Resistance

I've been thinking about what the author of Hebrews wrote: "In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood." (Hebrews 12:4) And Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount, "If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell." (Matthew 5:29-30) How many people today come anywhere near this? It seems that our struggle with sin today may go as far as doing what might be a little inconvenient. But God forbid anything which might make a fundamental change in how I live my life. I know that if I chopped off a hand or plucked out an eye, that would seriously change some things. What sort of response might be comparable to that in my life today? How far will I go to "resist the devil, [that he might] flee from [me]" (James 4:7)?

The slightly broader context on the quote above (Hebrews 12:1-13):

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:

"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. "Make level paths for your feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

Malaise

I've been in a funk recently. Not sure what's up, but I just don't feel too motivated to do much of anything. This is kinda bad, since I'm supposed to be taking my A exam soon to determine my future. I think a lot of what's going into this is not interacting very much with people - it's kind of a vicious cycle, because I don't get much work done, so I feel like I have to spend more time alone in my office, and then I get more into this funk from not spending quality time with my friends. I spent a chunk of time tonight looking at a bunch of my friends' wedding pictures on facebook from the last few months. Apparently this marriage thing is the hip thing to do these days. I'm gonna read my Bible and go to bed.