Hello ,
Tim Keller shares the
following:
I've heard people say, "I'm checking out Christianity, but I also understand Christians can't do this and the Bible says you're supposed to do that. You're supposed to love the poor or you're supposed to give up sex outside of marriage. I can't accept that." So people want to come to Christ with a list of conditions.
But the real question is this: Is there a God who is the source of all beauty and glory and life, and if knowing Christ will fill your life with his goodness and power and joy, so that you would live with him in endless ages with his life increasing in you every day? If that's true, you wouldn't say things like, "You mean, I have to give up ___ (like sex or
something else)."
Let's say you have a friend who is dying of some terrible disease. So you take him to the doctor and the doctor says, "I have a remedy for you. If you just follow my advice you will be healed and you will live a long and fruitful life, but there's only one problem: while you're taking my remedy you can't eat chocolate." Now
what if your friend turned to you and said, "Forget it. No chocolate? What's the use of living? I'll follow the doctor's remedy, but I will also keep eating chocolate."
If Christ is really God, then all the conditions are gone. To know Jesus Christ is to say, "Lord, anywhere your will touches my life, anywhere your Word speaks, I will say,
"Lord, I will obey. There are no conditions anymore." If he's really God, he can't just be a supplement. We have to come to him and say, "Okay, Lord, I'm willing to let you start a complete reordering of my life."*
At the beginning of each new year, we often come to God with a list of things that we would like to see changed in our lives. However,
some of us have the mistaken idea that WE can play the role of "god" in our own lives...without the consequences of choosing those actions...and yet ask the one true God to "bless" those efforts.
"Lord, help me to place Your will first in my life. In Jesus name, amen!"
Have a great day and God bless!
Suggested Daily Bible Reading
Morning - Zech. 1-4
Evening - Revelation 19
* Adapted from Tim Keller, "Conversations about Christmas with Tim Keller
