Worth It All
If you’ve never heard this song by Rita Springer, will you take a moment (or five minutes) to listen?
We’re in a season of reflection right now in our sweet little home. Reflection on God’s incredible goodness, all that He’s called us to, how He’s equipping us, and what we’re doing to make sure we’re giving Him our all.
We’ve been pouring over passages like:
Romans 12:2, Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that by testing, you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
and
Philippians 4:8, Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.
Those two verses alone are enough to meditate on for an entire year, but there are others as well:
Titus 2: You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive. For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.
Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
R.C. Sproul Jr. wrote in a recent blog post, My eyes passed over God’s Word, and everything changed. I thought in turn about what usually enters not just my eye gate, but ear gate. Like most Christians I live in a decadent culture, and consume far too much of its “wisdom.” My eyes are filled with images made in Hollywood, my ears filled with the wisdom of Nashville. My soul is a veritable sluice gate through which pours more filth than my ancestors could have dreamed of. It should not surprise me then that I don’t speak with the wisdom, the grace, the discretion, the honor with which my ancestors spoke….we should celebrate the influence of God’s word. Treasure in, treasure out.
Our family is going to spend the rest of this month defining the words in bold from these passages. We’re going to hang them on our doorposts and meditate on these verses day and night. Every day we’ll pick a different word and verse to focus on. We’re going to fast from the influences of the world that we have so casually allowed into our hearts, minds, and our home: television, movies, the internet.
It’s going to be worth it all.
I read a post by Rita Springer in which she poured her heart out about the adoption of her son, Justice. As she wrote of obedience unto the Lord, particularly amidst controversy, she said, Anything that requires obedience always requires cost; emotional, physical, and spiritual cost.
These things will always be a struggle this side of heaven. We will never fully “arrive” in regards to righteousness and sanctification while still in our fleshly bodies, but I surely want to die trying.
It’s going to be worth it all.
~audrey