Haranguing Self

So in my last post, I showed how I am to own nothing. Ownership is God’s; stewardship is mine. I am only a simple steward of that which is in my possession.  My grasping ownership only prevents me from receiving from God what I need to live life. Gripping my possessions makes them susceptible to satanic attack and destruction.

So let’s take this to the next level: ME.  “Oh, this is the big one, Elizabeth” as Fred Sanford used to say. I am not my own.  I am not my own possession. I have been purchased by Another. Hence, I am only a steward of my life and body. He is supplying everything needed for me. My ownership of myself prevents me from open handedly receiving. I am owned, and not by me!

Haranguing Around

The only word that fits here is haranguing.  Anytime I hear that word, I see a brilliantly orange orangutan flailing about with his crazy wispy hair, long arms and big mouth. And shamefully, I must say this has been what I am towards John. When I refuse God’s ownership, the only way I can be a Christian is by haranguing self into order.  This is anxiety!

I’ve whaled on myself to make myself be right.  I have internally thrashed about with hopes I could do it. I have owned myself.  I left the stewardship responsibility and became a taskmaster. And the reward of this is a body wracked with stress and anxiety. Now, if I am the only one out there, I write this for me, but on the small chance that there happens to be another orangutan out there, here we go.

But the Lord replied to her by saying, Martha, Martha,
you are anxious and troubled about many things.
Luke 10:41 AMP

There is only one thing worth being concerned about.
Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:42 NLT

Haranguing No More

Christ Jesus from eternity past purchased John Enslow to be His own possession.  His possession! He put my life together, so I would choose Him. He wanted to own me. When I owned myself, I made a huge mess and destroyed the fibers of His property. Then I struggled about to fix my mess, to make it right. All the supplements and concoctions, gyrations and mantras, rituals and regiments could not put Humpty Dumpty back together again. Why would I think I could fix the broken life in the same way I broke it? Because I believed in that old broken system found in the flesh, self, old nature, Adamic life.

As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?
Ezekiel 33:11