Monday, June 16, 2008

Pursuit of the Holy- Chapter 1

One word: WOW. Besides the years I was being a hypocritical Christian in church, I really believed that I KNEW God; that we truly had stepped into a realm of intimacy. However, after reading up to chapter 2 of this book, I really wonder: WHO really KNOWS God? We know ABOUT His mighty works from past to present in the lives of others and ourselves. But what about knowing the desires of His heart? Seeing people as He sees them- through the eyes of Jesus Christ? Completely knowing and following HIS plans through humble submission?

In the introduction, Corey Russel says: "The Church in America has a problem. The statistics that once differentiated the Church from the world no longer do... Divorce rates in the Church equal those of the world. Pornographic addictions in the Church compare to those outside the Church. There is a burnout in the ministry; pastors and leaders are leaving churches because of scandal, immorality or boredom" (5).

To put it so plainly is so necessary because it made me think of the power God gave us over all things (Eph. 1:19b-21); yet, we as a church body find ourselves in predicaments that neglect and basically deny the power of our living God. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?!? To effectively find a solution to a problem, we can't just deal with the symptoms- we must find the source of the symptoms. Russel explains that it isn't the sin that's going on that's the issue; it's our lack of knowing who and how God is that's the source of the problem. If doctors only treated symptoms and not the main disease, just think of the many untreated cases of bacterial infection, cancerous diseases and other health issues that would abound that could have been so easily dealt with if the main issue was resolved.

We know ABOUT God from what we see around us- basically His creation. Yet Isaiah 40:26 calls us to "lift up your eyes... and see who has created these things." Getting to know the Creator is the solution to healing the symptoms of conflicting sin. We must do as Hosea did and cry out (6:1,3) "Come and let us return to the Lord... Let us know, let us pursue the KNOWLEDGE of the Lord." So, how do we do this? READ Proverbs 2; it is the basic roadmap to knowing God. As Russel explains, “God is causing the body of Christ to transition from having a servant mentality to having a friendship mentality” (19). We sing, “I am a friend of God!” yet we don’t really treat Him as a friend- seeking and pursuing to know Him as we do our earthly friends.

*Sigh* Where do we start? Where do I start? So many religious ways and sayings reveal, to me at least, so much that needs to be undone from the minds and hearts of many Christians (including myself). God, cleanse our ear and eye gates from traditional and religious ways of knowing You so that we can truly hear YOU and keep Your Word. I pray our ears incline to Your lips to gain YOUR wisdom and really walk it out (TRUE understanding). We cry out for discernment and understanding- PURSUING it, as if hidden treasure. Then, God, then will we seek to really know You and understand our purpose- “why did YOU create us?” “what is our eternal calling for You?” (Prov. 2; p. 13) Amen.

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