Blending in

I have spent the last few weeks just taking a step back and trying to reorganize things in my life and evaluate where the summer was going to go. I was praying and spending time in the word occasionally but I found that I was just becoming part of the population that might not do anything wrong but still was not okay with what was going on. I was not neglecting God so to speak but I was just distracting myself from sin and in the process was avoiding some things that God was trying to speak into my life. Almost like Elijah on the mountain but I felt like this was something that I needed. I have not posted for a while because I wanted to be finding my way out of things I had dug myself into and then move forward from there. I do not like to be a hypocrite so I did not want to try and act like I was okay with God when in fact I was struggling a bit. I believe that we choose to more forward or backward each day with God and there is not really a stagnant stage. You either are doing what you are supposed to be doing and following him and growing in relationship with him, or you are falling away. When you take a break from something, you grow apart from it. Relationships that take breaks might solve some problems but when you come back there is usually something that happened during the break that leaves some remorse or question and when we break from God, we feel awkward trying to realign ourselves with him. This is Satan trying to win the battle and we need to make amends and move on. I am not saying breaks are okay because during breaks, Satan is right there trying to either prolong the break or just push you further away from him. It is not okay to just become a chameleon when things get rough, hiding only makes things fall apart faster and the support that one would normally have, is gone. A lot of times we find ourselves in trouble that we placed ourselves in and then people ask why God would allow such a terrible thing to happen. Well, Adam ate the apple after he decided it was okay but God had told him not to. He got thrown out because he let himself fall, God did not let him fall. In the same way, God is not going to make us fall because he gets more praise when we come back. He needs us for as long as possible to bring others up from the depths and we would do well to start making that happen as soon as possible. I know I get caught up in my own salvation more than is probably needed. We should be confident of our salvation because of the promise and the price paid by Christ on the cross and therefore should be focused on the salvation of others and how we can help tear people away from the clutches of hell.

Esther was caught in a similar predicament when her people were to be killed because the king was convinced that they should no longer be tolerated. Esther figured that because she worked for the king that she and her family would be fine but Mordecai said, what makes you think that you will not be harmed and do you not think that you may have been put in this position because you are the only one who can have access to the king and may be able to persuade him? As Esther thought about it, she realized the mistake she had made by wanting to stay quiet and she responded in Esther 4:16 saying, "Go, gather all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish." She decided that she was not going to just try and go through the shadows and blend in with everyone else because she knew that she was clearly superior because of the authority that God had placed her in and those that were above her. God placed in her heart the desires of his and showed her what needed to be done and she answered the call. It is not enough to just want what is best for you in Christ, it is what is best for the body. Jesus could have easily backed out of paying the price for us but he knew it was not about him, it was/is about us even those who continually crucify him. He has paid the price for those who he knew would never accept it and that my friends is the greatest sacrifice of all. How many of you would sacrifice time or money for someone you knew would never appreciate it or grasp onto it? Is that not the opportunity we pass up everyday when we could give money to a homeless person? We say that they are going to go buy drugs or alcohol or it is just a scam. Well, Jesus paid the price for those people to live that way knowing that they would. He at least offered them the chance and we pass it up everyday. Is it not God's money that you have anyway so when did we become so selfish? I am not saying I am innocent of this but it is a problem however I am not saying you have to provide something for every homeless person on the street. When you have an opportunity and are ABLE to do so, do not pass it up for the sake of being selfish. We are supposed to try and live a life that reflects the thoughts and attitudes of Christ and I believe that Christ would be doing whatever he could just like he did when he was here. He gave up sleep, money, food, and ultimately his life for those who never deserved it. For those of you that do not know, none of us deserve it. Our economic status, the country we live in, who our parents are, who are ancestors are, none of it matters because every single person is undeserving of what is on the table from God and we have nothing to put on the table to make it an even trade.

I must say that I love writing and I miss doing what I did when I started this but I know that God has great things and my inspiration has been in the wrong place for quite some time and I am looking to find it in Christ again. I hope that all of you are doing well. As always, comments, suggestions, and prayer requests are always welcome. Please let me know if there is anything you would like to talk about and remember to try and eliminate the darkness that has taken over what is a very bright world.

God Bless,

Joseph Robinson