BSF Tuesday--

Last week I started going to BSF...Bible Study Fellowship, it is an inter-denominational organization that is around the world. It is wonderful, I can't say enough about it, and the children's program is great. I have learned a lot about the Bible through this organization. This year we are studying the book of Romans. I have attended before but I had to miss last year due to a conflict. Anyway, I am going to attempt to do a blog every Tuesday about the lesson and what God is trying to teach me through this.
This week we read Romans 1:18-27
This part of Romans talks about God's wrath. It talks about how people chose to disregard God as Creator and chose to worship the creation instead. We discussed the difference between a darkened heart; one that has lost all spiritual discernment, becomes self-centered, without compassion for others, and a depraved mind; one that looks at evil and calls it good, approves of the practice of evil, and looks at good and calls it evil.
In verses 24-28 it says that "God gave them over," God took his hand off from them, he allowed them to pursue their lust and sinful desires of their hearts, and gave them over to their depraved minds. SOUND FAMILIAR! This is our world we live in today, so how does this apply to me? I don't have a depraved mind, Thank you Lord! Do I have a darkened heart? I'm hesitant to answer, but no I don't, however I could very easily. How, you might ask? Failure to thank God can lead to spiritual darkness, Failure to worship God above all else will lead you to subsitute a false God in His place, which will lead to spiritual darkness.
How many times do I find myself whining, swimming in self-pity for some trivial circumstance that may inconvenience me for a short period of time. How many times do I find myself feeling insecure and self-centered because of things not going the way I want them to go. How many times do I put off reading God's word and sitting in His presence to pursue something of no eternal value. More than I like to admit!
The Good News, which is the best part of the lesson and the reason I can answer no to having a darkened heart, is that my Hope is in Jesus Christ. I am Guilty, but Christ took that guilt away and he has given me a clean heart and a pure mind. I know where my hope is and I know where I would be without Him.
Without the Bad News, the "Good News" is not good news. If I don't understand the bad I won't appreciate what God has done for me.
We need to develop "attitudes of gratitude" it acknowledges that God is our provider and it protects us from the spiritual darkness that surrounds us. It also helps to develop a God-centered life instead of a "Carrie-centered life." I pray that not only will I develop this attitude for myself but also for my children, so that they can see this modeled for their lives.