REFLECTION. . . . .
April 12, 2003 ~ Quoted from my Journal, Book 3

Put to death sin that is in me, that is against God. Expose it, search me and try me, see if there is any wicked thing in me, O God, I ask it. In Thee do I trust from morning to evening in season and out, year after year. I ask your hand upon me, your truth within me, and your spirit flowing from me.

WE ARE EITHER living in the spirit or in the flesh. The door to both cannot be open at the same time [Spirit? < Soul > ?Flesh]. I have been thinking about Christians, how some find themselves living partly in the world and part in the Church, how when the world becomes greater they want the Church to adapt to the world to embrace some of its tenants. In its pure form, the Church cannot remain unspoiled if it becomes sullied by the world especially in its philosophy. What the Church believes about the authority of God and its response to that authority makes a great deal of difference. If truth is compromised the end result is a weakened message and an unstable foundation.

Remaining pure can also be an outward visage, manifestation, a conformity of behavior to codes and standards, and misleading, if pride and arrogance generate from separateness.  This one is subtle and takes great humility to recognize and overcome. I know, since I have been there and could easily return. We are such a people of extremes. We rarely live in moderation.

In truth, it all starts with me. No one else can live my life for me nor make my decisions. I long to have the blessed beauty of Christ to be made manifest in me.

"Any strand of our own energy will blur the life of Christ. We have to let go (keep letting go) and slowly and surely the great full life of God will invade us in every part, and men will take knowledge of us that we have been with Jesus." My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers