No I am not talking about the scene from The Christmas Story. 🙂
Actually, I reckon I owe some of my readers an apology. My sermon over the weekend was “Two 7-Letter Words Which Change Everything” and I said I would give those two words in my next post. However, I was so stoked about the “Adventure” post I decided to hold off with the “Two Words” one. I was not being deceptive thinking if I hold off they might come back the next day. Honest! 🙁
So…here I am with the follow-up to that post.
The 7-Letter Word Which Demolishes is CONTROL. The focus verse is Galatians 2:20. What does it mean to be “crucified with Christ?” Bill’s Version for Simple People (of which I am creator and test case) says, “It means to give up control of your life.” To state it another way: It means to live in the “Now” and in the “I AM” not in the “I Was.” There are two words which seem to rule peoples’ lives: shame and regret. You want a great lesson? Check out Isaiah 43:16-21, but really focus on 18-19a. You’ll be glad you did.
The 7-Letter Word Which Enlivens is ABANDON. Christianity is not about self-improvement. It is about relinquishing control. The Bible is clear God orders our steps. He wants us to abandon control and give our lives to Him. When Jesus isn’t our everything, our enough, we will pursue every other thing we think will fill us.
There you have it: the two words. The one who came closest was Daniel with BURRITO and FEBREZE. Of course, he wins because he was the only one who ventured a guess. 🙂 I do plan to look at this more in a future post or two. Until then…have you yielded control?
You gotta admit that I was pretty close (smiles). Actually I know all too well regret and shame. In fact they have latched onto me so deeply that sometimes I think they will drive me into the grave a broken and wretched man. However, there are moments when the sun breaks through if only for a little while and lets me know there is a better way.
No. I cling to control way too much.
Love these two words, and your thoughts about them! Have I yielded control? Well, in the sense that I have given my life to the Lord and received His salvation, yes, I have yielded control. But the daily working out of that is, well, daily. In so many little ways, I find how subtle this issue of control is. I am praying for the Lord to help me surrender everything to Him in full abandon!
GOD BLESS!
(As a side note, I also like burritos and Febreze…)
Ouch, that post was directed at me 🙂
I am in a season when losing control over something makes me extremely nervous and lost. I suspect it has been caused by the fact that much has changed over the past year, but I still need to learn to relinquish control.
(I love Bill’s Version for Simple People – is it going to be published anytime soon? I’d love a copy 😀 )
I don’t think I will be giving up control to an idea which doesn’t make sense. On my own seems to work just fine.
The idea of relinquishing control over self improvement could be life changing. It certainly goes against culture.
Yes, sir! It’s all in His hands. Blessings, Bill!
It’s so hard to give up control. I still prefer to give God our plans and ask Him to get onboard. Even after learning the hard way that, you are right, He will pursue everything we choose over Him. The blessings of giving up control are peace and contentment. I’m better but still slip more than I’d like!
It’s a touch concept for our flesh and senses to grasp how “Who’s last will be first and who’s last will be first.” Along with “to gain true life we much give it up.” I get it, but still struggle with the dragon.
Febreze? Oh..I’m dying here.
But this: “There are two words which seem to rule peoples’ lives: shame and regret.” Ugh. That cuts right to the quick.
Those are the things that keep me up at night, that rob my passion, that remind me of my inadequacies.
But to think of them as “controlling” me is really revolutionary. It’s true and it must stop.