Sunday, October 07, 2007
Responsibility
That word can sound quite dreadful sometimes.. Especially when it comes from our parents. At one point or another, I'm quite sure we've all heard our parents say something along the lines of.. 'No sense of responsibility.. Tsk tsk tsk..' But today I'd like to share with you a new perspective I've discovered.
I was just mulling over the fact that I can come so far in my walk with God but still feel so far from Him from time to time. We'll leave the issue of pride for another time of discussion, but I was just wondering what it meant to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. When I did a mental survey of the thoughts that went through my mind in a day; how much of it was godly and how much was not, the results were discouraging. Yet the Word of God says to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. God knew the potential of an 'open' mind and how it would lead to sin. I had always understood and applied that verse as a weapon when distracting or tempting thoughts come to mind. But today something else struck me.
The key word is 'every'. Ok the two key words are 'every thought'. Why do I say that? Have you ever had the experience of suddenly realizing that you're thinking about this friend whom you have not met up with for a long time? You will suddenly get a flood of thoughts and reminisce about how frequent you guys used to hang out, or get regrets that you wish you had told that person this or shared with him or her that, etc. But will this person ever find out you've been thinking about him or her? It is highly unlikely, if you were to leave the situation hovering about in your mind. You have to decide on a course of action wouldn't you? Call, sms, email, hate mail, love letter. Whatever. The point is, we have a responsibility i.e. AN ABILITY TO RESPOND.
Leaving the long lost friend analogy, the point I'm trying to make is this. God's responsibility (ability to respond) is to send us the Holy Spirit, who will inspire us to think about Him or about sin. I was always stuck here. Just thinking about Him and about sin. For the longest time, I thought it was good enough. Thinking it was my effort. Responding to those thoughts was a bonus that came from time to time. After all, I never had thoughts about Him before I was converted. But guess what? I just realized that in comparison, my time spent thinking about Him far outweighs my time spent with Him. Bring back the friend analogy. What good will it do to the relationship to be thinking day and night about your friend but never meeting up with him/her?
So I realized that thoughts about Him or sin are inspired by God Himself, nothing to claim credit about. Our responsibility (ability to respond) is in worship, prayer, confession, serving, the list goes on. So Vincent Nicodemus, when thoughts come in, take it to God. Don't be so preoccupied with it you get into the paralysis of analysis. God Himself made the way for instant access to His throne through His Son. We have been given the ability to respond (responsibility) to His thoughts immediately. We also have the ability to respond to thoughts from other sources just as easily, by taking it to God. Praise God!
One last thing that I learned; in my question to God's inspiration. Typical question of a Singaporean when told to do something. 'How??' God's answer was simple enough. 'I desire obedience, not sacrifice'. Go figure.. To know the wisdom in those words, ask the Author Himself. =)
Mantou at 9:53 PM