You Live Bravely when You Know the Lord

Scripture: 1 Kings 2:3

"Keep the charge of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the Law of Moses, that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn,

Insights: Steve Brown of Key Life Ministries has a new book out titled Three Free Sins.  Now Steve Brown is not advocating sin in this book.  Rather in his blog he gives a teaser in regards to the content of the book and I think it is the key to successfully living out our Christian walk with bravery and courage.  He wrote, “Every Christian I know wants to be better than he or she is. There may be an exception to that, but I haven’t found one. In other words, most Christians aren’t getting any better and sometimes are getting worse…but they really want to be better.  Do you know why most Christians don’t get any better or why you don’t get any better? It’s because you’re doing it wrong, dummy! You are obsessed with sin and your faith has become another “system of laws” whereby you feel guilty and try and try and try to do better. It doesn’t work, never has worked, and never will work. Only really shallow people keep doing the same thing over and over again with the same result, thinking that the next time the result will be different.  So stop it.  You’re just making a mess out of it. People get better by obsessing on Jesus and his love…not by obsessing on their own sin and disobedience. That’s what the cross is about. It is a covering for sin. So that’s not the issue anymore. Not only that, the imputation of Christ’s righteousness to our account is a gift beyond measure assuring that God’s anger will never be directed at us again.  And by the way, an obsession with sin may be the greatest form of pride. Frankly, it is quite narcissistic.”  Steve Brown’s point is all about focus.  If we focus on our sin, or the sins of others, to such an extent that it paralyzes us and keeps us held in bondage, then what we are saying is our sin is greater than Jesus’ work on Calvary.  That is a form of pride to be obsessed with sin.  Beloved, change your focus and spend time with Jesus in His Word, the Bible, and it will change your life.  Tomorrow we will learn what happens if we live this way.

Questions:

1. How are your quiet times with the Lord going presently?
2. What new truths is the Lord revealing to you about Himself?

Prayer: Father, the only way I am able to live bravely for You is to know You.  Place within my heart a longing for You and Your ways.  Let me desire You more than anything this world has to offer.  Amen.