Thoughts from a Random Mind

             It is my belief that we all have a dark side lying dormant within us. It figures to be our old nature, which is lying in a coma in the deep recesses of our mind. There are things that we ought not to dabble in; ought not to go anywhere near. It’s not restrictive living; avoiding certain things is meant for our ultimate good. God doesn’t withhold that which will benefit us. He may delay its application in our lives, but never withholds forever. 

            It is imperative that if we intend to live like Christ we keep the old nature under our foot, preferably with the foot firmly placed on its throat. Our focus can easily be pulled to the left or right of center by old habits that resurface or new baubles that attract our attention. Walking with Christ isn’t always a cakewalk. We can become buffeted about by the winds of change quite frequently. It’s why scripture tells us to set our face like a flint* as we attempt to do our part for the kingdom of God. 

            Although the term “Christian” technically means “little Christs”, many times we act very unlike Christ. This tends to confuse nonbelievers and even causes some people to loath us because of our inconsistency as we go about walking the “straight and narrow”. It has been suggested by some that we call ourselves simply “Followers of Christ” or “Followers of the Nazarene” since we seemed to have done a bang up job of distorting the name “Christian”. God forgives, the nonbeliever not so much. Many are looking for reasons to discredit us as a group, as if every Christian is a condescending, judgmental, hard line, Bible thumping, Born-Again Christian. Oh they’re out there to be sure, but they appear to be the loud minority, rather than the humble, kind, peace loving ones who are hardly noticed. Which one are you?

            So feed the spirit man and not the old nature daily and keep your foot on its throat so that you can be seen as you are meant to be seen, as a God fearing, Christ loving, non-judgmental, compassionate arm of the Lord. Keep the darkness buried and don’t ever give it a chance to catch it’s breath. Amen? Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! rlkeller

* Isaiah 50:7 “Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.