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[ringsandcoffee]

This weekend I went to World Mandate West in San Diego. I'm still trying to process and digest all that I took in. If I had to boil it down, I'd say obedience was the big thing. Obedience, and win people to Jesus. I know some of you probably shuddered upon reading that last sentence, but you don't need to. If you'd like to know what I mean, I'm happy to share more about it.

Obedience. Not religion, not a bunch of rules, but being obedient each step of the way. It's not a guilt thing, but something that will bring more joy. One thing I said last night I'd do is not ignore my Bible when it's on the floor next to my bed. I actually have one sitting next to me now, which I might as well pick up.

I didn't work today, and yet I am suddenly tired again. I think my mind is a bit overwhelmed again.

Comments

[bowiechaser.livejournal.com]

What so many have a hard time believing is that God has set up boundaries for our protection, not to kill our fun. Just like guardrails along the edge of a cliff...we generally do not hug up against that rail doing 70mph...we stay farther away from it and generally slow down because we don't care to plunge to a fiery death below. Guardrails and God's rules that we need to obey are both there to protect us from certain harm.

Believe and obey are two sides of the same coin with God. When we say we believe in Him, we MUST obey him...and it needs to be out of love. When we love someone, we want to do things to make them happy, bring them joy - that's why we clean the kitchen, or write a sweet note, or buy them something they love, or just spend time with them...because we want to bring joy to their hearts.

Sadly, many of us Christians (or those who say they're a Christian) think that they've got their "fire insurance" and that's good enough.
Matthew 7 is a GREAT example.

The Narrow Gate

13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell[f] is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

The Tree and Its Fruit

15 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. 16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.

True Disciples

21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

Building on a Solid Foundation

24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.

[spally.livejournal.com]

Great post! Thanks for sharing :)