ResponsiveReiding

What do we say to the Norway Massacre?

July 29th, 2011

What do we say?

In the aftermath of the shocking tragedy last week in Norway – serious reflection is called for on many fronts. Not the least of these, must be cast in the light of how many Christians cried out in the aftermath of the 9/11 Twin Towers attacks, and other terrorist assaults linked to Islamic activists. So many of us thought (and some asked) “where are the Islamic spokespeople condemning these actions?” Rightly so.

And now, its our turn.

On July 22, 2011, Anders Behring Breivik engineered and carried both a bombing of government buildings in Oslo Norway – killing 8 people, and then murdered 68 more people (wounding 96) at a youth camp on the island of UtØya.

According to Breivik’s 1500 page (+ or -) manifesto “2083 – A European Declaration of Independence”, his actions were aimed in large part to stem the tide of growing Islamization in Europe.

All this – he claims – flows out of his Christianity.

So let us respond firstly this way: Biblical Christianity in no uncertain terms has absolutely nothing to do with such actions, and as Christians we not only condemn these actions, but stand at the forefront of calling for the highest performance of justice in punishing these wicked and heinous crimes.

To take up arms in this way in the name of Christ and His Church, is to strike at the very core of the Gospel. Both this, and every other such violent action carried out supposedly in the name of Christianity is reprehensible in the highest degree. No spiritual battle can be won by the use of physical weapons. The Kingdom of Christ conquers the hearts and souls of humankind through the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and His substitutionary death on the cross of Calvary to atone for human sin. It is a Gospel of God’s free, unmerited grace – NOT of conversion by the sword, or the gun or the threat of death, ill-treatment or any other such means. Jesus took no man’s life. He gave His own in our place. The Gospel bids us look at His cross, His bearing God’s just wrath on humankind, His death, burial and resurrection. The last “enemy” He will conquer is death itself. Killing others is as antithetical to His kingdom and plan as can possibly be imagined.

Anders Breivik’s actions are not remotely Christianity, even at its worst. It is human sin using religion as a justification for its twisted, un-Biblical ends. We condemn it.

Dare I speak for Christianity so boldly? I do. Because the teaching of the Bible is so absolutely clear as to be unmistakable in this regard. “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” 1 Timothy 1:5 (ESV)

Let us speak secondly to the families of these victims. We weep for you. Our hearts agonize for you. We grieve even above the horror and the loss at the way it was done and in the name of the Savior we serve. We are so very sorry for your losses and the pain which will never be gone. For the invasion of your hearts and minds – for the theft of your peace and safety. Our God teaches us that no neighbor of ours should ever fear harm from a Christian. That these events shake that safety is a double tragedy, for it not only robs you of your loved ones, it makes one look at all religion as suspect. It is only logical. And while we can do so little tangibly to soothe your savaged hearts – we will grieve and weep with you. And vow never to forget. We want you to know the Savior who died for sin, so that we might be reconciled to God – and to know the hope of the promise that one day, in His rule and reign, there will never be any such tragedy again. We love you – as best we can from afar. But we cannot love you at all as the Father loves you. He draws near to the brokenhearted. May you find Him near now. May you come to know Him in His love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and comfort. His Son was brutally murdered in Jerusalem 2000 years ago. And the cosmos still vibrates from the travesty. But in His death, for all who believe, there is the promise of the forgiveness of sins, and reconciliation to God the Father, so as to become His own sons and daughters ourselves.

Thirdly – we must address Mr. Breivik. Sir, I do not have the slightest notion how you came to possess such dark, hateful and heinous thoughts as would lead you to carry out this butchery. But you need to know it has nothing to do with Christ, nor the Faith which bears His name. Do not use the cloak of true religion to justify your deeds. The Savior you claim to know, said that “out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” Matthew 15:19 (ESV) Your actions came neither from Him, nor His Bible – but out of your own dark, lost, perverse, sin-bound heart. This is your wickedness purely and simply – and not God’s command to you in any way, shape or form. God is a God who forgives. Even the chief of sinners. But such forgiveness belong to none who continue to justify their wickedness under whatever guise. You exemplify the wickedness in all of us. Why it is we need a Savior to begin with. Now is the time to recognize that all you have thought and done has nothing to with serving God, and everything to do with fostering and giving in to the depravity which remains yours and untouched apart from Christ Jesus. We plead with you to repent – to own your evil – and to seek the mercy of God. I pray it is not too late.

Lastly – to us all. Let us be ware, that the seeds of such sin remain in the breast of us all. Let us not point the finger without remembering that apart from sovereign grace, we would be given over to the crimes no less shocking and heinous than these. Breivik’s crimes are but the symptoms of the same disease we all carry.

Let us be quick to condemn such things – loudly and publicly as as adverse and antithetical to all things Christian as they can be. Let us never condone any such wickedness in the name of Christ.

Let us learn to hate our own sin and strive constantly to put the deeds of the flesh to death within us personally.

Let us guard our hearts lest our fears of global movements and changes – like the perceived rise of Islamic influence, lead us to respond in fear rather than faith, and in human hatred rather than in love for our God and our neighbors.

Let us be ever more fervent about the Gospel. Let us be clear that all men are sinners, and there is no hope for any of us apart from Christ. Let us be like the Apostle Paul who reminded the Corinthians that

he “decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:2 (ESV) Not Americanization, Western Culture or even American Evangelical culture – but Christ.

Let us hold up the victim’s families in prayer. Let us not be in the least dispassionate toward their suffering, and keenly aware that the name of our Savior was – however egregiously – attached to these events in some way.

Let us learn true spiritual warfare – and bring it back to the place it belongs in our thinking. We cannot change the world through politics, violence, war or force – but through preaching and living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We fight on our knees – pleading for souls. We fight in our praise, making the glories of Christ known. We fight in our walking in righteousness for His name’s sake. We fight by walking in the light of His Word – which leads us ever and always to Christ. We fight by faith – believing and trusting His promises, and refusing to trust in the arm of man. We fight by loving in Christ.
Elijah’s Lament

July 29th, 2011

1 Kings 19:4 (ESV) But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”

Hebrews 12:1–2 (ESV) Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ²looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

My sin!

Oh, the weight of it.

The madness of its remaining.

The sadness of its recurring eruptions.

The weariness of refusing its draw.

The helplessness of self to hold fast.

The cyclic grief of failure.

Lord hold!

You alone can bear me.

The wonder of your patience.

The joy of your continual cleansing.

The hope of your promises.

The strength of your saving grace.

The perpetual shadow of the cross.
Bridezillas of Christ

July 27th, 2011

Proverbs 27:15–16 (ESV)

¹⁵ A continual dripping on a rainy day and a quarrelsome wife are alike;

¹⁶ to restrain her is to restrain the wind or to grasp oil in one’s right hand.

Is this what it is like for Christ to dwell with His Bride? Are we the quarrelsome wife? Dissatisfied with every providence. Straining against every place we dwell? Complaining over every little thing which is not to our liking? Are our prayers more like the annoying drip, drip, drip of a rainy day? Do this, do that, not this way, not that way, more of this, less of that, something different than what I have, other than what I had, on and on and on? He may as well be trying to pick up a gallon of oil in His right hand or try to put the wind in a box as bring us to stability and contentment.

Heavenly Father, forgive me. It must seem to you like my prayers are just like this continual dripping. Please open my blind eyes to see the wisdom and love behind every one of your appointments for my life. Forgive me for my complaining heart, my unsatisfiable desires. Teach me the secret of true contentment, of not only yielding to travel the roads you have put before me, but to rejoice in your sovereign choice of them. Let me find my highest joy in you personally far above anything you can do for me. Let me lavish in your love – and let me be filled with it, lest the bitter, rancid morsels the World holds out to me seem worthy of the least consideration.

Make me more like Jesus.
Beyond Belief

July 16th, 2011

Prov. 16:4 The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.

Acts 17:26-27 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us.

Bad eyes? Constant struggle with weight? Abandoned? Hurt? Poor? Wealthy? Too short? Bald? Too attractive to be taken seriously? No pedigree? Wrong ethnicity? Birth defect? Challenged? Poor hearing? Diabetic? Lack ambition? Lonely? Only liked for your money or influence? Dumped at the altar? Bullied? Abused? Betrayed? Uneducated? Handicapped?

God has graciously & wisely given us each and every circumstance – from our physical strengths and weaknesses, to our positive and negative circumstantial environments – that we might be brought face to face with the conditions best suited to maximize the exposure of the sin within us that needs dealt with, as it hinders Christ’s likeness within us.

On one side, it takes very penetrating hurts to go deep enough to uncover and expose the most buried and protected sins. On the other side, it takes very great privileges and pleasures to expose other of the deepest sins buried in our hearts.

How then, will we respond? Will we use His “gifts” to grow? Or will they serve as our chief excuses to remain as we are?
“Not a Lot to Say” – An open letter to the Huffington Post re: Greg Carey’s article

July 11th, 2011

After reading an article recently in the Huffington Post – (READ THE ARTICLE HERE)

I could not help but respond to Professor Greg Carey’s assertion, the Bible has little to say about marriage. Greg Carey is Professor of New Testament at Lancaster Theological Seminary in Lancaster PA (a UCC school – bio HERE).

Dear Editors:

I want to applaud the Huffington Post for being willing to ask and address the question which headed the 7/7/2011 edition article: “What Does the Bible Actually Say About Marriage?” A timely and important topic.

And, I’d like to say how much I appreciated Professor Carey’s irenic tone and his willingness to step up to the plate in pointing out that some of the commonly perceived “marriage” passages in the Bible aren’t passages about marriage at all! – like 1 Corinthians 13. Bravo! Carelessness in reading the Scriptures carefully and in a contextually sensitive manner, breeds all kinds of misinterpretations. Worse, it breeds an approach to the Bible we wouldn’t tolerate in any other
literature. Professor Carey is spot on when he notes that:

“Unfortunately, many Christians use the Bible to support their own prejudices and bigotry.” I might add that not only some Christians do this – but some self-professed non-Christians engage in the practice at times too. Sad.

When Theodor Geisel, writing as Dr. Seuss penned “The Cat in the Hat” – he did not imagine (nor do we ordinarily) assume others might read that line as implying that it contained a polemic against the psychological mistreatment of house pets through systematic imprisonment in disorientating millinery prisons designed to keep them from climbing the evolutionary ladder. It was a fun tome about a mischievous feline protagonist. Biblical statements seldom fair as well at the hands of some – even those who would profess to be its adherent and defenders.

Imagine my surprise then when I reached the article’s section headed by the words: “Not a Lot to Say.” I must confess a certain amount of mystification over Prof. Carey’s assertion here. The implication that the Bible simply does not have much to say about marriage, is in my limited understanding, grossly inaccurate. I should like to understand the unit of measure used in arriving at that conclusion. We might say the United States Constitution does not have “a lot” to say about the “right to privacy” – but few in our day would argue that so little said (some argue nothing said, but indirectly) implies the concept is of little importance, or that what IS said isn’t vital to interpreting how the Constitution applies.

So when I consider how the Bible treats the establishment of marriage and its fundamental elements in Genesis2:19-25; It’s repeated demonstration of the failure of polygamous relationships (it never whitewashes the attendant problems); God’s emphatic prohibition of adultery (Ex. 20:14, Deut. 5:18 with other allusions); God’s prohibition of sex outside of the marriage covenant and the extensive and detailed parameters instituted regarding legitimate and illegitimate sexual partners and marriageability (see the entire context of Leviticus 18:1-23); The Bible’s repeated treatment of the betrayal of God’s People’s relationship with God in terms of adultery (myriads of passages but most explicitly and extensively portrayed in the book of Hosea); Jesus’ explicit teaching on the nature of the marriage relationship by limiting legitimate divorce to cases of adultery (Matthew 19:3-9); Jesus’ explanation that not everyone can remain single but only those “to whom it is given” (Matt. 19:11); The Apostle Paul’s extensive treatment of marriage issues in 1 Corinthians 7 – 40 packed verses worth!; Paul’s far from “ugly” but transcendent exposition of the keys to a harmonious marriage relationship in
Ephesians 5:22-33) when he shows proper arrangement and order (with submission by the way – NOT subjugation – but good order); Peter’s call to husbands to treat their wives NOT as spiritual inferiors, but as the equals they are before God with honor and cherishing them as finer vessels than they (1 Peter 3:1-17); and then the pervasive typology that the Bible employs to describe the Savior’s relationship with His Church in the framework of monogamous, committed marriage with inviolable fidelity and faithfulness (Eph. 5:25-32; Rev. 19:7; 21:2 & 9; 22:17); and a host of other references and allusions – when I consider that (and more) I gasp – “Not a Lot to Say”? Preposterous! Volumes to say. And not a word of over-romanticized fluff, but nuts and bolts reality having to do with every aspect of the marital relationship.

Contrary to the good professor, I must insist the Bible has plenty to say about marriage, and the gift it is from the hand of God – whether or not one comes from the Judaic or Christian traditions.

As an Evangelical Christian, I have come to count the privilege, the honor, the deep spiritual significance and the wonder of this phenomenal thing called marriage precisely because the Bible has so much to say about it.

Pick it up, read it, and be amazed.
Dealing with Despair

July 7th, 2011

An exceptional address from Paige Benton Brown at The Gospel Coalition

HERE http://thegospelcoalition.org/resources/name-index/a/Paige_Benton_Brown
Sipping Saints

July 5th, 2011

Matthew 20:20–28 (ESV) Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. ²¹And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” ²²Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” ²³He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”…²⁸even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

In verse 22 of this interesting passage, something deeply profound takes place. James & John, the
sons of Zebedee” – get to “drink” from Jesus’ “cup.” May we take our sip today too.

The situation is fascinating. Their mother (James’ & John’s that it) is concerned to secure for her sons the best thing she can think of. Praise God for mothers who are desirous of such things for us. And the highest thing She can think of, is that her two sons serve as Jesus’ top two servants in His coming Kingdom. The other disciples seem bothered by this – but one is left to speculate if their distress only comes from the fact that they didn’t think to ask this before she did!

But Jesus is never wont to let an opportunity for opening our eyes to see the Heavenly vistas beyond this earthly realm. And seizing upon this singular occasion, uses it to bring into the very sharpest of contrasts – this World’s system versus Christ’s Kingdom. In this World, position and power in the eyes of others mean everything. In Christ’s Kingdom, joyful and full subjection to the Father surpasses all.

So Jesus introduces this idea by a most eye-opening method. In effect, He asks the “boys” – do you think you can handle such a position – by being party to the accomplishing of the things the Father has given to me to do? Can you drink from “MY” cup? Can you enter into my world and my responsibilities and my realm? To which they answer (one wonders if with too little thought) “YES! We can!” To which Jesus then replies – “then so you shall – here.” And He offers them their first draught.

What does that taste like? It tastes like this: “To rule and reign with me, to serve in my Kingdom the way I serve the Father – is to care nothing for personal gain, but to leave all such sovereign choices up the Father without complaint.” For “the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Would you find a “place” within His kingdom? Then sip His cup. And forget about carving out your niche, or what that might look like. Just submit to the Father and His providential assignments as He sees fit. This is what Jesus does. He is here to carry out the Father’s will. His cup is to be free to forget about personal position, and to live unto His God.

So. Will you drink from His cup today? Or will you still vie for how you think the Father can use you best? Still strive after making sure He employs you the way YOU think best?

Go ahead. Take a sip. Its liberating.
Which one are you?

July 1st, 2011

Revelation 2:1a (ESV) “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write…”

Churches all have personalities. Those personalities generally take their primary characteristics from the Pastor(s) – though not always. But because we are social creatures, we often gather most comfortably with those who share similar personality traits, and/or compatible traits. And this has both pluses and minuses to it.

In an interview I heard with John MacArthur some time ago, MacArthur lamented that he has ministered so long in one place (Grace Community Church) that he has been there long enough to see some of his negative traits replicated in his congregation. We pass-on (so to speak) attitudes and viewpoints, mindsets and other factors which are not always positive. It is an occupational hazard. One that personally makes me tremble.

As you read the 2nd and 3rd chapters of the book of The Revelation, you cannot help but see this problem in the larger context of each congregation. Each one has its peculiarities which Jesus addresses. Some positive, some negative. And we can be reasonably sure that such traits reflect at least the leadership of the individual Churches, if not the majority of those in each one. For instance…

Ephesus was commended for its orthodoxy and activity, but challenged for being somewhat loveless.

Smyrna was beat up, persecuted, hopeless in this life – and counseled to place its trust in the return of Christ and not a reversal of fortunes. Pergamum was urban, compromised by the culture & dependent upon structure. Thyatira was socially active, but morally compromised by listening to un-Biblical “authority”. Sardis was outwardly vibrant but inwardly dead to the Spirit of Christ while Philadelphia, though diminutive was alive, dependent and faithful. Lastly, Laodicea, which was impactless through the deception of prosperity and loss of intimacy with Christ.

So which one are you? We might each be able to say our particular church fits at least mostly into one of these 7 pictures – but in truth, we probably share those characteristics personally as well. Do one of these descriptions fit your congregation? Do one of these descriptions seem to fit you individually – more or less? No doubt, at least one stands out in both cases. And with few exceptions you are probably in a church which reflects your affinity for those in like condition. So, which one are you?

One of the delights of this passage is that in the cases where anything negative is shared – there is counsel given. Neither you nor your church need remain that way. And for the two which have only commendation – there is encouragement to carry on.

To be perfectly honest – I would have to say I tend most toward being an “Ephesian.” Not good. But not un-fixable either. How great is the mercy and grace of our God! But if you were to sit down in the privacy of your own prayer closet with this portion of Scripture before you – where would you locate yourself? Where would you locate your church? And what will you do with the counsel given?

Our Faithful and True Shepherd, loves us too much, to leave us to ourselves. May we respond to that love in appropriate ways. He loves, to help His own recover from whatever we get ourselves into.
Leading with a lead pipe.

June 28th, 2011

Proverbs 28:15 (ESV) Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

Bad leadership “leads”, rules by two primary tactics – instilling fear through a bullying rage about all manner of things (roaring) and through fiercely attacking (charging) others. And let’s face it – these tactics are effective. It is why they persist. They get people to cower and run. And it is wicked. How opposite of our Christ.

Talk show hosts “lead” by raging for hours on end. Hoping to instill enough fear in folks to get a reaction. A reaction which translates into ratings more than any real action to change things with an eye toward loving others.

Politicians charge one another endlessly. They rage about the opposition. The demonize everyone who disagrees. They think they lead by making you angry at or afraid of – the other side.

It happens in our pulpits too. Rather than point others to Christ, preachers and teachers can spend their hours raging against the Devil, or the World or the Flesh, and driving people through fear. Such a form of spiritual bullying is reprehensible in the highest. It is one thing to point out truth, and quite another to try to manipulate through raging and charging.

And it happens in our homes. Fathers roar at their kids. Husbands at their wives. And some wives in return. We seek power over the other by our roaring and charging. We hit them where they are weak – and trample on them and then congratulate ourselves for being “real” men – leaders.

And then we are reminded of our Savior. He led by going. He was on His way to die. And He called others to come and follow. But as would be prophesied of Him: “Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. ²He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; ³ a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. ⁴ He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.” (Isaiah 42:1–4, ESV)

He did not rage at others to control them – but in the Spirit of His Father He said: “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;

though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18, ESV)

Like a Shepherd He lead us. Not like a bully. Not like a fear monger. Not wickedly. He leads us in gentleness and truth. Beside still waters. He restores our souls – He does not rage at them. How unlike the World.

What a Savior!
All decked out

June 21st, 2011

Ephesians 6:10–20 (ESV) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; ¹⁷ and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, ¹⁹ and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Whenever I fall into sin, (don’t give me that look – you do too) I find I need look to find which part of Christ’s armor I’ve neglected. That is most often what leaves me susceptible to failure. No doubt, it is the same for you too.

1. Do I have my BELT OF TRUTH on? Am I seeing all of reality and even my identity as defined in relationship TO Christ? Am I seeing sin as the hideous thing it really is in God’s eyes, and righteousness as the treasure it really is in God’s eyes? Or is my day-to-day worldview uninformed by understanding the universe through God’s eternal purposes in Christ – rather than through the lens of the moment or this world’s values?

2. Do I have my BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS on? Commentators are divided on the nature of this breastplate – whether it refers to guarding my own heart through habitually walking in righteousness or fixing my eyes on Christ’s imputed righteousness. I take my stand on not being able to separate the two. The more I rely NOT on my own righteousness, and live fully convinced of Christ’s righteousness imputed to me in faith – the more I walk in the freedom of that righteousness, and guard my heart. Am I conscious of really and truly being declared righteous IN Christ?

3. Are my feet standing securely in the readiness given by the GOSPEL OF PEACE? Do I live at peace with God because of my justification in the Gospel, or is there some underlying fear that the Gospel is not enough? That my peace with God is tenuous, fragile and conditional upon me rather than secured in Christ?

4. Is my SHIELD OF FAITH up? Am I living increasingly in the full revelation of God IN Christ? Do I believe His Word – fully? Is sin as bad as the Word says it is? Is mankind’s plight really that desperate? Is Christ’s atoning sacrifice really the only means of peace with God? Does He really hate sin that much? Does He really love me that much? Am I really secure in Him? Will I be resurrected in Him? Will all of His promises prevail? If I do not trust Him – I will suspect Him, and sin will have its way through deception, just like in Eden.

5. Do I have on the HELMET OF SALVATION? Do I think like a redeemed person with living in the true hope of Heaven – which is salvation’s consummation of being eternally WITH Christ. Am I living like that’s where I’m going?

6. Do I have on the SWORD OF THE WORD? Am I living, having my sin being constantly exposed by the light OF Christ. Or do I live in self-deception and imagine myself better than I am? If He is not continually searching my with the light of His word – separating my thoughts and intents – which is impossible by human means – I will talk myself into sin every time.

7. Have I put on PRAYER today? Am I living in the access to the Father won BY Christ? In intimacy with the King of glory?

Am I really standing in these as my daily, conscious reality? If not, I WILL fall.