DON'T GET BOGGED DOWN

In the circles I run in the debate on Calvinism, often comes up. It is an important “in house” debate on an important facet of life.  Fortunately for everyone reading this, I am not going to talk about Calvinism, but rather an admonishment I received. During Bible study a friend and I were having a friendly debate on Calvinism, which took us off the main topic. We were discussing why God bothers to tell us to make disciples, when He has elected them from the beginning. An interesting and fruitful debate for sure.

After a few minutes of back and forth, our small group returned to the large group and Pastor Ben made this point. I will paraphrase what he said, “why do we get so bogged down on these debates, that we forget to obey God?”

God has decided not to make this part of our lives abundantly clear, if it were obvious, there would not be a debate on it. So why operate, as if some of these debates,  are the end all be all of our Christian walk? Instead obey Him! The greatest commandment we are given is, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all of your soul and all your mind. This is the greatest commandment. And the second is like it: love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” Matthew 22:37

I encourage you to not get bogged down by over analysis. Instead Love God, Make disciples, read His Word, and love your neighbor as yourself. It is good to seek answers to these questions, but It is not our place to be the authority on all the mysteries of God. We are meant to obey Him first.
 
With much love, I extend to you this blessing I pray over my sons every night, that we had the privilege to hear in Hebrew recently.

“ The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”  ‭Numbers‬ ‭6‬:‭24‬-‭26 ‭NIV‬‬