Belief System for Abiding

"He must become greater; I must become less" John 3:30

1. The closer I get to God, the further I should see the distance separating us
song: "Space Inbetween us" by Building 429


2. Nothing you can do can make you any better
Jesus expresses His life through me

1 = Jesus

0 = my efforts

1, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000

2/11/11

Bumper sticker: If God feels far way, guess who moved?

-My self-effort (or lack thereof) is what keeps me from getting closer to God--add plusses (+) to my life

What could or would I do to make that statement not true?

-Read the Bible, -Pray, -listen to Christian music related to that (ex. Space Inbetween Us by Building 429), -Worship God/Jesus, -Go for a walk outside in nature, -Take action on whatever sin was revealed to me, -Talk to a close Christian friend or mentor, -Read, or re-read online devotional e-mails

Again: "The closer I get to God, the further I should see the distance separating us"

Thoughts about this:

Honestly, it's kind of a hard concept for me to grasp b/c even though it makes sense, it seems almost offensive. It's like saying, "you know all those things that you were doing to show effort on your part and keep your word to God, yeah, that actually counts for nothing." It is almost demeaning. At the same time, I know that is my own pride talking b/c no matter what I do it can't ever match up with or even out with the sacrifice Jesus made for me to make that connection with God possible. So really, it's my own self-righteousness talking when I think that. I know it's true--yet it still is hard to come to terms with fully. Another thought that comes to mind is, is that supposed to invalidate any feelings/revelations/comforts or spiritual sensations that I might get after doing those things on that list, if all they are are a bunch of "0's" adding up to nothing in the end?

Relief vs. Satisfaction

Relief=short-term solution to a long-term problem

Satisfaction=solving the long-term problem

Spiritual relief vs. Spritual satisfaction