Devotions Archive Archive: 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Search Archive Print This Article Son of God, Love's pure light Tuesday, December 28, 2010 1 John 1:5-9 God is light ... if we say we are without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive. Sometimes, for Christians who have forsaken the ways of the world, it seems like eating too much and self-righteousness are the only sins left available. But they'll do. Christians sin plenty. That's not the problem. Not admitting it is the problem. How can God do his job if we don't do ours? Rick Joyner describes a demonic army in The Final Quest: The foremost divisions marched under the banners of Pride, Self-Righteousness, Respectability, Selfish Ambition, Unrighteous Judgment, and Jealousy. Their weapons were Intimidation, Treachery, Accusation, Gossip, Slander and Faultfinding." Scouts with such names as Rejection, Bitterness, Impatience, Unforgiveness and Lust were sent in advance of this army to prepare for the main attack. The primary strategy of this army was to cause division on every possible level of relationship -churches with each other, congregations with their pastors, husbands and wives, children and parents ... The most shocking part of the vision was that this horde was not riding on horses, but primarily on Christians. Well-dressed, respectable, refined, educated ... I avoid self-examination primarily by staying busy. No time to still my soul and let God show me what I need to see. What do I need? I need to see, and say out loud, "Help me, Lord." Matt Cassidy, pastor at Grace 360 in Austin, called me to "fist-banging, gut-wrenching disgust" for my sin - the "agony I cause my Savior and his saints." I better not fake it and play the civility card. Contentment with myself is Christian opium. Jesus didn't come to make me civil; Jesus came to prune and prune and prune until I stand up straight. When I walk into church, Lord, it just doesn't seem like an opium den. But the experience can work on me in just the same way. Blow out the smoke, Lord. Throw open the doors and let in your light. "; Add      Edit    Delete