"An Urgent Matter"

"Hear me speedily, O LORD; my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit." (Psalms 143:7)

  If you experience the least bit of what true worship does in your heart, then you can realize the urgency you feel to correct any sort of a flaw in the relationship you have with God. The closer you draw to Him, the more likely you are so see your sin and transgressions that are hidden in your heart. As with most verses that end up on six and seven, my natural tendency is to relate verse six to man and his weaknesses; while applying verse seven to God and His abilities or power. And, as with most cases, there is a case for that here as well. In a strange sort of way, we are made more visibly weak and fragile in God's presence; but at the same time, we are also feel safer and better off with Him by our side. The weakness comes from our tendencies to sin, as we examine ourselves and our right to be in His presence; those things that might hinder us are made clear, even though we might not have seen them before. The fragile state of our existence is manifested by the fact that we are here based upon the will of God; something that we have absolutely no control over, whatsoever! There is a powerful verse that speaks to this illustration, "For our God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:29) Actually, if you really stop and think about what it takes to refine precious metals; we are His precious metal, and the Refiner's Fire is a really good thing! In contrast to the state of man, God has the ability to quickly change our condition and our failing spirit; the spirit being that little bit of strength within us to do anything at all. He can do anything and everything; we can do nothing at all to save our souls! We do not want to die in a condition that is outside of the covering of Christ, so anything that we see that might hinder us, needs to be dealt with, like right now! This might be another good example of what religion might have to do with our relationship; because there is such a contrast between the ability we have and the power of God; how can we rationally think a relationship is possible in that, outside of a religious experience? Thank you Jesus for all that you have done! The religious part of this relationship is for me to have faith in Christ and the work that He did on the cross; the relationship part of this religion, is that He lives! and not only does He live, but He lives in me, and I live in Him...

"O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 7:24 - 8:1)