I am in need of greater personal holiness.
I have become sloppy: I have been willing to accept lower standards because of the world and of the changed nature of things: simply put, it is very hard to be holy right now - or at least to be holy in the modern world.
For me to consider holiness - right now in my life - there are a number of things I would have to purge and change. What little bit I watch for entertainment or own to watch, for example. The music that I listen to (this is a big one) o some extent the books I read, although this is also largely monitored.
But the real changes would have to happen in how I deal with the InterWeb and how I live life.
For the Interweb, there are certain sits which themselves may not be bad but the advertisements they have are. There are others which have interesting commentary but are very much non-Christian. These, too, need to stop.
But life and living it - ah, therein lies the rub.
I am very critical and sarcastic, slothful, angry, full of gossip and envy, lustful, unloving, occasionally given to flights of fancy and alcohol. I have come to understand and hold these parts of myself as part of what makes me myself, but it is perhaps more honest to say that I cling to these as part of my great love of sin.
But in fact, they are all sin. And they need to be eliminated from my life as thoroughly as I have addressed those outer activities which are as visible as well .
There is another layer of course, the layer of resentment and not caring. That review of my life as it is now versus my life as I thought it should be and resulting disinterest I have in dealing with the live that I have. I have never intended to be precisely here, and so I sometimes put in the minimum amount of effort or caring to stay here.
So how do I clear this all up?
Prayer of course, and sincerely asking (and meaning it) "What would Christ do as actual Lord of my life?" Not as the theoretical Lord of possibilities but the real One commanding my obedience.
And secondly, not to dwell on sin or my hurt feelings and lost dream but rather on doing the best where God has chosen to place me.
You changed type font. I literally can't read what you wrote. Please go back to the old one or is it only elderly me having a problem? Julia
ReplyDeleteHello, I enjoy reading all of your article. I like to write
ReplyDeletea little comment to support you.
Not just you, Julia. For some reason everything but the last couple of sentences came out highlighted and it makes it quite hard to read. I am older, too. With bi-focals and read on a laptop, so not just you. :-)
ReplyDeleteThe last sentence, or paragraph is the point, I think, TB. Doing your best where God places you. :)
Amen brother
ReplyDeleteYou're doing alright TB. At least you're trying, most people go through life not trying to be better. I went through most of my life trying to best my adversaries, and only recently realized that true victory comes from bettering yourself.
ReplyDeletePutting the boots to the other guy and critiquing him is easy. Dealing with that bum in the mirror is a lot harder.
Julia and Linda - So sorry! This is what happens when I copy something from somewhere else and fail to screen it appropriate. I promise to be more diligent!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous- Thank you and thanks for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteGlen - One of my guiding quotes is from Miyamoto Musashi:
ReplyDelete"Study strategy over the years and achieve the spirit of the warrior. Today is victory over yourself. Tomorrow is your victory over lesser men".
The greatest struggle is always over ourselves. Were we to spend more time battling ourselves, I suspect we would have less time to battle others.