I’m back from vacation; hopefully more on that soon. Tonight I read a booklet by Dallas Willard entitled The Transformed Heart. It was originally published as the first chapter of Renovation of the Heart. It is worth reading, and I share here one good statement and one that is not.
Bad:
Preparation for Jesus came through centuries of rich and productive—though often painful—experience and thought among the Jews; through Him the Jews have fulfilled their God-given responsibility and blessing of being a light to all the peoples of the earth (see Genesis 18:18; 22:18; Isaiah 42:1-6; 60:3).
Good job, Jews! I bet Abraham is proud. Or maybe not. Maybe God has yet to fulfill his purposes in you.
Good:
The idea that you can trust Christ and not intend to obey Him is an illusion generated by the prevalence of an unbelieving ‘Christian culture. ‘ In fact, you can no more trust Jesus and no intend to obey Him than you could trust your doctor or your auto mechanic and not intend to follow his advice. If you don’t intend to follow his advice, you simply don’t trust him. Period.
You can download the booklet for free here (pdf), with registration.
The booklet is published by NavPress. A few days ago I took this picture in their front yard.
Bighorn sheep, Colorado Springs