
16-year old Jerome sat still on the white leather ottoman, holding tightly to the precious thing in his left hand. The thing looked like messy cloudy waves sitting on top a sea of life-less muddy water. It was in a little cream-colored cup which had letters strewn around it in a circular pattern, alluring to the eyes and pleasing to the mouth. It was like gold to him, this triple layered chocolate-flavored vanilla swirl Jell-O pudding. Nothing could dare to replace it all these years, not since he was two and still breast-feeding. Anyone that tried to change him eventually gave up on him. It was his permanent way of life, his very own inundated tradition. He held on tightly like his life depended on it, not caring whether he was currently fifty pounds over what his Body Mass Index indicated was healthy for his age. It did not matter to him- what people said, or whether there was a healthier substitute. He loved the life he was living; he felt as good as Shrek feels when he's hidden in a solitary place where no one can tell his true ugliness.
He squeezed the cup and a little Jell-O dropped on his jeans. He looked downwards, and when he saw the stains the waterworks began. The tears fell freely, although they say a grown-up boy should never cry. He wanted to break it...he wanted to tear this silly tradition into two. But he just couldn't fathom a single good plan...
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Is your life based on a failing tradition? Have you been telling yourself to stop something, or even to start something new...but you keep falling short?
Hey, God always has His arms open with unlimited chances! You can easily stop your ancient tradition. You can stop your "Religiosity" and move on to "Intimacy" with God. You can tell yourself that you don't just want to hear or read the scriptures, but you want to actually "do" what it says. You know something? No one will ever see the things that you read...not even a neuro-surgeon as powerful as Ben Carson can understand the depth of your knowledge about God. Only you can.
You're the only one that can break your unnecessary traditions: listening on Sunday without really understanding the words, doing good without knowing why, giving alms without loving the poor, settling fights without having the peace of God within you, waking up in the morning without knowing who owns your breath, preaching the word without being the messenger, singing along to worship lyrics without really worshipping, stretching your arms to heaven without understanding where God sits, doing what you usually do at the middle of the night without knowing that He sees you, being prideful rather than running into His arms again.
We're in a ludicrous season when each man should know his own calling and his own plight. We're no longer in the era of 'group-hugs' and 'family affairs.' Rather, each person should be ready to break his or her traditions into something deeper. There's no use leaving this world with a steady-set of rules that cause you to live your life with no revelation. My message today is "Yes, you can change. Yes, you can change any old tradition and have a more meaningful life instead."
It's a new day...a new dawn. A time to put the old traditions in the thrash and break forth into a deeper understanding of who God really is..."To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?" Says the Lord. "I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or goats. Bring no more futile sacrifices...wash yourselves, make yourselves clean..." (Isaiah 1: 11-20). To me, the 'multitude of sacrifices' written here is representative of die-hard traditions which people find really hard to give up.
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24 comments:
You sure know how to keep people in check. I kinda needed to read that today although i won't deceive myself and anyone else and say a change will happen today. I need God's strength to help me and while i know its just there if i ask for it, i keep pushing against it.
Most of the 'traditions' i'm stuck with, i subconsciously dont want to let go of. Thats where the strength comes in. But with more posts like this, a change will definetely come. Lets just pray it would be sooner rather than later.
Lovely post btw
Just last week I was reminded again how being Obedient to His words were far better than the sacrifices I felt I have been making on His behalf. Obedience being the Key opperative word. What He tells me to do, to just do it. And to break away from tradition, we need to be doers of His words not just hearers. And the motives behind what we are seen to be doing should not act as a hinderance in our walk and relationship with God.
God help us all indeed. As always a wonderful reminder of how we ought to live.
This post speaks to me particularly because I've come to understand that we're not righteous because we do good and noble things, we are called the Sons of God because we pursue His righteousness, and because we are obedient to His words which in turn, makes us righteous.
God bless you Jaycee!
yaaay, made top 5!!!! back to comment!
yeah
i really needed this
i need God
so i coose to break tradition
and always be me with God.
He's saying September now and thats a long wait for me (2 whole months and 2 wks)
God is always giving me good surprise sha so i'll trust Him.
ay baybay
this is too true
tradition is ruining Christianity and each one of us myself especially has to question and stop going thru the motions of being religious and a church member, thank u for this, i will have to come back this week to remind myself of this
ohhh snap
i know a perfect song for this post
i don't want to go thru the motions by Matthew West
check it out
here is a link for the music video
have a blessed week
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_rmCeAzqKc&feature=related
Most people in the world are tied in one way or the other to certain traditions...
But there is change in the air, the world can see it, the point is GRABBING a hold of it!
Sometimes the best of things and truths can become a tradition; how much we need to live real life with God!
Have you been telling yourself to stop something, or even to start something new...but you keep falling short?
These bits are so on point for me... Thanks for sharing.....
Tunrayo...why do I have a feeling in my gut that the change you're cringing for is nearer than you think? :)
Lifeofastranger...first off, it's been an "ooh-la-la" long time since I heard ur voice, r we hearing it any time soon? *smiles* As always, u make a lot of sense. It's obedience that is key in this season...gone are the days where we had to depend on just the manuscripts or the Letters...because we have the Holy Spirit giving us soooo many instructions...and it's only when we stay still and listen that we'll really hear what He's telling us to do. Obedience is definitely the KEY.
Perfectly Human...lol...you're reminding me of when I first came across these scriptures, "For we are the righteousness of God through Christ Jesus" and "Our righteousness is only as a filthy rag before God." Oh what a relief to know that no matter how hard I try, I will never again be measured by my own righteousness. Jesus is the epitome of righteousness, His blood was PURE when it was shed for us at Calvary...I cannot even begin to compare my blood with Jesus'. Mine is mixed with a little bit of goodness and a lot of anger, spite, need for forgiveness, and many other things that the blood of Jesus cleanses from me every single morning. It is His righteousness that pushes me to have the confidence that God is with me, because God is not with me because of me! :)
Tisha...such a lovely statement, "I choose to break tradition," may the Holy Spirit teach you all the things you need to break it. Amen.
Reverence...miss u much boo! *Big Smile*
Kafo...I love the song you're talking about...LOL. Don't wanna go through the motions, don't wanna go one more day...without your all consuming captured inside of me, I don't wanna spend my whole life asking..."what if I had given everything instead of going through the motions?" Lord, help us all. *Sigh*
Chayoma...that's the hard part...grabbing a hold of the change!
David...yes, we tend to turn the best experiences into tradition...instead of renewing them every morning.
Bagucci...don't know why the sound of your name makes me want to go to Italy! It's a blessing to be able to share you know? Thank God for this medium...peaceeeeee outttt!!!
jaycee im right whre this post is...believe me..evolution is part of life...its been a while..hope you are well :)
another great one, Jaycee. thank God He has made everything easy for us.And as much as He wants to come in and help us make our lives easiers, we should allow Him. we shouldn't sit and let life pass us by as we were sent here to make a difference. thank u jaycee for reminding me
Exhilarating....
My thoughts had been lingering on different things- your post summed them all up.
As always- i've been blessed by your post.
And may God bless you in return.
What a great post!
http://nigerianrubbish.blogspot.com/
Ur blog is always inspirational!!!! Thankssss for always sharing.
True talk! It's funny how some of our traditions may not even be bad things. It may have been what God required of us at a particular season in life, but we tend to want to make that a tradition when God is trying to get us to move to a fresher understanding of what He is doing. Thanks for this post!
Thanks Jaycee..this sure ministered to me!
You are one blessed lady.
Traditions are other peoples' beliefs exercised over a long period of time. So spot on. Thank you and God bless.
anoda nice piece, that speaks to me...thks...
God Bless you,Jaycee. @Kafo..thanks for d Matthew West , I had it on my system,all this time, I wasn;t even aware of it. Thanks
hmmm.... I am still digesting this. I have been reading the book of Samuel again and I thought of this post - the title. The Israelites usually stepped outside of God's will when they embraced tradition. When they embraced what their forefathers did - outside of God's instructions. Always, calamity struck.
It is wisdom to know what God says about living a godly life - constantly in the realms of His will. It is wisdom to know the difference between tradition (wherever we might be from)and God's word. Just because something has been done for generations, does not mean it is the beliver's way to do it. We must check and make sure it is right. In a round about way, this is how curses and bondage carries on from generation to generation. We must check to make sure whatever we are doing aligns perfectly with God's word. It is hard, but it is the only way to live... constantly in God's will
God bless u luv
Much love **hugs**
Erere,
I thank God for your everyday, dont ever stop listening and dont keep ur hands from writting.
Sele.
had to read this again
have a blessed weekend
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