Between you and me, I am sick of hearing about Marie and her diet plans.
How a miracle shake will help you lose pounds. How you can skip the meetings
and weighing of food. That hers and every other diet plan, whether from a
sports star to South Beach to Carb City is the best. No tummy tuck as we used to
call them, just discipline. I know people who in their quest to lose weight and
be pretty, health reasons are low on the list, go from plan to plan, and after
losing a few pounds, gain it back with an additional poundage-for free. Some
years back I lost almost 50 pounds, which has since returned uninvited, and lost
again, and in a losing/holding position now, just by cutting out snacks,
watching my portions, and eating healthy. No fast foods, no pizza, and I missed
it for awhile, but soon it lost all appeal. So for free, within six months, it
can be done. The secret is-stop eating! And eat different. Cut to
commercial....
Years ago I heard Pat Robertson of The 700 Club make a statement, jokingly,
about losing weight. “Lose a pound a week for a year, that’s 52 pounds!”
Change your habits. Of course we laughed, but it’s true. With weight loss, and
also your relationship with God. Christians should take note that giving up one
habit religiously does not make you a Christian. Following certain teachers and
teachings, are not the answer. More rules, more religion, and less fun-ask
anybody who isn’t a Christian, and still an answer, just not the answer. But
we’re getting close, but many stop here. AA members are still alcoholics, they
admit it, and a higher power can mean God, or Satan. Which in many instances
they cannot distinguish between the two. I am not bashing AA, just pointing out
what they say. Unless the higher power is Jesus Christ, unless you repent and
are saved, you will not be saved. From drugs, drinking, over eating, and hell.
Step one, Jesus. And off they go, saved but without joy. So what’s the deal
here? Where is the pastor’s promise? Is being saved like losing weight, just
another program? To some it is, and less.
Scripture tells us that to grow in Christ we have been given the word of
God. Logos, all the Bible. Which explains the explosion of Bible studies
around the world, do you ever get tired of some bragging brother trying to
impress you by asking “are you in the word?” When I answer “is the word in
you?” throws them. Is the word in you? If you are saved, Jesus is the word,
and when the Bible studies begin, knowledge grows. But maybe not the person, as
so many are in the word, but not in the spirit. You must read being in the word
as reading the Bible and then practicing it. Living it. Knowledge, knowing
what to do, and obedience in the spirit, the when, what, and why. The how we
are supposed to live in Christ. The who that Jesus left for us to counsel and
provide our needs. Many grow in knowledge, but fail to mature in Jesus because
they lack the obedience led by the spirit. Reading what they desire, taking
copious notes, then hiding them in their Bible, until needed, and then searched
for frantically. But God gave us a better way, before ink and pens, before
pencils and i-pods, he had us, so he wrote his word on our hearts. Always with
us, and available via the spirit when needed. It is the spirit who reveals the
mysteries of Christ, who exposes the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
God also has given us the rhema, the personal word needed for certain
situations. While many concentrate on the logos, Jesus makes it personal with
his rhema. Via his spirit. Which changes the way we study, and changes our
life. If the study of God’s word has become a hobby, or worse yet another
homework assignment, it needs the rhema to reveal the personal side of what you
need. To go beyond lessons and memory, and live in and for Christ. Low calorie
Christianity has become a staple for too many, just reading, just praying, and
just going on, but with no changes in their life. Just like just stopping
eating will lose weight, just stopping your old ways will change you, but what
fills the void? Can it be we neglect the gift given to us by the one who bore
our sin so we can live in him? The spirit is always with us, but are we always
with him? Remember Jesus never will leave us or forsake us, he left us his
spirit, himself. Maybe a four course meal of the rhema is needed. If only we
can get through the first course, how our lives would change.
Jesus taught to abide in the vine. Not just the scriptures we want, or
looking for an escape route for our sin. To live, to abide in him. He is the
vine, and every branch not bearing fruit is pruned. Why, so it can bear fruit,
the fruit of what, the spirit. There he is again! So that your joy may be
full! So your relationship with him is more personal than study, and deeper
than just religion. Abide, obey the spirit, lose the weight of sin and live
again! To my fellow branches in the vine, seek his rhema today. Listen then
act. Low calories may be an effective weight loss plan, no low cal Christian
diet, we need all of Jesus, and the word for just that moment. Where the spirit
of the Lord is there is liberty! Free shipping included-only God delivers to
heaven while we are still on earth.
You know the drill, you know the scriptures, but do you really know the
spirit?
Or if you are lazy, ask Marie where she buys her corsets....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com