Inclusionary Gospel

"Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God."

- Romans 15:7

I love how relevant the scripture is. No matter what circumstance, God has spoken. I've been having a sinful attitude as of late. I was wanting to exclude someone from my circle. I had come up with all these arguments and I was using scripture to justify my sin. That is a scary place to be when I think about it. I want the Scriptures to inform me, not me use Scriptures out of context to meet my own ends. I am a sinful man. After I was forced to make a right decision, I was convicted that my attitude was wrong. I love it and I hate it. I love that I recognize it...there's hope for me yet. I hate it because I am sinful. I have a very long way to go. The Gospel is inclusionary. Christ welcomed me when I was of ill repute. I have a duty to welcome others in the same manner. 

O God - save me from myself and help me to learn that the Gospel is inclusionary and not exclusionary. 

sdg

The Whoredom of Idolatry

"My people inquire of a piece of wood, and their walking staff gives them oracles. For a spirit of whoredom has led them astray, and they have left their God to play the whore."

- Hosea 4:12

The thing that struck me, besides the graphic language, is that idolatry is a fruit sin, not root sin. God is telling me that my idolatry is the result of something. I have the spirit of whore. I have a

belief that what I have in God is not enough to fulfill me. Since I believe that I can fulfill myself outside of God, I seek out other things. I commit two sins. I turn my back on God an attempt to

fulfill myself on other lovers.

Another thing that struck me was the irrationality of sin and idolatry. It makes no sense. Can a block of wood or a walking staff really provide us with the meaning we so desire? How stupid!

The same is true of any idol, whether it be sex or money or pride or power. To seek after it will only leave you empty and dry.

May you cast down your idols down and fall in repentance. He is there to pick you up and make you whole again.

sdg