#124 Keeping Our Eyes on Jesus as We Write

I've been reading a little book by. Many of you are familiar with a guy named A.W. tozer, who, he passed away boy back in 1963. But you know, he was really, you could almost look at him as like a modern day prophet in terms of just the clarity that he saw the culture, the church, and he just really knew how to say things in a succinct way, a very clear way. And I'm reading a little book called the Dangers of a Shallow Faith and I wanted to read a quote that I came across. He's talking about how so often the church tries to imitate the world. We try to have all these gimmicks and all these things that, you know, we think are going to really work to draw people in. And I stumbled across a little section within that where he actually addresses writers. And I thought, well, this is apt. You know, I'm going to share this with our group of Kingdom writers. Here's, here's his quote. He says, quote, if there is a best seller out in the world, you can be sure it will be imitated in the church eventually. Instead of writing great literature that honors God, the church and things of heaven will are duplicating the dreary, morally questionable literature of the world. It seems to be a trophy to some writers to see how close to the edge they can get and not fall over. I have a news bulletin. They are not in danger of falling over the cliff. They have already fallen and do not yet know it. And he has another follow up quote. He says some say it's a great honor and a mark of achievement to write a book acceptable both to the world and to the church. What satisfies the church should in no way satisfy the world. The true Christian has an insatiable appetite for Christ and the things of Christ, while the world has no such appetite. Christ stands alone and he does not imitate. And that reminded me of that beautiful verse in Ephesians, chapter 5, verse 1 that says imitate God, therefore in everything you do, because you are his dear children. And when you think of imitation, don't you naturally think of kids imitating their parents? You think of that little boy or girl who wants to put on daddy's big, big boots or shoes or whatever it might be and.

Everything. You know, that's why parents, you know, they've got to be careful and they've got to watch their steps because those kids are watching every move, each, even when they don't even realize it. And I think, you know, we as children of God we're to imitate God. We're to imitate Christ, who gave us such a great example when he was here on earth. And there is just absolutely no need to imitate the world's gimmicks when we have such a great model in Christ. He is the jewel of heaven. He is the jewel of the universe. And there is no more dazzling figure and never will be than the Son of God. And so I just, I want to challenge us all in our kingdom writing. And even as we're praying that God would give us unique, original content that.

He bursts in and through us. Based on the word of God, of course, but things that we. We don't need to even look at the world. We're just totally focused on wanting to imitate Christ, share Christ.

And glorify his name in our writing. And as we do that, it's going to be different. Some are going to like it. Those in the world aren't really going to be interested. But we may whet some appetites, though, in terms of drawing people out of the world into the church. But I wanted to just encourage us all as we're writing. Seek the Lord fervently. Don't seek the world and their gimmicks, but seek the Lord and what he wants. And I believe it's going to work out in terms of, you know, your writing and the content and the things that you eventually push the publish button on. So let's, let's pray in that direction that we would imitate and be imitators of Christ and Christ alone.

Yeah, it's so good. And I think it's easy for all of us to get caught up in the swirl. Anyone else feel like this? Like your head's like almost going like this sometimes? Like just to, you know, the swirl of life and all the things. And yet God is our rock. I was reading Psalm 19 today, and at the end it says our rock and our redeemer. And I was doing a. A homework assignment, in a way, from the book Living by the Book by Howard Hendricks. Anyone ever do go through that? It's so good on Bible study. But he was wanting us to reword it. And I just, I was like rewording that about him being our rock. Like he is our firm foundation. He is the only thing that will not change in this ever changing world.

Amen.

And I just love the reminder of that. Like, I just, I need it all the time.

Yeah, Father, I just. Thank you for this time together. We know we don't meet in vain. Not only are we encouraged and edified. But we just know that there are things happening in the spiritual realm, earth shattering things, earth shaking things that are happening because we met, because we came to you, because we lifted up these requests. We lifted up our petitions, our praises, our victories. And we ask, Lord, that you would continue to bring breakthrough the rest of this week into the weekend. And I pray that each one of these kingdom writers, Lord, would see the fruit from the time that we've met together.

Yeah.

And that they would see answers to the prayers that they've even lifted up and ask us to join them in. So we thank you, Lord. It's a privilege. Thank you for the zoom platform that we can all meet together. And may each person be blessed as we go our separate ways this evening. We ask this in Jesus name. Amen.

Amen. All right. I hope that you all feel a little more encouraged and just, you know, filled up, just coming together and meeting and it's because of God. Right? So, so glad that you were all here and we will see you all soon. Have a great rest of your evening. Bye.