June 20, 2007
If only. . . I was more holy
If only. . . I could be like him, you know, because he’s so close to God
If only. . . I served more
If only. . . I could change the world
If only. . . I read my Bible more, went to church more often, never ever made mistakes
If only. Do you have those in your life? I do. I have such a desire to know God and for my life to matter on this earth that sometimes I make faith complicated. Does he want me to serve? Absolutely, it’s a privilege and it changes my life.
Does he want me to read my Bible? Sure he does because the words contain direction, light, and strength.
Does he want me to pray? Uh uh, because hanging out with God in intimacy is powerful and life-changing.
But this is the scoop. Sometimes we make faith really complicated when it’s simple. We get so caught up in the details that we forget that all he requires is for us to love him daily, just as he loves us.
That relationship will show us when to serve. It will help alone time with God become a conversation instead of a to-do list. It will open doors in ways we never expected because we’re following so closely that we slip in behind him as he swings them open wide.
~Real Word~
Naaman wanted to be healed. He thought about every day. He was willing to shell out some dollars to buy it.
And yet when the prophet instructed him to wash in the river, he dove in a tailspin because it wasn’t complicated enough.
And he almost missed his healing.
I encourage you today to push off all the complicated thoughts and baggage that make faith heavy, and open your heart and life to the One who loves you best. Determine to know him today, and then tomorrow, and to listen to his voice and see just where God takes you.
2 Kings 10-13 (The Message)
Elisha sent out a servant to meet him with this message: “Go to the River Jordan and immerse yourself seven times. Your skin will be healed and you’ll be as good as new.”
Naaman lost his temper. He turned on his heel saying, “I thought he’d personally come out and meet me, call on the name of GOD, wave his hand over the diseased spot, and get rid of the disease. The Damascus rivers, Abana and Pharpar, are cleaner by far than any of the rivers in Israel. Why not bathe in them? I’d at least get clean.”
He stomped off, mad as a hornet.
But his servants caught up with him and said, “Father, if the prophet had asked you to do something hard and heroic, wouldn’t you have done it? So why not this simple “wash and be clean’?”
So he did it. He went down and immersed himself in the Jordan seven times, following the orders of the Holy Man. His skin was healed; it was like the skin of a little baby.
He was as good as new.
Jade/Debbie says:
That was and still is one of the things that I LOVE about Real Teen Faith. It DOESN’T complicate faith.
Uncomplicated faith was something I needed desperately in my life when I found your site.
RTF filled that need.
your friend,
Jade/Debbie