Recently I have been using a book entitled Getting Closer to God by Erwin Lutzer for my devotional time. I have been really blessed by the steps to intimacy with God that the book suggests based on the life of Moses. In the very first chapter, Lutzer talks about a pastor who destroyed his career after falling into the sin of immorality. He went from being a pastor to a church drop out in 60 seconds. Though the man was qualified to serve God in tremendous ways, he struggled even to get back to the position of Sunday School teacher in another church. The man felt like he would have to spend the rest of his life "in the penalty box". After three years, the man sent this letter to Erwin Lutzer:
"I am writing to testify of the marvelous grace of God. I've learned many lessons in my desert - my penalty box - but God has used my pain to bring me lovingly, mercifully to Him.
Just when I thought I was hopeless, God revealed my sin and self-centeredness that was my sad condition before Him. He stripped me of my pretensions and showed me my unbelief. I learned that God cannot simply be one of my options, but I must risk my life, my soul, my sanity on Him, and Him only. I must believe that He is exactly who He says He is in His Word. When I was most bankrupt, He gave me the strength to forsake all and follow Christ.
Before, my focus was always on me: my happiness, my circumstances, my emotions. Now, it is on God. As a byproduct of focusing on Him, His joy is alive in me. Though tough circumstances still have their sting. I can cast my care on Him and He gives me 'His exceeding great and precious promises.'
It strikes me that these are admonitions I have heard for years, but it is the doing of them that makes all the difference.
During my desert times, false cults and false brethren would offer a way that seemed right, but would cast doubt upon the Word of God. Yet, I found victory by fully committing myself to God. Thank God I'm out of the penalty box and back in the game. "
Wow! What a story! There's so much in there I don't know where to start! What sticks out to you?
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5 comments:
Hey Josh,
Thanks so much for sharing from the devotional you are using. If all the stories in it are like this one, it will take you and age to get thru it, however thats O.K. one wouldn't want to miss one crumb that God has in there for us to grow by.God is awesome and I'm glad the pastor in the story found out that altho we fail Him over and over again, that God isn't finished with us, He doesn't wipe His hands of us, He picks us up or takes us out of the "penalty box" and lifts us up to go on.... in HIS strength, after all it's only whats done in Christ that counts....right? Keep up focusing us on Christ Josh, I appreciate the time you take to put something worth while on your blog that edifys and is a good use of my time to read.
i like how the pastor mentioned that bad things still happen and still hurt, so many people look at Christians and figure we think our lives are perfect and without pain. but thats not true of anyone, what the MAIN thing is that we have the "mind of Christ" in us and use it to see our lives through God's eyes, thereby letting His spirit and its fruitage, one of those being joy, dwell inside us and renew us from within. i am really loving this blog Joshua.
Agape
That is such an amazing story, and I can totally relate with the writer of that letter. God has also been showing me that I need to change my ways . . . especially when dealing with the issue of self-centeredness. That's probably what stuck out to me the most...because I am also being taught about it. Thanks so much for sharing, Josh. Your posts are so encouraging to read. Keep it up!
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