Choose life

Those that live in Christ are called into a way of living that is led by the Holy Spirit. Consider these words from St Paul "no longer do we serve in the old way of a written law, but in the new way of the Spirit" Romans 7.6

And Jesus by his life, death and resurrection brought us into a new way of having an experience of God in our life. Refering to the time we are now living in he said "God is Spirit, and only by the power of his Spirit can people worship him as he really is" John 4.24

Jesus ushered in a change in the way people think about religion. In fact he almost abolished the word itself! Instead he revealed much about the inner mind of God that tells us of his heart for us his creation. Jesus speaks to us with a clarity that goes to the core of our being. Sometimes these words can hit right to the nub of something we are wrestling with. Yesterday for example I had been thinking about sin. And the choice we have every day between the two ways, as St Paul puts it, only one of the ways leads to that which will make us more complete.

A close friend of mine dropped by for a chat and a cuppa. We ended up chatting about all sorts of things and something led us to these words of Christ "whoever believes in the Son is not judged; but whoever does not believe has already been judged, because he has not believed in God's only Son. This is how the judgement works : the light has come into the world, but people love the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds are evil. Anyone who does evil things hates the light and will not come to the light, because he does not want his evil deeds to be shown up. But whoever does what is true comes to the light in order that the light may show that what he did was in obedience to God." John 3.18 (GNB)

That passage made me realise that it is not God who condems me, it is my actions. Every day I can choose either to bless or to curse. To Love or to hate. To forgive or to store up the pain of unresolved anger. To live in the light or hide my sins in the darkness. And, when I have sinned sometimes I can't bring myself into the presence of that which is good.

But we have a God who will forgive us if we ask. A God who loves the repentant sinner.

Dear Lord, help me to choose love on a daily basis. Help me to do away with the things of the darkness. Bring me inch by inch into the fullness of your love. Amen