by James MacDonald:
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8
The Christian life is like an anvil in your back pack, just a heavy weight with no desire or delight, just duty and drudgery that weighs you down with sorrow, like an anvil in your back pack. The Christian life is just like that . . . if you’re not living it.
The Christian life is like turkey dinner with all the trimmings, right on the table in front of you, with all the sumptuous aromas rising to your nostrils and your stomach demanding you grab a fork and DIG IN!!! but you can’t because you’re on a diet and you need to go have another protein shake and let someone else enjoy the meal. The Christian life is exactly like that . . . if you’re not living it.
The Christian life is like you’re in prison, but just outside your cell are all these people at a festival, eating Mexican and doing the cha-cha, and swinging at this piñatas and laughing and twirling one another about and throwing their heads back with heart-felt laughter, but there you are, gripping the bars and looking on as you try to remember the last time you had fun. The Christian life is just like that . . . if you’re not living it.
Too many of us are not really living the Christian life-not really following hard after the Lord, not really seeking His face and devouring His Word, and loving His praise, not telling others about what Jesus can do for them, not really extending ourselves for those who are hurting and spending our lives in service to Christ.
I could go on and on, but I’ll just say that you shouldn’t judge the Christian life too harshly if you’re not really living it. If you feel like you have an anvil in your back pack, all weighed down with guilt and shame and defeat, if you’re wondering where all the joy and peace and blessings are-maybe you’re not really living the Christian life. James 4:8, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
I’ve found that the Christian life is Wonderful in every way . . . if you’re really living it!
The Christian life is like an anvil in your back pack, just a heavy weight with no desire or delight, just duty and drudgery that weighs you down with sorrow, like an anvil in your back pack. The Christian life is just like that . . . if you’re not living it.
The Christian life is like turkey dinner with all the trimmings, right on the table in front of you, with all the sumptuous aromas rising to your nostrils and your stomach demanding you grab a fork and DIG IN!!! but you can’t because you’re on a diet and you need to go have another protein shake and let someone else enjoy the meal. The Christian life is exactly like that . . . if you’re not living it.
The Christian life is like you’re in prison, but just outside your cell are all these people at a festival, eating Mexican and doing the cha-cha, and swinging at this piñatas and laughing and twirling one another about and throwing their heads back with heart-felt laughter, but there you are, gripping the bars and looking on as you try to remember the last time you had fun. The Christian life is just like that . . . if you’re not living it.
Too many of us are not really living the Christian life-not really following hard after the Lord, not really seeking His face and devouring His Word, and loving His praise, not telling others about what Jesus can do for them, not really extending ourselves for those who are hurting and spending our lives in service to Christ.
I could go on and on, but I’ll just say that you shouldn’t judge the Christian life too harshly if you’re not really living it. If you feel like you have an anvil in your back pack, all weighed down with guilt and shame and defeat, if you’re wondering where all the joy and peace and blessings are-maybe you’re not really living the Christian life. James 4:8, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
I’ve found that the Christian life is Wonderful in every way . . . if you’re really living it!
