Saturday, November 25, 2006
Born out of a relationship
Crickets stirring. The sound of a rifle shifting. Rustling ground sheet. Low, barely audible whispers interspersed with the cricket's monotonous melody. Everyone is in anticipation of the next thunderflash that would signify the next turnout. It had been a trying night for my company in OCS, with a record-breaking disruption of sleep via loud thunderflashes followed by ridiculous demands and commands meant to break a soldier's pride and test their mettle. I found no comfort in sleep. Propping myself up, I began the familiar routine of seeking solace amidst trials. Prayers of random honesty and infantile faith. Sometimes when words failed me (more often than not) I'd sing a song in my heart. Above all, I sought to stay acutely aware of the fact that God is near. And infinitely Sovereign...
Sometimes it's good to return to the essentials. Back to basics. Went for a swim today. Love the monotonous strokes that allows me to retreat into a reality where I can know God's voice. And my did I hear him speak today.. Verses after verses of confirmation, issues after issues as I pushed against the water in a symbolic act of pressing into His presence and submitting my will in exchange for His.. Back and forth back and forth I swam.. "What does it take to love You?" "Basic Christian discipline" was the answer. It was true. Everything that we do must be born out of relationship with Him. Else it would be self-serving and fruitless. The basic stuff like seeking solace makes me trust in a God that is unsurpassing in power and sufficiency. It's back to the inner life! They say adults miss out on the important things in life. It's true even for Christians. Plenty of legitimate reasons to shelf intimacy with God to the last priority and term it as a 'luxury'. Got important stuff to settle. Like battles to fight ya noe.. I'm a young man Christian overcoming the evil one man.. (check out 1st John) Guess what? The Messiah who wanted to save the world already did.. The world really doesn't need another one.. Or this other logic. Intimacy with God? That's like super holy Christian stuff man.. I'm just layman ya noe.. Life too messed up.. Too busy.. Been to that camp too.. Guess what.. Jesus said "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart mind and soul." He didn't say "Maybe you should" or " if you can" or "Perhaps you'd like to".. If the Lord gives a commandment. it's definitely coming with the power. There's lesser and lesser middle ground to step if you haven't already noticed. Either you're on His side or not. Wake up your idea Vince..
James 4:4 (Amplified Bible)
"4You [are like] unfaithful wives [having illicit love affairs with the world and breaking your marriage vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world's friend is being God's enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God."
Mantou at 12:48 AM