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Jesus

Compartmentalized Christianity – Hiding Parts Of Your Heart From God?

By //  by Sherrian Crumbley

When I was younger, I compartmentalized many things, and there were areas of my life and myself that never “touched”. As a pastor’s kid, there was my public life where I was polite and smiled and played my role. Privately,I was a whole other person.

Compartmentalized

As a Christian, I treated God the same way. I didn’t realize it until looking back, but clearly my attitude was “Come into my heart…oh, not that corridor!” or “Yes, Holy Spirit please sanctify me…but let’s not go there”. I clearly wanted a religion and relationship that was on my own terms, and a transformation that was based on my own comfort.

One of the scriptures that come to my mind with this is Revelation 3:20:

19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

As I stated before, in my post on the wilderness, Christ here is speaking to believers as this letter is written to the church at Laodicea. It’s important to point this out because this scripture is often used for evangelistic purposes. Here, Jesus (whom the recipients have) is at the door asking to be let in. He was confronting a people who clearly had not allowed Christ to permeate their whole being!

I bring this up on this website, because many times our finances are one of those compartmentalized topics. I’ve known many believers who are comfortable as long as they’re tithing, but refuse to invite God to the finances that the church can’t see. They are ashamed of their debt and bad decisions. Many are too proud to ask the church for help when emergencies happen. Others know that the consequences of some of their financial decision-making was wrought in sin, but it becomes easier to justify those actions, than repent.

Finances are a great example of this, but the breadth of this behavior goes so much deeper. Many of us have it in our minds that God doesn’t have anything to do with the mundane occurrences in our daily lives. The truth is, not only does He have a part to play in every detail, but we should also invite God into every detail.

There is nothing we put our hands to that shouldn’t be prayed about. There isn’t a conversation we enter that doesn’t need the Lord’s leading so we guard our hearts from slander, gossip, or the selfishness of our own opinions. There isn’t one decision that should not be taken to God in prayer where we surrender to His will above all else.

Having a recognition of God in everything we do allows us to be open to the Holy Spirit’s sanctifying work in our lives and sensitive to His leading. It also allows us to recognize God’s magnificence and the wisdom to be humbled by it.

Many of us have places in us where we need to let the Light in. For some, it may be areas of hurt that are tender to the touch. For others it could be ignorance that every area of our life should be a reflection of the life of Christ in us. There are so many scenarios where Jesus is standing at the door.

My brother or sister who is reading this, please be encouraged that Jesus sees, He cares, and He understands those undisclosed areas of your heart and life.

Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.


Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

My prayer for us, as believers, is that we would yield every area of our lives to the Lord. I pray that we allow the Holy Spirit to do His perfect work in us, so that we will continuously grow into the image of Christ.

“Christ says ‘Give me All. I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want You. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half-measures are any good. I don’t want to cut off a branch here and a branch there, I want to have the whole tree down. . . . Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked — the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you Myself: my own will shall become yours.'”
-C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

 

Have you noticed this tendency to compartmentalize things in your own life?

Have you realized there were situations and circumstances you were dealing with while leaving God out of the picture?

What are some steps you have taken to ensure God is at the forefront of the various aspects of your life?

 

 

Filed Under: Christian Living, Devotion Tagged With: Christ, christian living, Devotion, Hebrews 4:15, Jesus, Laodicea, Proverbs 3:5-6, Revelation 3:20

I Know Their Sorrows! – Devotion

By //  by Khaleef Crumbley

O Jesus! Do not allow me to dwell on my sorrows–but direct my heart into Your love!…

Each Sunday, I try to post a devotional thought for you to meditate on. Sometimes it will be something out of my own studies and prayers. Other times – like today – it will be from another source.

Today, I am posting a reminder that God intimately knows our sorrows and is able to comfort us, by James Smith, courtesy of Grace Gems:

I Know Their Sorrows

(James Smith, “The Pastor’s Evening Visit”)

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are” Hebrews 4:15

“I know their sorrows!” Exodus 3:7

The Lord is acquainted with all the sorrows of all His people. We do not suffer unnoticed. He sympathizes with us–and will sanctify sorrow to us. When we suffer–Jesus sympathizes!

Beloved, He knows our sorrows, and He will be our Comforter. Let us lay them before Him. He will be gracious unto us at the voice of our cry. When He hears–He will answer. He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities. He once suffered–He was “The Man of Sorrows, and familiar with suffering.” He is able to support us who now suffer.

His sorrows are ended–and ours will be over soon! Weeping may endure for a night–but joy comes in the morning! We shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. We shall enter into His joy, be filled with His love, and so be forever with Him!

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain!” Revelation 21:4

O Jesus! Do not allow me to dwell on my sorrows–but direct my heart into Your love!

Filed Under: Devotion Tagged With: Christ, comfort, comforter, Exodus 3:7, grace gems, Hebrews 4:15, james smith, Jesus, love of God, Revelation 21:4, sorrow, sorrows

Cut It Off & Pluck It Out!!! – Devotion

By //  by Khaleef Crumbley

“If your hand or your foot causes you to sin–cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled–than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire!” Matthew 18:8…

Each Sunday, I try to post a devotional thought for you to meditate on. Sometimes it will be something out of my own studies and prayers. Other times – like today – it will be from another source.

Today, I am posting about the fact that anything which causes us to sin must be cut off, even if it brings some benefit by J.R. Miller, courtesy of Grace Gems:

Cut It Off Pluck Out Matthew 18.8

(J.R. Miller, “Daily Bible Readings in the Life of Christ” 1890)

“If your hand or your foot causes you to sin–cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled–than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire!” Matthew 18:8

Our life is so full of temptation and peril–that even its best things may become stumbling-blocks. Our very qualities of strength–may become fatal forces driving us to eternal ruin.

Human beauty is a blessing from God–and yet beauty has proved a snare to many a woman, drawing her away from God.

Ability to make money is a perilous gift–which has led many a man to spiritual ruin. It is better to altogether throw away the money-making ability, and go poor through life with the talent wasted and shriveled, and reach Heaven–than to exercise the ability and grow rich, and be lost forever! These are illustrations of our Lord’s meaning when He speaks of ‘cutting off’ the hand or the foot which causes us to sin.

The appetites, desires, and affections–are part of the glory of humanity; and yet, when they are unbridled–they have whirled many a noble life to eternal destruction!

A steam-boat came into port which had long been out on the sea. An accident had happened which caused delay. The coal gave out; then all that would burn–cargo, stores, furniture–had to be burned up, in order to bring the vessel home. At last she gained the shore–but stripped of everything of value. Yet it was better to burn up all her cargo and stores–than perish at sea.

Just so, some men can get to Heaven–only by sacrificing every earthly pleasure and crucifying every sinful desire; but who will say that the prize is not worth the sacrifice? The hand would be better chopped off–than steal or strike down another. The foot would be better cut off–than carry one into crime or sin. The eye would be better plucked-out–than by its lustful gazing set the soul on fire. A man on a wrecked vessel had better throw his bags of gold into the sea and have his life saved–than hold on to the gold and sink into the waves!

Filed Under: Christian Living, Devotion Tagged With: christian living, cut off sin, Jesus, Matthew 18:8, pluck it out, putting sin to death, sin

Making Christmas Both Richer AND Less Expensive

By //  by Kevin M

Yes, that reads like a contradiction – how can Christmas be both richer and less expensive at the same time. It’s simply a matter of changing priorities. And the way Christmas is going these days, that’s something that a lot of us need to do.

The whole purpose of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. But in the past few decades, that purpose has become obscured by the perceived need to buy more and better gifts for everyone on the list, and to work tirelessly at creating the mythical “perfect Christmas.”

The end result of all that extra effort isn’t always producing a better Christmas. In fact, many times it takes on the appearance of an exhausting project at work that leaves you tired and drained by the time it’s over. Do you ever feel that way during or after Christmas?

If you do, it’s time to make a change. This Christmas season is an excellent time to start.

Christmas Family

Lower The Emphasis On Gift Giving

From where I sit, gift giving is at the epicenter of what often turns into the Christmas nightmare. Not only does rampant gift giving turn Christmas into a major financial outlay, but there is also a major investment of time and effort. It’s all spent in an attempt to make everyone happy – to create the perfect Christmas, based on the gifts given.

There’s nothing wrong with giving gifts, but that should never take center stage.

In order to cut down on the emphasis on gift giving, try some of the following:

  • If you have a large family, get together with everyone and set a dollar limit on the amount spent for gifts per-person.
  • Cut back on the number of people you buy gifts for. For example, restrict it to giving gifts to children only, rather than adults as well.
  • Set up a Christmas grab bag. That might mean that each family contributes one or more relatively small gifts to the grab bag, and the exchanges are mostly anonymous.
  • Do a one-on-one gift exchange – everyone in the extended family pulls another person’s name out of a hat, and buys a single gift for that person.
  • Within your own family, cut down the number of gifts to just two or three important ones for each person. You can make up for the “quantity factor” by buying a number of relatively inexpensive stocking stuffers.
  • Rather than giving a gift, set aside time for some friends and family members – your time is often more important to loved ones than any gift you might give.

Using some or all of these methods will not only cut down the amount of money you’ll spend for gifts, but it will also save you time and trips to the shopping centers. By de-emphasizing the importance of gift giving, you’ll have a fighting chance at making your Christmas holiday richer in other ways.

Pot Luck Gatherings

Next to gift giving, having get-togethers is generally the most expensive and time-consuming Christmas activity. If you are holding a holiday gathering at your house, it can cost a lot of money, take a lot of time, and result in a lot of stress. But you can get around this by arranging potluck dinners.

Ask everyone you are inviting to bring a side dish and a dessert, while you supply the main course, drinks, and of course the house. This will not only save you money, but it will also reduce preparation time and stress. Since most people these days are dealing with their own financial struggles, you shouldn’t be embarrassed about asking others to help with preparations.

By reducing gift giving and replacing full-on Christmas gatherings with potluck dinners, you’ll be clearing the decks to create a richer Christmas.

Put Christ Back In Christmas

If you are Christian, putting Christ back in Christmas should be obvious. But as Christians we’re often disproportionately influenced by the culture around us, and we can easily lose sight of this. We can get caught up chasing all of the typical holiday “bells and whistles” that everyone else does.

This isn’t just about going to church more often. Set aside some extra time to reflect on who Jesus was, and what He has meant to you in your life. Dive even deeper into the Bible than you do at other times of the year. Take a shot at singing in the church choir during the holiday season, even if you can’t sing. Singing is a form of group worship that can have a profound effect on your life.

The deeper you get into the real meaning of Christmas, the easier it will be for you to avoid all the other excesses that have become so common – and so draining – during the holiday season.

And as a Christian, the Christmas season can be a time of reflection and reconnection, that will help set the tone of your faith for the coming new year.

Look For Opportunities To Volunteer

Volunteering is a form of putting your faith into action. During the Christmas season, churches and other charities are working overtime. There are more needs at this time of the year than any other. It‘s not just the holiday – winter is also setting in, causing problems for the less fortunate. As it says in the Bible, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few…” – Matthew 9:37. Christmas is an outstanding time to join in and become one of those workers.

Christmas is the season of giving, and there’s no better way to give than by volunteering your time. And there are no better people to give that time to than to those in need. Despite the widespread holiday celebrations, there are many households that can’t afford a special Christmas dinner, or gifts for their children. There are so many ways you can help make Christmas the season it’s supposed to be for people who can’t otherwise afford it.

What many people don’t realize is that when you give to other people, the feeling that you get as a result is the greatest gift of all. Most of us don’t feel as if we can make a difference, but you can – especially at Christmas.

Will you dare to be different this Christmas, and try to have a richer holiday in the process?

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Christ, christian living, Christmas, Jesus, Jesus Christ

The Love God Has For Us!

By //  by Khaleef Crumbley

Each Sunday, I try to post a devotional thought for you to meditate on. Sometimes it will be something out of my own studies and prayers. Other times – like today – it will be from another source.

Today, I am posting about the love of God by James Smith, courtesy of Grace Gems:

Christ Cross Gods Love

(James Smith, “Comfort for Christians!”)

“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us! God is love.” (1 John 4:16)

The sweeter the truth–the more backward we often are to receive and believe it. Therefore it must be presented to us again and again. What is more pleasant, than the fact that “God is love”?

Yet so quickly we doubt it, or forget it, or fail to realize it. Therefore the Gospel presents it to us again and again, and in almost every possible form. Twice within the scope of a few verses, John tells us that “God is love” (1 John 4:8,16).

Belief in this portrayal of God lies at the root of our holiness, happiness, and peace. To the extent that we believe that “God is love”–we will . . .
consecrate ourselves to His service,
enjoy peace in our consciences,
and be happy in His ways.

God loves us, and therefore He planned our salvation, sending His one and only Son to take away our sins by the sacrifice of Himself. He also sent His Holy Spirit to teach us our need of Christ and lead us to Him. And, finally, He has put His blessed Word in our hands so that through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures, we might have hope.

God loves us–and therefore He . . .
chastens us,
strips us, and
empties us.
He will not let us live satisfied without Himself.

God is love–therefore He has provided an atonement for all our sins. His justice is satisfied, and Heaven is prepared for us!

Yes, though we were sinners by nature, and deeply feel it–though we are not all that we wish to be, and deeply deplore it–yet God loves us!

Bless the Lord, O my soul, who in His love and in His pity has redeemed me!

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins!” (1 John 4:10)

photo credit: freedigitalphotos.net

Filed Under: Devotion Tagged With: 1 John 4, 1 John 4:10, 1 John 4:16, 1 John 4:8, atonement, Christ, cross, God, God Is Love, God's love, james smith, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John 4 16, Limited Atonement, love, love God, Prevenient Grace, Propitiation, Religious Views On Love, salvation, substitution, The Love God, the love of God, theology, Wesleyanism

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