ResponsiveReiding

Proverbs 21:25–26 (ESV)

25 The desire of the sluggard kills him,

for his hands refuse to labor.

26 All day long he craves and craves,

but the righteous gives and does not hold back.

What a horrible existence it is for one to be constantly filled with longings for spiritual growth and fruit, and at the same time be utterly unwilling to expend any time, effort or energy to obtain it. Many a man or woman “wishes” they knew the Bible better, or had a rich prayer life, or ministered to others or had money to give or walked in holiness or had faith – who never do a thing toward attaining any of them. One must read and study their Bible to know it. One must pray, to have a prayer life. One must work to have something to give to others; put away sin to walk in holiness and trust in order for faith to grow. Alas – they will simply bewail their lack instead of investing anything tangible in supplying it. Instead, the sluggard will be jealous of the walk others have. They’ll buy into spiritual “get godly quick schemes”. They’ll have every excuse in the book as to why their case is unique – and often even blame God because in His sovereignty He hasn’t seen fit to give such spirituality to them as He has to others. And all of this is owing to one thing – their own laziness.

Heavenly Father, forgive me for how often this has been my own case.

If you haven’t read my own review of the Shack HERE I would encourage you to.

That being said, CHRISTIANITY TODAY has published a superior review written by KATHERINE JEFFREY, and you can read it by clicking HERE.

Jeffrey is insightful and spot on in my view. This is one to print off and pass on to your friends who may be reading The Shack, and not understanding the real issues in it.

Heavenly Father:

May my joy in you become infectious to everyone I meet.

May my contentment with you and your all-wise providences be such that no earthly good can tempt me, nor lack thereof dismay me.

May my peace in you be imperturbable by any outward circumstance.

May my trust in you be unshakable by any trial.

May my vision of your mercy and grace be unchallenged by any failure of my own or anyone else’s.

May the hallowing of your name mean more to me than life itself.

May you be the supreme treasure of my heart at all times and in all places.

May I be so filled with the knowledge of your love, that I may be filled with all your fullness.

Luke 12:49–53 (ESV) 49 “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! 51 Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52 For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

These are startling words aren’t they? We ordinarily think of Jesus’ mission on earth in terms of peace. Remember what the angels sang the night He was born?: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:14 (ESV) He is the “Prince of Peace” Isaiah 9:6 says, that is His very name. What then is this purpose statement all about? In John 3 – Jesus told Nicodemus “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. ” Is there a contradiction? “I came to cast fire on the earth” is a bold and troubling statement. And when followed by His desire that “it were already kindled” – one can’t help but wonder what this is all about.

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