We would think it strange if a baby, soother in its mouth, had the same soother three years, six years, twenty years, or fifty years later. We would be right in saying, “this person has some serious troubles.” But how different is it when the baby’s soother simply takes another form, but is still very much a soother?
What is alcoholism, drug use, sexual immorality, obesity, workaholism, or the abuse of the television, cigarettes, coke, coffee, a fancy home, a fancy car, excessive exercise, ETC ETC…what are these for many people, but the adult version of the baby’s soother?
We are still far too easily pleased, and will continue to be unless and until Christ becomes the superior satisfaction of our souls.
We do not forgive well when we are wronged, and we are not quick to forgive either. Does this natural inclination stem from our “old man” nature which at one point did not think it needed cosmic forgivenness? I think so.
Forgiveness is not on the radar of the Christless, but the awakening heart does become alive to its need of it. The lack of a sense for the need of forgiveness comes from a low view of sin, which in turn, and most importantly, flows from a very low view of God. A low or false view of God gives a minimized sense of sin and therefore a minimized sense for the need of forgiveness. And because we have no sense of the gravity of our sin, our heavy need to be forgiven, we naturally are casual about extending forgiveness to others.
For some reason this post did not appear on June 6th when I first submitted it. So let’s try again.
Proverbs 7:1 “My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you.”
Went to the retreat center in Schuyler, NE on Thursday to spend 24 hours with some friends to discuss how best to