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Vulnerable Faith Chapter 3 Part 2 Devotional time

Chapter 3 part 2 A searching and fearless personal inventory
I have just spent 10 minutes realizing I skipped chapter 3 part 2 somehow and thought as I was reading 4, that I was reading 3. I have figured out my mistake and am going back to chapter 3. I will be posting these updates with a lag time so I will post them in order of the book not my mistaken order. This may affect the path I tread as I walk though this reading. I don’t know about you but my kids are always changing the place of my bookmarks. I am not saying that is what happened in this instance but laying groundwork for plausible deniability of my own failings… wait a second, I am sure I just read something about this.

Step 4 Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

Not only an examination, in community, of our faults but an affirmation of what is good and right in us. I need time to actually follow though on this portion. I need the grace of Jesus to follow through, I need the community to follow through. Oh Lord, help me. 

The lists… I grew up on lists. I was a good church kid. I didn't pull a rumspringa like so many that grew up going to sunday morning service. I had my list and followed it. Don't drink, swear, have sex, smoke, do drugs, or hang out with those who do. I followed that list well. When I was 15 I realized there was no life in the list. That is when I started following Jesus. I do drink (in moderation), swear (not in front of the kids…much), have sex (with my wife), smoke (rarely but I like the hookah), still no drugs (except coffee), and I definitely hang out with those who do all these things without qualifiers. Whenever making a list of anything that whiffs of ‘dos and don’ts’ comes up, I flinch. I don't want to go back there. Jesus help me. 

The cross is uncomfortable and letting go of outcomes.?? Like so many themes, God teaches them to His whole Body in different ways at the same time. These are two of them and not new for me. Success is not a quantifiable outcome of people or money but of obedience and love to the Lord. Failure is choosing self over Him. We follow and do and the outcome (the battle) belongs to the Lord. 

Jesus help.


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