Day 10 ~ It’s All About Him!

by | Jan 10, 2014

Hullo to all you fantastic wonderful people! 🙂 I hope you’ve been enjoying the 2014 Journey Challenge and that the Lord has been flooding you with insights, echoes of mercy, whispers of His love and more!

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“Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

~Ephesians 2:9

Whenever I am helping someone out with a job or project/chore around the house/whatever, I really appreciate it when they are able to give me baking mistakesinstructions and an overview of the plan in a patient and straightforward manner. That way I know what needs to be done, how it should be done, when it should be done and I also have a general idea of what not to do. There is so much mayhem, chaos, disorder, flammable accidents, distasteful delicacies and unnecessary course-corrections that can be avoided by establishing communication between all parties concerned, abiding by the guidelines and simply by paying attention to what is shared. This way, flour actually gets added to the cake batter; girl’s Journey emails are not {accidentally} sent to guy Journey participants; math problems get solved {without simply guessing the number ‘4’ for every question}; coconut oil doesn’t get flushed into a drain, thus stopping up the entire septic system; dresses aren’t sown inside out; viruses don’t get downloaded onto the family computer *ahem*;  10 people are not searching a state park on a man-hunt, looking for you, because you’ve gotten lost for the third time in the same day; driving through your garage door with the car can be avoided, by not having the car in reverse; your parents will not walk into the kitchen in the middle of the night, only to discover that they are standing ankle-deep in soap suds {all over the kitchen}, because you put dish soap in the dishwasher soap suds everywhereinstead of dishwasher detergent; you won’t melt and burn holes in your older sister’s synthetic dress shirt she was planning to wear to church that morning, because of having the iron setting on ‘cotton’; you don’t have to thrust yourself back into the plane aisle for the third time after finally glancing down at your ticket, to realize that this airline does assigned seating;  you won’t be left playing the piano by yourself, with the whole congregation listening to you, because you thought there were six verses to the hymn and there were only five … I think you get the general idea of some of my infrequent {annnnd sometimes frequent}  Sophia-blunders. There have literally been so many times in my life when I have grossly failed to pay attention to: details, instructions, surroundings, recipes, directions, patterns, manuals, etc.! I had a hugely difficult time trying to choose just one example. ;P

 

hall of shameNow, these are merely tangible and physical proofs and effects of ways I have messed up when it comes to motor skills, inanimate objects, baking, cooking and so on. If I were to take you through my spiritual, non-tangible “Hall of Shame” – the one where e.v.e.r.y:  unkind, impulsive, silly, impatient, frustrated, idolatrous: thought, action, word, deed, and desire was immediately filed away – I know it would be infinitely longer and immeasurably more heart-breaking. As you would walk through, up and down the aisles, there would be many exhibits that are obviously very ugly and rather distasteful. Then you might see some things in their display cases that appear nice, good-looking, and even spiritual; but, as you examine the description beneath the frame, you would read there the motive behind the deed.  And it would make you sad…oh so very sad.

 

So, like I said at the beginning of this ridiculously-long-introduction, I like to be told the plan, the instructions, and specific details that are necessary to know for the safe and successful completion of any undertaking. 😉 Well, could this verse get any more straight-forward?? I mean, there it is: “Not of works, lest any man [woman, or child] should boast.” Yet, it’s such a familiar verse that how often do I read it without hearing it?

 

If you’re familiar with the five love languages {words of affirmation; acts of service; quality time; gifts; physical touch}, you may have heard that, more often than not, people show love differently than how they receive it. I don’t necessarily feel loved when people do things for me {acts of service}; but, that is often how I will show love to others. So, while “faith without works is dead”, it’s also “not of works, lest any man should boast.”   Our works ought to be an evidence of the Lord’s work in our hearts. We love Him so much, that we can’t even hardly wait for the next opportunity to do something for Him! Just as a way of saying to Him, “I love You.” Never should works be viewed as a ticket to Heaven or as a means to try to become the Teacher’s pet. Nope, not at all; uh-uh.  Reiterated, once again, “…it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” It is my prayer and desire that the Holy Spirit would hold each one of us accountable on this. That anything we do would be done sincerely and whole-heartedly to the glory of the Lord. That others would see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven!

 

Praise the Lord for the great things He has done and will continue to do!

 

~Sophia~

3 Comments

  1. Hannah

    That was an excellent post Sophia! Thanks for sharing all those fun examples at the beginning…I think most of us can relate (as long as we’re honest!) and it’s a great reminder to keep our eyes on Jesus and do everything for Him alone!

    Reply
  2. Lovie

    Thanks, Sophia! Now I feel like I really understand the true meaning of those two verses! Btw, I can really identify with you on the whole gallery thing . . . and especially on the messing up things (inside and out)! 😉 Also, I don’t know if I told you — your testimony at the JTTH really spoke to me. =)

    Reply
  3. Esther

    What a fun testimony to read, Sophia! I am so grateful for His Holy Word to show us how to live. It always help to have clear instructions! 🙂

    Reply

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