Introspection part 1

But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. James 1:14 ESV

                There is a balance required in the Christian life. One such, perhaps the most difficult, at least for some souls, is the balance of introspection. It is great folly to blame each temptation on some external force, and to find the locus of control for sin somewhere beyond you. This leads to irresponsibility and hopeless slavery to sin. This denies the effect of Christ’s work of Salvation, and ignores His numerous commands to work out that salvation.  On the other hand we can become so intent on our wretchedness that we fall into despair. Martin Luther knew this latter struggle well. He would exhaust his confessors while he was in the monastery, even to the point that he was advised to go and commit a real sin before entering to confess again.

                We must be aware of our wretchedness, and loathsomeness less we undervalue the grace of God, or be found slacking in the work of purification.  We must keep watch on our hearts and careful watch for our words which James will warn of later on come forth from that heart. We must keep careful watch on our hearts that we do not become proud, and so that we remain humble before God and men. If we err then let us err on the side of over much introspection.

                Better, let us balance our looks inwards with our looking upwards to where Christ is seated in glory. Let us find the disease in ourselves and the cure in our Savoir. Let us be reminded of our need, and of our satisfaction. Let be reminded of our weakness, and let us be reminded also of the reason of our faith. Then let us walk by faith alone. However we may err in this balancing let us never fail to see Christ.

                We must all strive towards this balance. For some this means you must find the mirror more often and gaze with more intent and attention. For some, like myself, it means you must be more diligent in looking to Christ fully. For all it means arguing against the lies whatever lies they may be. The truth has been revealed in the light of Christ, the truth of all things, and we have been set free.

Prayer

            Father hallowed is Your name. Your righteousness come in each of us for You are righteous and so to must we be. Lord let us not be blind as formerly we were, but let us see  clearly our current sorry state that we would desire Your grace and appreciate it as we ought. Help us Father to know the sure hope of Christ. Let us be forgiven, receiving forgiveness, and offering it to others. To You alone be the glory. In Jesus name. Amen.

Songs

Weary of Earth, Myself, and Sin (I like the Red Mountain Church performance)

Who I am hates who I’ve been, Reliant K

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Last Conversation with Grandad

  The Last Conversation with Granddad; A Eulogy for Marshall Helms             There is so much that needs to be done, and so precious little time. There are some here who need comfort, and some who need assurance, and some who need encouragement, and some who need to be admonished. Yes, there is much to do, and precious little time. So, let us pray. Father, the task before me is overwhelming, and I have no strength for it. Abide with me please that in my weakness Your strength might be perfectly evidence, and Your word might go forth today to accomplish all Your good and perfect will. I ask it for the sake of Your glory, In the name of Jesus. Amen.             It has been rightly said that it is not wrong to mourn. Indeed, in Matthew 5 our Lord says those who mourn are blessed for they will be comforted. We mourn death because it is unnatural. It discomforts us bec...
Read more

Against work addiction

  It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. Psalm 127:2 ESV             When work becomes anxious toil, something has gone wrong. Something has gone wrong in our society when it comes to work. Several decades ago, Wayne Oats coined a new word, “Workaholic” to describe addiction to work.   The description Oats came up resonates with the psalmist describes. Anxious toiling, long hours, and little if any enjoyment of the work itself or the fruits of the toil. Addiction is another word for slavery, and it is easy to be enslaved by the anxiety over our work for it drives to work more, and that increases our anxiety while also burning through psychological energies.             Not only is workaholism addiction/slavery, it is idolatry for if we stop to think about it the workaholic ...
Read more

Up and ahead

              Sometimes we are blindsided by a sudden shift in life. We thought we were on stable ground, and then someone starts shouting at us in a routine meeting, or tells us we don’t have a job anymore on a Monday morning, or a loved one leaves on Friday evening with no plans to return. We are left with broken piece of something that once made a kind of sense to us. We knew, and now we do not know.             Where is God? We can’t see Him anymore. We cannot understand where He went to, or what he was thinking. We trusted Him, didn’t we? Now look where we are… It is the better part of wisdom to be quiet when these calamities come to visit and to wait. It is the one wise thing Job’s friend did, when first they saw the plight of the miserable man, they only wept with him.             When later they decided to...
Read more