Do You Have A Spiritual Stench?
N.T. Wright once said, “Moral reformation which leaves the heart untouched is about as useful as tying bunches of grapes on to a briar-bush.” I totally agree with his assertion.
Adding more good things to your life in the effort to become holier than the next guy without heart transformation can only lead to more darkness. God is interested in our relationship with Him as the source of our light.
Often, someone trying to prove to God and others how good they are, end up becoming obnoxiously zealous with a spiritual stink. You can never walk your way into a deeper relationship with God by moral reformation that is self-generated.
Moral reformation is birthed out of a surrendered relationship to the potter who alone can shape you into His own purpose. Any and all enduring reformation comes from time spent with God.
He is the vine, and we are the branches. We must allow the fruit to grow from the perfect source. We can’t grow our own fruit without Him, and we can’t offer our own fruit back to Him as something special.
Morality isn’t ultimately an individual thing for the Christ follower. Morality is found in the soil of a fierce relationship with the creator.
Do you have a spiritual stench?
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