About "Feeling"
I've discovered something painfully true about myself.
I am someone who has lived a majority of my 23 years doing exactly whatever it is I "felt" like doing. I am starting to wonder if living that way could be synonymous with living in the "flesh". I am not positive, but I think its real close.
Now, granted, for a majority of my days I would say I have been mildly successful at resisting the temptations of every day life. I, like most people, compare my morality to Hitler and Bin Laden. But just because I didn't spend most my days drunk, high, and pillaging doesn't mean that the life I've been living is pleasing to the Lord.
I'm beginning to think the life that I so desperately want, the kind of life Jesus describes, is exactly like running. I have decided to be in a triathlon.....to be perfectly honest, this is just a sprint, 400m swim, 13 mile bike ride, and 3 mile run. Having begun training, I have discovered its not every day that I feel like going for a run, but its good for me, and I need to do it to get ready.
I believe Jesus knew this principle too, and that he taught it in other ways. Ways like living it. I don't think He felt like sufferring, but he did it. I don't think he felt like being mocked, but he endured it. I don't think he even necessarily felt like waking up wicked early to be alone, but he did it. Hmmmmmm.....
I am someone who has lived a majority of my 23 years doing exactly whatever it is I "felt" like doing. I am starting to wonder if living that way could be synonymous with living in the "flesh". I am not positive, but I think its real close.
Now, granted, for a majority of my days I would say I have been mildly successful at resisting the temptations of every day life. I, like most people, compare my morality to Hitler and Bin Laden. But just because I didn't spend most my days drunk, high, and pillaging doesn't mean that the life I've been living is pleasing to the Lord.
I'm beginning to think the life that I so desperately want, the kind of life Jesus describes, is exactly like running. I have decided to be in a triathlon.....to be perfectly honest, this is just a sprint, 400m swim, 13 mile bike ride, and 3 mile run. Having begun training, I have discovered its not every day that I feel like going for a run, but its good for me, and I need to do it to get ready.
I believe Jesus knew this principle too, and that he taught it in other ways. Ways like living it. I don't think He felt like sufferring, but he did it. I don't think he felt like being mocked, but he endured it. I don't think he even necessarily felt like waking up wicked early to be alone, but he did it. Hmmmmmm.....
posted by K at 1:08 PM
2 Comments:
Yeah dude, reading this post and your comment on mine, It seems that we're kind of in a similar place right now. I mean, how long am I going to live my life primarily for myself and like you said, "keeping God at an arms distance." i'm a pretty sucky disciple. but the disciples were pretty sucky discples at times too. God is so patient with us. but at the same time, God is asking for me to give more, and wants to give me more too. I think part of what i need is discipline like you pointed out in Jesus' life. i'm getting ready to read the book celebration of discipline b/c i know i need it. but i've read so many books and not come away transformed, but i'm hopeful that i will start committing more of myself. the concept i'm trying to focus on is "whole hearted" i think that this is also connected to abundant life. give everything = get everything. live whole hearted man. otherwise, we're only living half the lives God has for us.
Hey Josh I don't know you that well but got a message from you about a party friday? Anyways I was on your page and saw your blog and clicked on it leading me here. Anyways thats cool that your asking questions that not only challenge you personally but also those who are around you. So best of luck to you and understanding what God is doing/teaching you now as I am doing the same. I did live in Lynchburg but live in cincinnati now and am working for Origins church a startup here. So guess thats it but thanks for the encouraging words.
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