A Thought

“Printed words are concepts.  One must endure the experiences.”  - St. Augustine

“You must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction to righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” 2 Timothy 3:14-17

St. Augustine also said that if we accept only what we like and reject what we don’t like (all from the Scriptures), we do not believe in God; we believe only in ourselves.  It seems we may be comfortable with the concepts we can grasp, but we are often complacent (if not downright hostile) toward those things we find difficult for our own lives, our own circumstances, and then slink away in “grace”, convincing ourselves that “God understands my situation”. 

Indeed the Lord “understands” the human situation so much so that He came to us to become like us so that we would ultimately strive to become like Him.  Jesus did not come to help us get settled where we are; He came to lead us OUT OF where we are and into something much greater!  But if we remain uninspired and thus unmoved, it is as though Jesus never came at all.  Thus it is that we cannot resign ourselves only to “reading” the Bible or only “going to church” or only “taking Communion” or making fellowship only with those we personally like; we must resolve ourselves to “endure the experiences” of Christ Himself, all His experiences … that is, IF He is “the Way”.  That is, if ALL Scripture is really divinely inspired for purposes much greater than for just something to read so we can make a mark on our “to-do list”.

The only reason we are “uninspired” to strive for greater heights is our own lack of effort and our unwillingness to “endure the experiences”.  But if we dare to reach higher, ah, the heights He will take us to!  So reach!  Strive!  Endure!  Hope!  Never settle, and never get settled; for it is not over until the Trumpet Sounds!

Blessings,

Michael