The challenge of holiness

I may change the name of my blog.

Because even though my hope is in Christ, I'm currently being so challenged to live a life that pleases God in every way.

And everything in me is so bucking against it.

I never realised I was so sinful! Somewhere in the book of James are the words "to the one who knows what is right and does not do it, that is sin." I know God's law - it is etched on my heart, but the battle I fight to live holy is pretty tough. And I feel like I keep losing.

But here's the gospel bit to encourage me. I am in Christ. (Romans 8:1) I died with Christ, when he died, and in dying with Him I died to sin (Romans 8:2). And Christ is alive now. I live in Him (Romans 8:9). Because of this, I no longer need to give in to the desires of my sinful nature (Romans 8:12;15). AMAZING.

NEWs

I got a new job.

It's really not what I envisaged I'd be spending my time doing; more a last resort as pending expenses loom large and funds run really low. I've also had a really rubbishy time jobhunting, with real disappointments that I've been told were owing to the current financial situation. So you'll understand my feeling that it's back to square one, to roles that I feel slightly overqualified for. Can I hear somebody say "Aww?!"

I have to praise God though. Even though I've found it so hard to in the past few days. He has been extra gracious in giving me at least something to fill my time and pay my way to a good extent for a while. By his grace, He's also given me team leader who is a Christian, and a Nigerian. I wrote a post not too long ago asking people to pray for more black fundamentalists, and wow, I believe I may have met one in my team leader. It is a rare thing just to find a Christian in a group, but to find someone who seems to really know what it means to hold fast to Christ alone - that's encouraging. Thank God. I look forward to seeing how this works out in the hectic nature of the job. There is always something to thank God for, as I was reminded today, because He is forever gracious.

So, there are so many bible verses that should comfort me in this time - "consider it pure joy, fridns when you go through all kinds of trials, because the testing of your faith produces perseverance, perseverances (produces) character, and character hope". That's from James 1.

Lessons learned from the Olympics

So I loved the Olympic Games whilst it was on. I watched particularly the 2nd week pretty religiously, as the only sport I really love is the athletics, probably because there aren't any complex rules; athletes literally running in straight lines, throwing things, jumping, using uncomplicated poles to jump etc.

One athlete that really stood out for me was Christine Ohuruogu. This could possibly be because my mum has been saying "Oh, she's your age" all through the run-up to the games, as parents tend to do. So she stood out in my mind before running the 400m finals at the birds nest thing on Tuesday.

What impressed me was how she ran 'her own race' as Michael Johnson said. She was not at all phased by the other athletes, particularly Sanya Richards, the favourite from USA who ran an uneven race to say the least. She really paced herself, and even looked as though she was going to be fourth until the last 50 metres.

I've got that amazing image in my mind even now as I write, reminding me about this Christian race I'm in. When tempted to compare myself to other Christians, or to other people in general thinking about how successful or accomplished they are over me, I have to remember that the race that I'm in is not to be run in my own strength, comparing myself to the other 'athletes' around me. There are many bible verses in the New Testament that speak of the Christian life as a race. I think my favourite though, and probably the most challenging to me, is the one in Hebrews 12:1-3 which follows on from *a list of excellent people of faith who ran their life races believing and trusting in God.

The writer says:

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a *great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Jesus had a real focus from day one of his ministry. He knew he was going to suffer, but he had an even greater view of the reward that stood for him after the suffering, that being that He would be the one by whom salvation from sin’s consequences is purchased;

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. – Philippians 2:10-11.

The great news for me is that I don’t need to follow this example to the T. What a weird thing to say huh? But the truth, and the good news is that Jesus is with me helping me to live for him, and to keep running my race. He’s made many promises in His bible assuring me of this. I stumble sometimes/a lot/all the time but He’s helping me to run. What great news!