Quote from Forum Archives on November 12, 2001, 9:49 am

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

Neil Anderson has some good observations. I usually agree with
the majority of what he has to say. Today. he writes about five
things that can hinder our relationship with God and negatively
affect the way we live. I think his observations are accurate,
and I encourage each of you to examine them for yourselves and
draw your own conclusions.

Dear Lord, it is so easy to fall into the mechanics of the faith,
instead of focusing first on our relationship with You. I
confess that I sometimes fall into living a mechanical life
instead of continually cultivating my thirst for You. Please
forgive me and renew our intimate fellowship, even now. I desire
to be wholly and completely yours today. Amen.

Your Brother in Christ,
Brian

Reply-to: Neil Anderson <neilanderson@lists.crosswalk.com>
Subject: Neil Anderson Devotional for Monday, November 12, 2001
Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2001 04:07:43 -0500

If you are looking to feed and challenge your faith, visit
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N E I L A N D E R S O N D A I L Y D E V O T I O N A L
from Freedom in Christ Ministries

November 12

FIVE HINDRANCES

One who looks intently at the perfect law... not having become
a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be
blessed in what he does (James 1:25).

While God has given us an infallible guide to life--His Word--the
truth he wants us to follow for our freedom can be obscured by
our bias and selfish indulgence. In the twentieth-century Western
church, I see at least five major hindrances which affect our
understanding and application of the Word of God.

First, there is a tendency to make doctrine an end in itself.
Christian maturity is not understanding the principles of the
Bible; Christian maturity is character. If what we come to accept
as truth doesn't affect our love for God and man, something is
radically wrong (1 Timothy 1:5). "Knowledge makes arrogant, but
love edifies" (1 Corinthians 8:1).

Second, we can learn a lot about God from Scripture and not know
Him at all. Before his conversion, Paul knew the law, but he
didn't recognize God in Christ when he saw Him. We're not asked
to fall in love with doctrine. We're asked to fall in love with
the Lord Jesus Christ.

Third, we often encourage memorizing Scripture instead of
thinking scripturally. Our model should be, "The Word became
flesh, and dwelt among us" (John 1:14). We are to incarnate the
Word of God. We are to have our lives transformed by it, and our
minds renewed by it.

Fourth, we often hear the Word and then don't do it. The will of
God is thwarted by educating people beyond their obedience. Jesus
taught: "If you know these things, you are blessed if you do
them" (John 13:17).

Fifth, like the Pharisees, we tend to neglect the commandment of
God and hold to the traditions of men (Mark 7:8). I believe this
is one of the most serious problems affecting our churches today.
Many seminary graduates are called as "new wine" (zealous to
serve God according to the truth of His Word) to "old wineskin"
churches (rooted in the traditions of men), and the results are
disastrous for both.

Lord, renew me today by Your Word. I want to grow in my love for
You, not just the truth about You.

-----------
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< shopping.crosswalk.com/bye/devo_na >

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< devotionals.crosswalk.com >.
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--
Brian Masinick, "The Mas", mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/

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