Straddling the Line

Good evening. I hope you have taken the last day or two to try the exercises from the last post. Today I want to talk about "Straddling the Line." Our purpose, just to clarify, is that we spend each day in God's word. The more we read and think about God, the closer we draw to him. For instance, if you think about and talk to your boyfriend or girlfriend, or in other cases, your best friend - then you will draw closer to and be enraptured by them. Ever thought of being enraptured with God? Can you imagine what could happen if you thought about God most of the day, instead of "dreamy 'ole Johnny?"

Okay - I know I am being silly - but seriously. Straddling the line; here's my point. Imagine if, from where you stood, right in front of you was a line. Let's say you took your left foot and stepped on one side of the line, and with your right foot - you stepped on the other side of the line. This is what we call . . . yes - that's right, "Straddling the Line."

You see, imagine that the left side is conforming our minds to that of Jesus. This is what that looks like in 2009: we go to church, read our bible, pray, encourage and help others, serve, and have an overall genuine love and compassion for people. There is something inside of us as "Christians" (those who trust in Jesus' work on the cross for their salvation, and nothing else) where we want to follow and trust God daily by doing those previously listed things.

However, there is that right side we step on. Our other foot takes a step over the line to see what the other side is like. Instead of allowing our whole being to conform to the mind of Christ, we confuse our souls and follow the "goods of the world" on top of trying to follow Jesus. Here is what that looks like in 2009: we try other substances to make us "happy", which includes anything from drugs and alcohol to sex. There is something that lives within us as "Christians" that yields to curiosity and wonder of what the world has in store for us, rather than our joy being found in God.

So - here we go. Copy, paste, fill out, and print the following.

Rom 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.

1.) What things have you been hanging onto in order to get "satisfaction" or "happiness" on the world side of the line? Could these be considered sin? If they are - do you really gain ultimate joy from them, or does the joy and pleasure eventually wear off? Explain.

2.) Write down a time when you felt you had both feet on the "God" side of the line. Recall, while you write, how you felt? Do you want that feeling again? How about every day? How can you do this?

3.) Read John 15. Write and memorize 1-3 verses from this passage today. Write some thoughts that come to your mind when you read this chapter.

4.) Do you feel you are at a point where both feet are on the "world" side? Pray. The answer of digging out of a rut, isn't "trying" to climb out, but rather it's prayer. Ask God to help you conform your mind to his. Spend the next few minutes, as long as it takes, talking to God about where you feel you stand with him.

Be encouraged, no matter where you stand today, it's not too late to Rock for Jesus. So until next time - Keep rockin'.

Pastor Joey