch nothing

What are your thoughts?

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