that WE are the Israelites? We Christians worship the idol of independence/confidence-we-know-what’s-best, leaning on our own understanding, wise in our own eyes, not ASKing about everything, not THANKing about everything — especially the harrrd, not curious/expectant to see what Jesus does NEXT, in us, others, circumstances. In awe of human accomplishment/somebodiness. We work hard at having the outsides of our cups clean, but live in denial of what’s going on inside, because we treasure our own worthiness more than the imputed worthiness of Jesus. Living without Gospel-awareness, or if we have that, without self-awareness, and sovereignty-awareness. When we live independently as we do, we experience life under The Curse — circumstance-dependent for our joy and peace. We claim to be followers of Jesus, but we are followers of ourselves — self-reliant, trusting in lies. We have Heaven, but we don’t have the benefit of Jesus in daily living. And the Jesus in us is contagious to no one.
Richard Lovelace in Dynamics of Spiritual Life says that whenever the Church in the USA and UK over the past 300 years has been as saltless and impotent as It is today, there has ALWAYS been a widespread awakening. So in my less-sane moments, I’m irritated with the Church, including myself, but in my saner moments, I’m THANKful that the Church is exactly as we are. Gives me HOPE for a better tomorrow.
— Dave McCarty, GospelFriendships, chief idolator, chief Pharisee, chief ranter, chief needer of the Spirit’s fresh conviction of the sin of independence/confidence-he-knows-what’s-best, so he’s freshly enjoying everyone and everything just as it is
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