After reading this brothers post, I had to share. I know we must have patience and extend love as Christ does... I am aware that we must strive to see what God sees in some people instead of the behavior they are displaying at the moment... However, do we place the souls of the lost and hungry into the hands of infants? Do we require or even allow an adolescent to be responsible for something so eternally critical as someones salvation? To me, this is what we are doing in the one hand that this brother is speaking of: Someone that has probably seen the other hand that is desperately trying to move or urge people into a deeper realm or move of The Spirit (that they themselves have spent countless hours in prayer seeking out). Instead of devoting the time in prayer to find the leading of The Most Holy, the one hand rather mimics the other... which is really just learned behavior. This learned behavior will likely bring about a learned response in some. Sadly, it is devoid of spirit... Ive heard it preached (and do strongly agree) that one cannot replace devotion with emotion. This is what we see in a learned response from learned behavior - someone acting on emotion alone... BUT there is a balance of devotion AND emotion in a true walk with God. Please dont mistake me, Im all for a spirit filled service that will leave us all slain in The Spirit, basking in his awesomeness. In that instance, you dont have to force your way in, you simply yield your way in by surrendering all and the reward of that daily, Godly devotion will be made evident. This is where the balance must be seen for there can not be such a move of God (Who is LOVE) without an emotional response. For did He not create these emotions we experience for a reason? Does not Love become manifest through emotion? However you view it, it all comes down to knowing God and following His leading. Without it we have no business trying to (cheer)lead others to Christ. He is able, we just need to be a channel He can move through. This requires more of Him and less of us. Emotion from Devotion... Not learned behavior.
Posted on: Sun, 09 Mar 2014 00:11:54 +0000