I can dwell on a relationship with Christ all day long, I can admire the beauty, nobility, power, pain and joy of such a relationship. I can write about it, make a case for it, encourage others for it, read more about it and totally sell myself over to the idea.
But. If I’m not actually in that relationship, if I am not really partaking in the the things of Christ, if I do not communicate with Him, live with Him as if my body were his dwelling place. Then it is all pretty sounding mumbo jumbo.
Am I living for the idea of a relationship with my creator, or am I living the relationship?
Has the idea of God, righteousness, holiness, love, endurance, suffering, power consumed my thoughts? Or am I consumed by these?
As a man thinketh so is he, not always. Because a man is more than just his thoughts.
However many things begin with an idea. Having the desire for righteousness, suffering for Him, etc, is an important start. Because along with a desire for these things comes a hatred for sin. As you say, it's very dangerous and very easy to substitute the thing with the idea. But, how do we nurture that desire or seed of desire into a reality?
ReplyDeleteYes, true, the desire is very important, but it needs to be fed and lived out. You nurture it the same way as everything else: food, exercise, rest, discipline, love.
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