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Turning One's Back
Apr 23, 2019
A couple of years ago I realised that I was Gluten Intolerant. This was after 4 years of being ill and not knowing exactly what the problem was. I kept thinking it was one thing – but in spite of trying to follow a diet that should have solved that problem, I just kept getting ill.
What a relief to figure out what was wrong with me. But it meant that my diet had to change. I had to be very much more aware of what I was eating, and what I now can’t eat.
So when I’m faced with a situation where Graham picks up a lovely big slice of delicious looking Carrot Cake, and all I can get is a much, much smaller Chocolate Brownie (at the same price as the big slice of cake), I have to remember that I am doing this for my benefit and my health. Because the pain and discomfort (and some of the other symptoms) of having that gluten and wheat affect my body is just not worth the delicious taste and flavour of the thing that is wrong for me.
I have had to turn my back on a way of eating that I knew for all of my life in order to pursue a better and healthier way of life.
Isn’t that the same with our Christian walk? How easy is it for us to turn our backs on something that looks so good and so tempting? Because, after all, some sin is looks really good and is very tempting. And sometimes we don’t see the harm in it. Some of the things God tells us in Scripture to lay down is obviously evil, but some of the things seem good.
Recently we went to Standen House (a National Trust property), and as we walked around I noticed the beautiful views over the countryside. But I noticed on the patio area outside the house there were benches facing the house, away from the views (that’s the photo at the top of this blog). My reaction was that I would rather have the benches facing the views so that I could enjoy that. Who would want to look at a house when you had THAT view? But I felt God drop into my spirit that what I was looking at was an allegory of a spiritual principle.
God requires that we repent of the sin in our life. Repent, as I understand it, is to turn away from that which isn’t good for us. To turn our backs on that which we do do, and to face the way God wants us to live.
Colossians 3:1-17 encourages us to look to the things of God and turn our back on the things of the world. To clothe ourselves with the virtues of God and to do everything in love. 1 John 2:15-17 warns us about loving the things of the world, and encourages us to do the will of God.
How do we get our focus to be on the right things and turn our backs on the wrong things?
I’m not sure I fully understand how much God delights to spend time with me, but I know that He does. Only by spending time with Him and growing in my relationship with Him will I comprehend that in greater depth. And this I also know – that the view through God’s eyes of the beauty around us far surpasses anything I could ever imagine.
My prayer for you and for myself is that we would daily pursue God and seek Him. That we would have God’s wisdom so that we will live our lives well. That we would repent quickly of the things that are not of God, and that we would turn from that way of life. That we would remember that God loves us with an everlasting love and that we can boldly approach God and be in His Presence where we can hear His voice, where we can sit at His feet, where He can bring correction into our lives and bring healing to us - body, mind and spirit.
God bless you
Jean
What a relief to figure out what was wrong with me. But it meant that my diet had to change. I had to be very much more aware of what I was eating, and what I now can’t eat.
So when I’m faced with a situation where Graham picks up a lovely big slice of delicious looking Carrot Cake, and all I can get is a much, much smaller Chocolate Brownie (at the same price as the big slice of cake), I have to remember that I am doing this for my benefit and my health. Because the pain and discomfort (and some of the other symptoms) of having that gluten and wheat affect my body is just not worth the delicious taste and flavour of the thing that is wrong for me.
I have had to turn my back on a way of eating that I knew for all of my life in order to pursue a better and healthier way of life.
Isn’t that the same with our Christian walk? How easy is it for us to turn our backs on something that looks so good and so tempting? Because, after all, some sin is looks really good and is very tempting. And sometimes we don’t see the harm in it. Some of the things God tells us in Scripture to lay down is obviously evil, but some of the things seem good.
Recently we went to Standen House (a National Trust property), and as we walked around I noticed the beautiful views over the countryside. But I noticed on the patio area outside the house there were benches facing the house, away from the views (that’s the photo at the top of this blog). My reaction was that I would rather have the benches facing the views so that I could enjoy that. Who would want to look at a house when you had THAT view? But I felt God drop into my spirit that what I was looking at was an allegory of a spiritual principle.
God requires that we repent of the sin in our life. Repent, as I understand it, is to turn away from that which isn’t good for us. To turn our backs on that which we do do, and to face the way God wants us to live.
Colossians 3:1-17 encourages us to look to the things of God and turn our back on the things of the world. To clothe ourselves with the virtues of God and to do everything in love. 1 John 2:15-17 warns us about loving the things of the world, and encourages us to do the will of God.
How do we get our focus to be on the right things and turn our backs on the wrong things?
- We pursue God as He pursues us (Psalm 23:6 NLT – “Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.”),
- We hunger after Him (Matthew 5:6 (AMP) – “Blessed [joyful, nourished by God’s goodness] are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness [those who actively seek right standing with God], for they will be [completely] satisfied.”),
- We grow in our relationship with Him (1 Corinthians 1:9 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition – “God is faithful (reliable, trustworthy, and therefore ever true to His promise, and He can be depended on); by Him you were called into companionship and participation with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”),
- We make a choice to this every day of our lives
(Luke 9:23 Amplified Bible (AMP) – “And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross daily [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].”)
I’m not sure I fully understand how much God delights to spend time with me, but I know that He does. Only by spending time with Him and growing in my relationship with Him will I comprehend that in greater depth. And this I also know – that the view through God’s eyes of the beauty around us far surpasses anything I could ever imagine.
My prayer for you and for myself is that we would daily pursue God and seek Him. That we would have God’s wisdom so that we will live our lives well. That we would repent quickly of the things that are not of God, and that we would turn from that way of life. That we would remember that God loves us with an everlasting love and that we can boldly approach God and be in His Presence where we can hear His voice, where we can sit at His feet, where He can bring correction into our lives and bring healing to us - body, mind and spirit.
God bless you
Jean