Staying Fit

This past weekend was most interesting, some real ups and downs for sure. How easy it is to be or get distracted from that which is real-important, swept up into some side eddy, like a barker beckoning you to try your luck at his booth, only one dollar for three throws.

As I wrote in my first entry for the New Year of 2007, ‘Is God enough’? The things that would try and lead me to drift away from Him are not seen as evil, loathsome things at all. In fact I can be so certain it is Him leading me to do what I am doing.The never ending pull of the undercurrent of the enemy of my soul tries the same thing all over again, no new tricks up his sleeves; the old ones seem to work just fine.

I think of Paul speaking to a group of believers about how he was greatly concerned in how easily they were being led astray, allowing their heart felt devotion to one husband, Christ Jesus, to be taken from them, and possibly looking for a different lover.

Getting back to my weekend, after experiencing some very turbulent waters between my wife and I,( only because of what I am trying to say here, being deceived by that which seemed so good, and yet was in fact the enemy of the best) we were, I was, able to see how if I am not sober, vigilant, I can be so easily sucked into something looking so good, and yet be so void of Life and lasting fulfillment. I’m grateful the Lord is a jealous lover, and His jealousy is a constant thwarting of anything I do, and finding out, only He will satisfy the longing in my soul.

I am so grateful for how my Father spoke such life and healing once again into the core of my being yesterday morning through my precious wife, once again seeing so much more clearly that which is important-Him, He is enough!!

As I was reading from 1st Timothy this morning, these were some beautiful words of love drawing my soul unto my Lover, chasing the cobwebs from my eyes.

Rich

Stay clear of silly stories that get dressed up as religion. Exercise daily in God—no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. You can count on this. Take it to heart. This is why we've thrown ourselves into this venture so totally. We're banking on the living God, Saviour of all men and women, especially believers.

Running Hard

But you, Timothy, man of God: Run for your life from all this. Pursue a righteous life—a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy. Run hard and fast in the faith. Seize the eternal life, the life you were called to, the life you so fervently embraced in the presence of so many witnesses.

I'm charging you before the life-giving God and before Christ, who took his stand before Pontius Pilate and didn't give an inch: Keep this command to the letter, and don't slack off. Our Master, Jesus Christ, is on his way. He'll show up right on time, his arrival guaranteed by the Blessed and Undisputed Ruler, High King, High God. He's the only one death can't touch, his light so bright no one can get close. He's never been seen by human eyes—human eyes can't take him in! Honor to him, and eternal rule! Oh, yes.

Tell those rich in this world's wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage—to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they'll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life.

And oh, my dear Timothy, guard the treasure you were given! Guard it with your life. Avoid the talk-show religion and the practiced confusion of the so-called experts. People caught up in a lot of talk can miss the whole point of faith.

Overwhelming grace keep you!