Sunday I heard an excellent message from 2 Timothy 2:20-22 from Greg, Janna’s pastor in Powell, OH. He pulled no punches, especially when talking about verse 22. Most versions use the word “lusts” but the ESV uses the word “passions.” I like that word better since we tend to only focus on sex when we think of lust. Greg also brought this out when he showed passions is much more than sex.
He basically said a passion was a promise which doesn’t deliver.
I thought of the struggle I we all face when it comes to fighting off the passions which seem to be so real but end up empty. What often happens is we cannot run toward both at the same time. We can’t run toward righteousness, while at the same time pursuing that which cause compromise.
Before we left for Ohio I bought Jo a CD. She is not a music lover or listener by any stretch, but all she talked about (well…not all..other than how fantastic I was…cough cough choke choke) was a song by Mercy Me called “Greater.” It is a really good song. But on that CD is another song that gives me chills. It rattles my cage every time I hear it because of its subject matter. As I listened to it on the way home I became more and more aware of what the cross means to me as I fight my daily battle. (And surprise surprise I don’t think it will offend anyone). 😛 Here is the song.
Powerful truth there. Let the chorus ring in your heart today. Hope you I we can take it to heart on a daily basis. There’s nothing like grace.
Any thoughts?
It’s funny, but I definitely understand the notion of grace and what it means. However, I am certain that I will find out the true expanse and content of grace when I meet Jesus … then I will finally understand how little I actually understood in my time here.
I think we will all be like that Daniel. Totally blown away by grace.
Wow! What a great song! I think this is one of the hardest things for us to truly believe. Flawless. That is NOT a term that I think of when I think of myself. I’ve often considered one of God’s commands where He expects me to love myself (Galatians 5:14). I have found that hard to do but have also found that the key to loving myself (in a Biblical, not prideful way) is feeling God’s love for me. God helped me a lot in this through seeing Jason Gray’s song, Remind me who I am (official video is impactful). I am still in the process of “getting it.”
Glad you liked the song Steve. I have seen and heard the Gray song. Flawless is not how I see myself either, but the Bible does say I am. I reckon better to believe the Bible than my own feelings. 🙂
The feelings part and the thinking part and the “knowing it deep in my soul” part. It’s like the checks and balances of the three branches of our government. When my heart isn’t in it, I know it still in my head. When my brain can’t tackle it, I still often can find it deep within my soul. When my soul struggles, I cling to logic. Round and round it goes.
I’m pretty sure God created those facets of us for that very reason. Thank God He’s creative!
What a great way to put it MS! All three have a vital part of our make up.
It’s easier to believe that He who lives inside of me is greater than he who is in the world than it is to believe that the same HE also made me flawless …
Forgiving and loving myself have probably been the most difficult areas of my walk – no, let me rephrase that – the most difficult areas of my CRAWL …
you state a very common problem David. So many followers of Christ do have trouble forgiving and loving themselves. I have had trouble in the past knowing I am flawless. Learning more about grace has helped in understanding more.
A chorus of a song rings in my heart on a daily bases.
When He sees me He see the blood of the Lamb
He sees me as worthy and not as I am
He sees me in garments as white as the snow
For the lamb of God is worthy and He washed me this I know.
So much of our christian walk comes out of this foundational truth. It keeps us humble, we are a kept people, kept by the blood shed on Calvary. Uplifting post brother. Great song even if it’s not southern gospel, words that will ring in my heart after listening to it.
The words you give here Betty speak volumes-whether it is southern gospel, rock, jazz, or hillbilly. You can’t argue with truth. And while I’m not a southern gospel fan, I can appreciate truth of any kind.