I confessed some time ago that I watch Celebrity Rehab. There is something about watching people who are addicts. I think it is because of the study I have done on the Greek word "epithumea". "Epithumea" is usually translated "evil desire" in English Bibles but the direct translation is an "over desire". It is wanting something too much. The Bible says we are all drawn away from God by our epi-desires. We are all addicts of sorts. Some of us are addicted to obviously harmful things like my friends on Celebrity Rehab. Others of us are addicted to our work, or our families, or our children, or any number of other things that are not as immediately destructive. An epi-desire is anything we use to fill ourselves with or to give us self-worth. Anyway, I was watching my buddies on Celebrity Rehab and they have moved to a half-way house and so the show has changed to Sober House. Steven (the drummer for Guns and Roses) smuggled in heroin and went off the first day. He was so out of control the house mother had to call the police. Steven did not go quietly into the night. He was a mess and he made life miserable for the house mother. Well, Steven got sober and came to ask forgiveness of the house mother. He was very repentant. The house mother looked at him for a long while and then she reached out and hugged him, forgave him, and offered him a second chance to come back in the house. She looked at the camera after the scene and explained it like this, "when I saw myself in Steven, I knew I had to forgive him. My heart went out to him". That is exactly the way Christians are supposed to be. She had been an addict herself so she knew she had acted just like Steven at times and she had needed people to forgive her. Most people think of Christians as being judgmental. If I really understand the Gospel then there isn't a single person I meet that I cannot see some of me in them. The Gospel is the greatest power in the world. It allows me to admit to myself how deeply flawed I am but also look at the cross and be reminded of how deeply loved I am. I know some marriages would have been saved, some relationships would have been healed, if people had just be able to see themselves in the person who had hurt them so deeply. So, go with grace today. Carry it with you and look hard in the eyes of the people around you. They say the eyes are the window to the soul. Their eyes may be a window into your own soul.
Friday, February 6, 2009
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3 comments:
People need the Lord you can see it in their eyes..... You need only look through their eyes and with spiritual discernment snd compassion to their hearts. There you will find the cracks that need a healing touch. How many times do we say I will pray for you to someone instead of stopping whatever we are doing and pray right then and there with the person that is hurting or ask what can I do for you now. Sometimes it is just sitting with someone and being silent a good listener not a talker full of scripture and advice. In that quiet time you often hear where their need or hurt is and then one can move take action to meet them where they are at that time. A door opened should never be put off or it may close and not open again. It is all about extending the love of our Lord to others how else will they see He who loves them. Are we not those of us who belong to Him his to use in the lives of others to do his will led by the Holy Spirit. THERE IS POWER IN THE BLOOD THAT IS OURS. CLAIM IT! USE IT! TO HIS GLORY. People need the Lord... Now is the time for salvation.
Glad to know that I am not the only person watching that show... I feel so much compassion for those people and respect for them as they publicly struggle against and battle there inner desires. Who of us would welcome a TV crew into our house and have them show the world us losing our patience with our children, gossip to our friends or lie to a telemarketer and say we are not home? Their honesty is so amazing amongst a world of people who spend all their time hiding their flaws and spending all energy convincing people their lives are not in need of a savior.
I think one of your advertisements caused my internet browser to resize, you might want to put that on your blacklist.
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