This week has truly been amazing when it comes to learning new things. The whole week we watched Dean Sherman videos on relationships, which were absolutely epic. Who knew video lectures could be so intresting. The funny thing was that half way through the week I realised that I've actually read his book on relationships like 3 years ago. Even funnier was that I remember not liking the book when I read it. The lectures were so much better.
So the topic was relationships, and I learned so much more about relating to other people than just about dating. I realized just how important relationships are as a part of getting to know God more. How essential loving our neighbor is and how everything we do should be weighed according to "is it loving" rather than "is it allowed or forbidden". All this led to a number of conversations about the definition of love and sin. One of the guys on our school had some pretty intresting ideas about the role sin plays in our life once we're christians and how it affects our relationship with God. Basicly what he thinks is that our actions, or sins, don't separate us from God once we're under the protection of Jesus' blood. This goes a lot deeper and I already tried to write it here once but then I realised that the theory isn't quite ready yet so i deleted it. You can ask me about it when I get back. But what my friend thought made a lot of sense and there was just so much freedom in what he came up with that I'm pretty sure he's on the right track.
And through these talks about sin and love and relationships I also got a new revelation of my identity in Christ. To understand that God doesn't leave me when I'm disobedient and that I'm absolutely and completely righteous in His eyes, that there is no condemnation or judgement to me for I am in Jesus Christ. Old stuff, I know, but it just came to me in a totally new way as if I only heard it for the first time. And if and when I truly realise and understand that I am enough as I am, I no longer have the need to judge others because I know that I'm not judged. And when I don't judge or envy others I am free and able to love them, even when they don't deserve it. When I understand God's unconditional love for me I'll be able to pass it on. And loving others is crucial if I want to get forward in my relationship with God. Because whoever says that they love God but don't love their brother is a liar.
And also understanding my identity leaves less room for the Devil to work in me. Cos his favourite way to mess with our heads is to question our identity. That's how he fooled Eve in the Garden; implying that she wasn't wise enough without the fruit. And when Jesus was baptised and God said out loud "this is My beloved Son", straight after the Devil attacked Jesus in the wilderness asking "IF you are the Son of God, turn these stones into bread". But if and when I stick to my identity, which is that I am holy and righteous in God's eyes and that nothing can separate me from Him and His grace, I won't turn my back to God so easily. Of course Satan still tries to trick me, but at least it'll be easier to notice.
Yeah, so that was cool. And actually for the first time in my life I really searched through the bible to find answers to the questions that were causing me to lose sleep. And I did find answers and confirmation to my thoughts. Which made me fall in love with that book even more. And the whole week and what I've learned has made me fall in love with God even more. Like the song: "the more I seek You, the more I find You and the more I find You, the more I love You". Next week we have lordship which should be life changing as well. I'm sooo exciteed.
So this is how I'm doing at the moment. I'm kinda missing Finland now that Christmas is getting closer and it's over 35 degrees everyday and humid as you like. Not too christmasy... And I'm also bummed that I don't get to go to GearUp, a youth seminar my mum's organizing on New Year's. I'm sad when I think about all the people who are gonna be there that I won't see :'( Well, there's always next year... Ooo, and also I got my student allowance, 210e a month, which is like 330 dollars. SWEET! I've already spent like 200 on shopping :P They have sales here before Christmas, which seems like a really stupid idea, but I'm not complaining. So many cool shirts for 10 bucks, which is like 7 euros. Cheap as you like. Though I guess I need to slow down with spending, it need to save some for Japan.. And I wouldn't mind having some money left when I go back to Finland... Oh well. At least I'm financially secure at the moment :) Yay God!
So the topic was relationships, and I learned so much more about relating to other people than just about dating. I realized just how important relationships are as a part of getting to know God more. How essential loving our neighbor is and how everything we do should be weighed according to "is it loving" rather than "is it allowed or forbidden". All this led to a number of conversations about the definition of love and sin. One of the guys on our school had some pretty intresting ideas about the role sin plays in our life once we're christians and how it affects our relationship with God. Basicly what he thinks is that our actions, or sins, don't separate us from God once we're under the protection of Jesus' blood. This goes a lot deeper and I already tried to write it here once but then I realised that the theory isn't quite ready yet so i deleted it. You can ask me about it when I get back. But what my friend thought made a lot of sense and there was just so much freedom in what he came up with that I'm pretty sure he's on the right track.
And through these talks about sin and love and relationships I also got a new revelation of my identity in Christ. To understand that God doesn't leave me when I'm disobedient and that I'm absolutely and completely righteous in His eyes, that there is no condemnation or judgement to me for I am in Jesus Christ. Old stuff, I know, but it just came to me in a totally new way as if I only heard it for the first time. And if and when I truly realise and understand that I am enough as I am, I no longer have the need to judge others because I know that I'm not judged. And when I don't judge or envy others I am free and able to love them, even when they don't deserve it. When I understand God's unconditional love for me I'll be able to pass it on. And loving others is crucial if I want to get forward in my relationship with God. Because whoever says that they love God but don't love their brother is a liar.
And also understanding my identity leaves less room for the Devil to work in me. Cos his favourite way to mess with our heads is to question our identity. That's how he fooled Eve in the Garden; implying that she wasn't wise enough without the fruit. And when Jesus was baptised and God said out loud "this is My beloved Son", straight after the Devil attacked Jesus in the wilderness asking "IF you are the Son of God, turn these stones into bread". But if and when I stick to my identity, which is that I am holy and righteous in God's eyes and that nothing can separate me from Him and His grace, I won't turn my back to God so easily. Of course Satan still tries to trick me, but at least it'll be easier to notice.
Yeah, so that was cool. And actually for the first time in my life I really searched through the bible to find answers to the questions that were causing me to lose sleep. And I did find answers and confirmation to my thoughts. Which made me fall in love with that book even more. And the whole week and what I've learned has made me fall in love with God even more. Like the song: "the more I seek You, the more I find You and the more I find You, the more I love You". Next week we have lordship which should be life changing as well. I'm sooo exciteed.
So this is how I'm doing at the moment. I'm kinda missing Finland now that Christmas is getting closer and it's over 35 degrees everyday and humid as you like. Not too christmasy... And I'm also bummed that I don't get to go to GearUp, a youth seminar my mum's organizing on New Year's. I'm sad when I think about all the people who are gonna be there that I won't see :'( Well, there's always next year... Ooo, and also I got my student allowance, 210e a month, which is like 330 dollars. SWEET! I've already spent like 200 on shopping :P They have sales here before Christmas, which seems like a really stupid idea, but I'm not complaining. So many cool shirts for 10 bucks, which is like 7 euros. Cheap as you like. Though I guess I need to slow down with spending, it need to save some for Japan.. And I wouldn't mind having some money left when I go back to Finland... Oh well. At least I'm financially secure at the moment :) Yay God!
Äh, kirjotin pitkän viestin liittyen tuohon pyyteettömään rakkauteen ja sitten se teksti katosi kokonaan :( Tiivistetysti: todella mielenkiintoisia ajatuksia juuri tuosta miten Jumala rakastaa pyyteettömästi ja varauksetta ja kuinka sen ymmärtäminen auttaa välittämään samanlaista rakkautta eteenpäin. Itse monesti justiin pähkäilen, miksi olen kyllä sitä mieltä, ettei saisi tuomita ketään ja pitäisi rakastaa ja toimin silti usein aivan toisin.
VastaaPoista