Up On A Tightrope
Saturday, November 7, 2020 Good Morning, Lord V.O.D.: 2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. M.O.M.: The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.—Romans 13:12 Today's reading: Jeremiah 43-45 Hebrews 5
Up On A Tightrope
These are words from a song from the seventies: "I'm up on a tightrope, One side's hate and one is hope..."
Simply said but should our lives be lived as if we feel we are on this tightrope? I do not believe Jesus died so we could walk a tightrope. A lot of people feel this way. It is hard living a Christian life in a world so opposite to the teachings of Christ. There is a world of temptation and we have to live in this world everyday of our natural lives. So how do we do it? Do we balance so carefully our lives so as not to fall off the rope to either side.
This is the problem. Jesus died so we could get off the rope but we think we must follow a list of 'do's and don'ts' to get it right or to please God. We act as if we think that we do what is right that we can get God on our side and He will give us all we ask for. This is human error. This is the error of the natural mind.
Ephesians 3: "...Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith." Romans 4: 13 It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.14 For if those who live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless, 15 because law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.
Abraham was not perfect but faithful to the end. He believed God and His faith grew stronger even though He and Sarah grew old waiting for the promise of a child to come.
On a tightrope, the law of gravity will eventually be our demise. So, get off the rope. There is not a list of laws for us to follow. There is a commandment to follow: Love God with all we are and love our neighbor as our selves,(Matthew 22:37-39). The tightrope of religion is the worst place we can be. No religion or church can produce righteousness. True righteousness is in God. Remember? "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."Matthew 6:33
God never meant for us to feel as if we are having to balance in danger. Jesus paid the price for us to be off the rope and secure with no fear of falling. He will never leave us, even when we sin, and He will never remind us of old sin. We are free from the gravity of guilt and fear. 2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
How would it feel to jump off the tightrope and fly and not ever have to come down? Jesus died so we would have His power of flight-that is to be in the world but not part of it-to love Him with all you are and love all people regardless. So let go. Stop 'trying' to be good and give over to God's love and fly.
It is for freedom that Christ has made us free. Galatians 5:1
...because He loves us...
Father in Heaven, I worry about doing wrong and falling. Teach me how to stop worrying about rules and start loving You. Great God of love and mercy! In the name of Jesus, Amen