Christian Living

What’s slinking around in your heart?

Elihu

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In case you’ve been wondering, I have not forgotten about the GenNext series, nor have I fallen off the face of the earth. I’m currently working on editing some of the tools in the upcoming articles, and waaay behind schedule. I posted the following to our Elihu’s Corner Facebook Page a few days ago, and am sharing it here on the blog for my readers here. This is a short excerpt from C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity.

We begin to notice, besides our particular sinful acts, our sinfulness; begin to be alarmed not only about what we do, but about what we are. This may sound rather difficult, so I will try to make it clear from my own case.

When I come to my evening prayers and try to reckon up the sins of the day, nine times out of ten the most obvious one is some sin against charity; I have sulked or snapped or sneered or snubbed or stormed. And the excuse that immediately springs to my mind is that the provocation was so sudden and unexpected; I was caught off my guard, I had not time to collect myself. Now that may be an extenuating circumstance as regards those particular acts: they would obviously be worse if they had been deliberate and premeditated.

On the other hand, surely what a man does when he is taken off his guard is the best evidence for what sort of a man he is? Surely what pops out before the man has time to put on a disguise is the truth? If there are rats in a cellar you are most likely to see them if you go in very suddenly. But the suddenness does not create the rats: it only prevents them from hiding. In the same way the suddenness of the provocation does not make me an ill-tempered man; it only shows me what an ill-tempered man I am. The rats are always there in the cellar, but if you go in shouting and noisily they will have taken cover before you switch on the light.

From Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

 

Published by Elihu

Elihu Anderson is a California refugee currently thriving on the West Texas plains. She is the founder of elihuscorner.com and is a contributor to Kirk Cameron's website TheCourage.com. When she isn't writing, reading, or teaching, she is sipping on some iced homemade chai and enjoying time with a good friend. Come by and say hi at elihuscorner.com or visit me on Facebook.com/elihuscorner

9 thoughts on “What’s slinking around in your heart?”

  1. Hello Elihu! A gentle reminder for you, if I may.
    It is this: to always look to, rest in, and depend on Jesus. He knew where the Father was bringing Him (to Jerusalem) and what for (to suffer and then to be resurrected on our behalf), but He did not have a schedule, did He?
    This mindset common to bloggers to write on a schedule or to write a certain amount within a certain amount of time is of our (already crucified!) old selves, not of our new selves born of heaven.
    “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.” – Col. 2:8.
    May you receive this in the same Spirit in which it is sent. God bless you and your ministry here.

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    Reply

    1. Thanks, Deanna. I typically set deadlines for myself in order to establish self-discipline. That being said, I won’t publish an article unless I feel it’s done right. 😀 Thank you for reminding me of my purpose.

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      Reply

      1. And thank you for reminding me that setting deadlines is godly discipline for some! (The Lord took me from being a Type A overachieving overly disciplined physician to resting in Christ, and so my perspective differs from most.)

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      2. God is always working on us to achieve balance. Some of us need to unwind while others need winding up. I mean what I say—I’m very grateful for the reminder to keep things in perspective. May you be blessed in your walk with Him.

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