Just over a week ago, I've joined the Steemit community. Not too long afterwards, I got lost in all the technicalities of steemit, steamian, steem followers, steem now and oh yes, steem chat. This list goes on and on.
The reason?
I tent to get distracted easily, especially when my mind goes off into a gazillion places in the adventures of finding avenues to solutions, stories and anything that entertains or explores.
These days, ADHD is a branded term for an active thought process. What a shame.
When I was a child, THAT look from my parents resolved this issue quite well enough and each time order was promptly restored. Aaah, good times ;-)
But it made me think. Is this not exactly what's happening in our minds on a daily basis? You know, that place where the enemy is prone to launch attack after attack.
What's interesting enough is that we've been exposed to so much truth in recent times. But still, it seems like we get cluttered thoughts every so often. Especially when we need to have clarity to make important decisions. Especially when one feels like the pressure is just too unbearable.
What is not helping, is that we allow our thoughts to get too busy.
I like Bill Johnson's way of conveying a message (Bethel Church, Reading, California). This morning I saw him preaching on the subject of the veil of deception. He started off with the following example:
Say you haven’t had a decent meal in a few days. Notice has been given for you to move out, since you haven't (been able to) pay rent. On top of this, you haven’t really spoken to anyone for some time, since the airtime on your cell phone has run out.
And then there's a knock at the door.
As you open the door, a well-dressed lawyer turns around and, now facing you says "we've been looking for you".
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Can you relate to that feeling now whelming up inside?
He then goes on by telling you that you have actually inherit a big estate. Land, houses and businesses are part of this estate. Oh, and just by the way, there is $10mil in a bank account that you can use as soon as the admin work has been completed.
Question: How different is that feeling now inside you, considering that moment when you opened the door, to that which you found out that you've inherited the estate?
Last year I kept feeling that we (well most definitely I), have not really come to the full understanding of what Jesus' death really means.
Yes, we can run the age old tune that He has died for our sins. But we have also got to understand that His blood has set us free from not only our sins, but that we've been given that freedom, which we need to life a fulfilled live.
And this is the part that I tend to forget about, don’t know about you?
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You see, when live gets hard (as it does), we try so hard to make sense of what's going on, that we completely overlook to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV)
Once we step back out of our situation / circumstances, regardless of how deep or difficult they might be and place our focus on God, our trust, then there's a release within us. When last have you tried it?
From this very position where one has that inner peace, read 2 Cor 3:14 and see an interesting meaning appears to a text that, under strenuous moment, just does not make sense. A verse, that has all the power inside it, to help one exactly when it is needed, during those horrendously difficult times.
"But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away."
Paul is revealing to us that Christ has done something.
But done what?
Before we get to that answer, let's also look at Eph. 1:3 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ."
OK, so here "spiritual blessings" is coming though (did you get that?).
But wait, in 2 Cor 3: 5-6 there's more and something very important to know; "Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."
Not "competent in ourselves…, but the Spirit"
And how did we get it?
Through Christ, and here's how; 1 Cor. 3:22 "whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God."
So the answer is that a new meaning has been brought to us, in that we have been given blessings, which are much more profound since they are spiritual blessings. However, it is not within ourselves that we gain access to these blessings, but by the Spirit within us. And socking as it does seem, this and more are all ours since we are in Christ. Christ, which is in God.
It is by faith in Him REGARDLESS of WHATEVER situation we find ourselves in, that we can tap into this, which has already been given to us. Because "…without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (Heb. 11:6)
There is so much more to discuss on this matter.
This morning however, I really needed to get my focus back in place. By the grace of God, I saw this preach from Bill and wanted to convey it to a larger audience than just my friends.
Hoping that this will land where it's supposed to land, especially for those that also endure the harder side of life, at this very moment.
Bob Marley was wrong in his quote just like he was wrong about drugs. God can free us when we're deceived. Either through the word or through the direct power of the Holy Spirit.