tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36043126.post5273146714550156067..comments2023-07-04T09:05:12.889-06:00Comments on Vine and Fig: Abandoning AllJim Swindlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13632113399696237695noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36043126.post-72245567618065147252011-10-19T21:27:03.611-06:002011-10-19T21:27:03.611-06:00I think that when we follow the gracious call of C...I think that when we follow the gracious call of Christ, for real, we aren't really worrying about what we're giving up, but looking forward to what we are receiving—from Him, His friendship, His love, and yes, especially His life—eternal life.<br /><br />Honestly, there is such an impassable and clean break with my childhood religious faith, Catholicism, with all of its 'give up this, give up that,' that ever since I met the Lord and received His call, I have never felt that I gave anything up, but that only and always I was on the receiving end of His unquenchable and inexhaustible grace. The Son of God gave up all for me, and following Him there is simply no more consciousness of loss or deprivation. Everything has become pure gift, pure love lavished in abundance.<br /><br />Was I a desperate sinner before I met the Lord? I don't know. I lived a pretty straight and narrow life. You can't wander far or misbehave much when you're brought up in the straight-jacket of religious Christianity. But the depth and faithfulness of Christ's grace in my life makes me think that whatever I might have looked like on the outside, I must have been desperately sinful for Him to cover me so completely with His forgiveness and mercy.<br /><br />He who has been forgiven much, loves much.<br /><br />Yes, I guess there is one thing I have had to sacrifice: hating my brother. Hating is so hard though, takes so much out of you, that giving it up is a pure pleasure.<br /><br />This poem of yours is excellent, by the way.Ρωμανός ~ Romanóshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00212143017939554092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36043126.post-77488075005743294472011-10-13T11:35:07.961-06:002011-10-13T11:35:07.961-06:00Great point that just sacrificing isn't enough...Great point that just sacrificing isn't enough, we must follow. The first few verses of I Corinthians 13 make the same point.Donald Fishgrabhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11977970195032209188noreply@blogger.com