Today's sermon walked through John 12, starting at verse 37. It was a lot to digest, but narrowed down to a few great points outlining the types of responses to the person and work of Jesus. Here they are:
- Non-confessing unbelief. (Those with hardened hearts - who don't know/can't know Christ despite His signs)
- Confessing belief. (Understanding with our hearts and proclaiming the truths of Jesus)
- Non-confessing belief. (Keeping our worship and relationship with Jesus a "private" and "spiritual" matter out of fear or other reasons as opposed to living the Great Commission we are called to live as Christians).
Now, I know what you're thinking...What could this possibly have to do with new flooring? Ready? Here it comes... Our family room was once covered with worn, tattered carpet. This carpet had been through everything - spills, rips, tears, babies, toddlers, children, crumbs, and many passes of the vacuum. It was truly time for this carpet to be gone and for a new floor to be revealed. As I look to the sunlight reflecting off our new shiny hardwood floors, I'm reminded how wonderful it feels to be a confessing believer (Point #2) - with a heart transformed by Christ. Without Christ, I was once like the carpet - ripped, torn, messy, patched up, cleaned up, spot-treated, and tired. Thank you, Jesus, for making me new. It's a humbling, joyful, and sometimes unexplainable feeling to be able to speak the truths of Christ and see how He's working in me and all around me each day. I pray you can experience the same!
So, Christian, are you confessing your beliefs or are you still hiding under the old carpet - keeping your worship and relationship with Christ a "private" matter? Being a non-confessing believer is easy; I've been guilty a million times over, but it's also disobedient. I challenge you to speak out, speak up, and enjoy the full richness of Christ by engaging in a public declaration of His works and love.
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How can I pray for you today?This post is linked up to Grace Laced Mondays, Better Mom Mondays and Just for Fun Fridays
Hop on over to to those awesome sites to see who else is sharing.
New to your blog, and I really loved this post. Blessings to you!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Ashley. :)
DeleteLove your blog, We also had a similar sermon topic and we recently contemplated replacing our toddler devastated living\dining room carpet. I can relate on many levels :) It is amazing that God can renew us in such profound ways, if we only confess and let Him. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jen!! That's what I love about blogs - they are often so relatable! It's an amazing creative outlet that links people up all over the world. Thanks so much for reading and following.
DeleteSuch a great post. I think so many of us can relate to the carpet...and what our lives look like. Thanks for this really great illustration!
ReplyDeleteYou're so welcome. Thanks for reading!
DeleteGreat post, Tess! Yes--a great analogy, and reminder to proclaim his name!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ruth. I love analogies; I'm glad they make sense to someone else besides me. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post Tess- and great truths you talked about. I'm so glad that Jesus rolled out the carpet of my life and gave me new hardwoods!! As the Lord slowly transforms my life, He brings more truth to my mind of what I need to do- crawl out under my carpet mindset and slide across the hardwood floors and share (now I'm getting into this word play a little too much!) hehe
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Nicole at Working Kansas Homemaker
Thanks so much for stopping by, Nicole, and for your kind words; I just recently became able to worship on a more public level. I've had life-long bouts of anxiety and that truly was a stronghold between the Lord and I. Now that I've realized the only way to combat that is to grasp Him, I'm able to live so freely in His grace. PS. Word play is my favorite game. :)
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