Comments on: Keeping My Distance http://bryanjries.wordpress.com/2007/11/14/keeping-my-distance/ Thoughts and stories from my journey into the Kingdom Sun, 12 Oct 2008 02:02:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: bryanries http://bryanjries.wordpress.com/2007/11/14/keeping-my-distance/#comment-190 bryanries Fri, 16 Nov 2007 21:00:39 +0000 http://bryanjries.wordpress.com/2007/11/14/keeping-my-distance/#comment-190 Well, maybe the leper wasn't <em>that</em> insightful, but he was certainly open to being led further beyond just the healing of his physical body. MY problem is that I now know how I should approach Christ, but I don't act that way. I <strong>know</strong> I shouldn't just holler at Jesus when I need something. I <strong>know</strong> something much better, sweeter, more fulfilling is available if I would draw near to him and surrender myself to him. Yet I still hold back because I don't want to give up the pitiful little lordship of myself. Thankfully, Jesus accepts me - fallen intentions and all - because, yes, that is who he is. And I do think that by his grace, a superficial checklist can lead to an intimate relationship with him. Praise God that our poor intentions can (and are) redeemed into worship and love! That's good news. That's the gospel. Well, maybe the leper wasn’t that insightful, but he was certainly open to being led further beyond just the healing of his physical body.

MY problem is that I now know how I should approach Christ, but I don’t act that way. I know I shouldn’t just holler at Jesus when I need something. I know something much better, sweeter, more fulfilling is available if I would draw near to him and surrender myself to him. Yet I still hold back because I don’t want to give up the pitiful little lordship of myself.

Thankfully, Jesus accepts me - fallen intentions and all - because, yes, that is who he is. And I do think that by his grace, a superficial checklist can lead to an intimate relationship with him.

Praise God that our poor intentions can (and are) redeemed into worship and love! That’s good news. That’s the gospel.

]]> By: Jen http://bryanjries.wordpress.com/2007/11/14/keeping-my-distance/#comment-181 Jen Wed, 14 Nov 2007 17:23:49 +0000 http://bryanjries.wordpress.com/2007/11/14/keeping-my-distance/#comment-181 What a place for a guy with leprosy to be in. A place where he can see beyond the fact that he needs healing from this disease. Would I be in a place where I could see beyond such an obvious crisis? To know that this is not the ends to a means. Do I come to Jesus with a check list of things to be accomplished or do I come to be near him and know him? Can one lead towards the other? If my checklist gets me there, will he mind my poor intentions? "What if this is as good as it gets?" Not forever or even for tomorrow but for this particular moment. Does he accept me no matter what? No matter who I am? I guess that's who Jesus is, right? What a place for a guy with leprosy to be in. A place where he can see beyond the fact that he needs healing from this disease. Would I be in a place where I could see beyond such an obvious crisis? To know that this is not the ends to a means.

Do I come to Jesus with a check list of things to be accomplished or do I come to be near him and know him? Can one lead towards the other? If my checklist gets me there, will he mind my poor intentions? “What if this is as good as it gets?” Not forever or even for tomorrow but for this particular moment. Does he accept me no matter what? No matter who I am? I guess that’s who Jesus is, right?

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