We must continually remind ourselves of the purpose of life. We are not destined to happiness, nor to health, but to holiness. Today we have far too many desires and interests, and our lives are being consumed and wasted by them. Many of them may be right, noble, and good, and may later be fulfilled, but in the meantime God must cause their importance to us to decrease. The only thing that truly matters is whether a person will accept the God who will make him holy. At all costs, a person must have the right relationship with God. - Oswald Chamber, 09/01 MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST

I'm doing the American thing and being lazy this morning for "Labor" Day. And I'm doing some reading. In all of my reading - books and catching up on email - I'm struck by how we as Christians interpret Truth based on experience, circumstance and well-meaning but misplaced "authority." Instead of trusting God to reveal Himself, we limit Him to our individualized perspectives. In leaning too heavily towards the Bible being the sole authoirty, we usually fall into a rank idealism and legalism; yet in trusting only experience, we run the risk of leaving the underpinnings that should be supporting kingdom-life. God is the authority; Jesus is Truth. Now, part of my quest is to listen to Him, beyond myself and my limitations, as He leads from eternity.

Only then can I be holy as He is holy.
- posted by Rick @ 11:32