For thought and meditation

[rl69]

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

—Romans 5:1

The Bible tells the story of a man who had everything this world says one should have to feel happy and fulfilled: power, wealth, influence, and fame. But along with that came an emptiness that sent him on a search for God. As secretary of the treasury for a powerful nation, he was second only to the queen. But there was a hole in his heart, so it led him on a search to the spiritual capital of the world, Jerusalem. He did not find what he was looking for, but as he was returning home, he unexpectedly found the answer to his questions. He had an appointment with God that resulted in his conversion and complete transformation.

His story shows what happens when a person becomes a Christian. When someone truly believes in Jesus Christ, his or her life changes dramatically. This man went from emptiness and misery to overflowing joy. His story ends with the statement, “He went on his way rejoicing” (Acts 8:39). It is no exaggeration when the Bible says that we pass from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to the power of God, when we believe in Jesus Christ. It is describing what takes place in our lives.

But we also need to recognize that not every case is identical. There are different types of people who come to faith in different ways. Some have a tremendous emotional response, while others have no emotional experience at all.

An emotional experience has little to do with the reality of a person’s conversion. When I prayed and asked Christ to come into my life, I felt nothing. And because of this, I falsely concluded that God had rejected me. Thankfully, I discovered later that Christianity is a walk of faith and not of feeling.

[Thundarstick]

I'm so glad you posted this for thinking on. I believe the "feeling" thing has a lot to do with so much of the discord between assemblies of Christians.

[Boaz]

Good post rl69 .

[Blackwater]

Wow! "Christianity is a walk of faith and not of feeling." Truer words were never spoken. It sometimes aggrevates us and challenges us when Christ wants us to do something we really don't want to do. But He's ever faithful to bring us to light even more than we already are. He never wants us to stagnate, for if we do, we falter and fail even more than when we try to follow His will rather than our own.

For much of my life, I was convinced that my goals were good goals, and worthy to strive towards. And I really think I could have made at least some positive difference had I attained my goals. But that wan't to be. It wasn't God's plan for me. So ... quite naturally, I never achieved my own goals. God led me in a different way, and one in which I really DID make a positive difference in quite a few lives. And they taught me things I'd never have learned as well or as "deeply" as I learned from them. Even the lowest among them taught me things I needed to know.

Now, I look back, and realize that as soon as I started accepting His will rather than seeking my own "goals," I started really learning things I needed to know, and doing good things for my Lord! It's often the case that we may indeed be capable of doing "more" than we wind up achieving, but we may be in the position and composed of the right "stuff" that we're needed elsewhere. And God WILL see to it that we wind up where we're most needed, unless we absolutely refuse to accept His will rather than our own. Even then, He'll probably win out in the end.

We'll always have our plans and aims in life, but where God leads us is where we REALLY need to be! And all we have to do is .... well, just accept what comes our way, and find whatever function we're to serve in that place and time. Do that, and all the rest will fall into place in your life. And you'll wind up being more joyful and having more to be thankful for, than if you'd gotten your "dream." Ain't it funny how that works?