Before my unexpectedly long break from the keyboard we started talking about measuring our spiritual health, and I promised a follow up post. As it happens I have enough material for a couple of posts, so before I launch into that I want to share a way to help you see how  you measure up to God’s gold standard.

While I was recovering from my surgery I listened to a lot of audio books. One of those was a meaty little book called Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by Francis Chan. It was possibly one of the most confronting and convicting books that I have read in a very long time. I highly recommend you grab yourself a copy and strap yourself in for a wild ride.

Chan suggests the following exercise to see how you’re going on your journey towards Christlike-ness.

Take the words found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (NIV)…

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self‑seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.

and insert your name into the verses….so for me it would look like this…

Michelle is patient, Michelle is kind. Michelle does not envy, Michelle does not boast, Michelle is not proud. Michelle is not rude, Michelle is not self‑seeking, Michelle is not easily angered, Michelle keeps no record of wrongs. Michelle does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Michelle always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Michelle never fails.

What happens in your mind when you slip your name in there and read it out loud?

I can’t get past the first phrase without thinking LIAR! LIAR!

Now go back and switch your name out with Jesus’ name. Jesus is patient….Jesus is kind…Jesus does not envy…yup that works!

I’ve got a long way to go!

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.