Perhaps one of the most expensive repairs I ever had to get done on a vehicle I owned was the transmission. It began when the "check engine" light came on, and, being a poor kid in my early twenties, I ignored it for as long as I could. Then my vehicle stopped working. The transmission was shot. For those who may not know (I'm not a car guy myself so I'll try not to butcher it), basically, it uses the power of your engine as it processes gasoline to regulate how fast or slow your car moves based on the commands you give it through the gas pedal or the gear shift/clutch (Depending on whether or not you have a automatic or manual transmission) Now that I've probably butchered how it works (my mechanic friends can gently correct me as a brother in Christ), I say that to say this: my faith sometimes has a check engine light. I usually feel far from Jesus, something isn't working right, and though I don't have a transmission, as it were, my faith is what moves my Spiritual Walk with Christ forward. The times I struggle most are when I try and exercise my rights or act as an authority in my own right. When I try and force my marriage to become something it is not, when I try and force my kids, or the members of my church, or anything else...when I know I'm struggling, and I just lay my foot down on the pedal and try and move on my own, even though I am clearly struggling, I am suffering from a costly engine failure, spiritually speaking. The only time I am ever right is under the absolute authority of Jesus Christ. This is why the bible says hundreds of times that we are to submit, surrender, and follow the Authority of God through Jesus Christ. When we try and fix the problems we have on our own, when we ignore the warning signs, when we seek any other authority but that of Christ Jesus, we're fooling ourselves, and pretending everything is working fine, when in fact we are building up a costly repair bill. As we submit to Christ in all things, as we seek His divine authority, we fall in to His will through His word. As we seek ourselves, our ways, and our own design, we deal with the physical consequences of earthly and unspiritual wisdom and influence. God's grace is sufficient for us, and it is only found in Jesus Christ. Hebrews 1::1-4- Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,  but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. James 3:13-18- Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
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