Sermon Central
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Let Me Read A Quote From A Devotional By Os ...
Contributed by Sean Harder on Nov 19, 2008 (message contributor)
Let me read a quote from a devotional by Os Hillman:
When we first begin our spiritual journey we often make decisions from convenience. Often, we decide what the outcome is that we want and then make decisions based on the perceived outcome. If it is a positive outcome, then we will make an obedient decision. I call this outcome-based obedience.
However, God desires that each of us live an Obedience-based life. In order to transition us from an outcome-based process to an obedience-based process, he will allow a crisis to come into our lives. This crisis is designed to create pain, or discontent, which motivates us to seek Him to alleviate the pain. Many have heard of "fox-hole" Christianity. There is a place of painful obedience for everyone! However, this is not where God desires us to remain.
Ultimately, God desires us to live a life of obedience and intimacy rooted in conviction. We obey His commands from a heart of love and devotion. During the crisis phase we discover the personal love of God in our lives, which we had never experienced before. Most of us will get to this phase of our walk with God by first living a life of convenience, then we will go through the crisis that will then lead us into an intimate love relationship with God.
The Christian life can be summed up in one word - love. God’s desire for each of us is to know Him intimately and to love Him with all of our heart.
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