June 17, 2008

I cannot be self-sufficient.


"Blessed are the poor in spirit"- in contrast to spiritually proud and self-sufficient. Let's take for instance America's Poor. America's poor are severely dependent on the government for their survival. They are not self-sufficient at all. Their are even some who are below the line of government depency who depend only on the generosity of strangers or "the good samaritian." So what are we? are we poor in spirit? Are we truly dependent on the Kingdom of God in which we live? Are we dependent followers? or are we self-sufficient believers? "Blessed are those who mourn"-those who mourn, mourn over personal sin and coorperate sins. Those who's hearts break over their own sin and the sin of their nation, their city, their community, or their family. Those who mourn will be comforted. Do we mourn over our sin? Do we mourn over the sins of our nation,city,community,or families?Do we genuinely mourn? or do we ignore our own sin and point out others sin Making us feel better about being self-sufficient believers? "Blessed are the meek"- the meek are those who humbly acknowledge their dependence on the goodness and grace of God and portray no arrogance toward others. Not so much an attitude toward people as much as a disposition before God,namely, humiliy. Are we as people fully acknowleging our dependence on the Father for all things? Do we walk humbly before our King? Are we dependent or self-sufficient? which are we? Are we followers of Jesus? Or simply ones who believe he exists and has good bumper sticker statments? I cannot be self-sufficent and enter the Kingdom of Heaven! I must be dependent! These are the questions that have been rolling through my head today. I hope maybe they will stick with you for a few days or weeks. I really have a heart to lay hold of true discipleship. The kind that costs, the kind where I truly deny myself of all created things to follow Jesus, and the kind where I truly depend on Him for every need. Expecting no less and desiring no more. I hope other believers who truly desire to follow would count the cost of dependence and agree to pay it. Eric

3 comments:

keithandjennifer said...

Great to read your posts. My God continue to give you His heart. That is what we all need. Love you guys, Keith and Jennifer King

Joel Spencer said...

We MUST be found hidden with Christ in this hour. We MUST be found completely relying on our Father alone. 2 Peter 3:14 sums it up pretty well: Therefore beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless.

Anonymous said...

The people who bear the nameof the Lord must be clean and are not permitted worldliness. The word "church/ekklesia" means a called-out people. Called out of what? The world is the answer. Too many christians are part of the SIN SYSTEM of the world. They were called out, but they did not come out. Read 2 Cor. 6:14-18. What Eric says is so true and we are still trying to remain unequally yoked with unbelievers and work as a body crippled with SIN. We must come out of the world and we must come out of what ever is compromising with the world.
bpk