We have been home for 3 days now and things are calming down.
Ilene is feeling better this morning and Sarah felt well enough to go to Youth last night. Josh is doing well and has been eating much better. We are hoping that he can gain some weight before he starts the next round of chemo on Monday.
As we have walked this journey, our perspective on life continues to change. The things that seemed so important in our daily lives just a few months ago have little significance now. Each day, each moment is an opportunity to experience Gods love and grace. We treasure the time together with family and friends, we look forward to each opportunity to be in church celebrating what God is doing in our lives.
This journey has been a battle against leukemia. It is amazing how much leukemia is a reflection of what sin can do in our lives. The leukemic cells begin to grow and then they crowd out the other good cells, preventing them from doing what they are designed to do. In Josh's case, the white blood cells don't fight off infection. And then the red blood cells and platelets are crowded out so that his body doesn't get the oxygen it needs and is in danger of bleeding because of low platelets.
His body becomes enslaved by the leukemia, and until something begins destroying the leukemia cells, he is a prisoner. In our lives, sin can take hold and begin to grow. It it is not stopped, it crowds out the other things in our lives. But God has already put a plan in place to eradicate the sin in our lives. God frees us from the power of sin allowing us to live our lives the way we are intended to, free to live wisely and pure, with integrity, filled with love and patience.
Titus 3: 4-7
“When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, 5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.[a] 6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. 7Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.”
So much of our lives are controlled by self seeking motives. We go about our lives looking for opportunities to promote our own desires and to fulfill the things we want. It takes something drastic to take our focus off of ourselves and to see what God is doing in the world around us.
Once we have the confidence that we will inherit eternal life, free from the consequences of sin, our perspective should change.
Titus 2:11-14
11 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. 12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. 14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.
Yes, we are still to live in this world, to build relationships with others and to show others how much God loves them, but we are free from the slavery (bondage, addiction) to sin and can live lives committed to doing good.
Thanks, Brian, for a very help blog this AM. You make a good comparison between Leukemia and sin. I used the passage in Titus that you used today in my lecture at the Reformation Celebration last Monday. What Paul writes is what the churches need as do all believes. Enjoy the weekedn as you gather together with the believers there in Dalhart. We will continue to pray as you go back for another round of chemo on Monday. Love Dad
ReplyDeletePleased that Josh has been at home for a number of days now and is building up his strength with family and friends and that others in the family are doing better. These breaks are really important to keeping one's sanity in the process (and of course your deep commitment and faith are perhaps even more important). Thoughts are with you. Andrew
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