Thursday, June 18, 2009

In John Owens classic book titled “Temptation and Sin”, he discusses, in chapter 15, some of the causes of our souls decay. In this particular quote he is talking about Sloth and Negligence and its effects on our soul. I remember reading this about 10 years ago and I loved his application from the Song of Songs –

“So was it with the spouse in the Song of Songs, chapter 5:2; Christ calls unto her, verse 1, with a marvelous loving and gracious invitation unto communion with himself. She, who had formerly been ravished at the first hearing of that joyful sound, being now under the power of sloth and carnal ease, returns a sorry excusing answer to his call, which ended in her own signal loss and sorrow. Indwelling sin, I say, prevailing by spiritual sloth upon the souls of men unto an inadvertency of the motions of God’s Spirit in their former apprehensions of divine love, and a negligence of stirring up continual thoughts of faith about it, a decay grows insensibly upon the whole soul. Thus God oft complains that his people had “forgotten him;” that is, grew unmindful of his love and grace, - which was the beginning of their apostasy.”

If you read this in Song of Songs it certainly brings the text to life.

Picture by Lee

5 comments:

Femin Susan said...

I really enjoyed reading this post. Keep writing..

Joseph Pulikotil said...

Hi Fred:)

We, human beings, always love ease, comfort, pleasure and instant gratification. We hate to make sacrifices, give up a life of ease, pleasures which money can give us. We don't think that this life is only temporary and one day we are answerable to God for what we did or did not do on this earth.

God is talking to us very often through our conscience but how often we obey our conscience. For instance, my conscience tells me that I should go to Church at least on Sundays but I would like to sleep late and I console myself that God will forgive me. So I sleep although my conscience keeps nagging me.

Lovely photo and fantastic post.

Have a nice day Fred:)
Joseph

Unknown said...

Hi Fred,

I'm horribly slothful! Thanks for this beautiful post...I have to start cleaning now, LOL!

God bless.
Trudy

FCB said...

Hi Susan,
Thanks for your kind comments, and I'm glad you enjoyed the post.
God bless,
Fred



Hi Joseph,
So true so true, we always lookd for the easiest way, I have read that lazieness is a universal trait, where ever you go man is always looking for a way to get out of work.
You make me laugh about your nagging conscience, some say they have never heard the voice of God, well maybe they never skip church, but if you do, you will hear Him :)
God bless,
Fred



Hi Trudy,
I can so relate, of course it is probably just a condition of some sort :) Not!
I have weeds to pull, we can boast tomorrow on how much work we have done today :)
God bless,
Fred

Mel said...

Oh, Fred, how sad. We can be so pathetic sometimes. Such excrutiating emotional trauma we put ourselves through, and there's nobody to blame for it but our own choices. To give up shining joy and peace in exchange for worthless rubble that'll only be burned up in the end. If there is even anything left to burn up. I'm there right now, and I can see it, but don't know what to do about it. May God have mercy on my foolish heart.