Am I "Normal"?
Henry and Richard Blackaby, in their book Fresh Encounter , describe the characteristics of a normal Christian life this way: 1. Intimate fellowship with God 2. Joy in God's presence 3. A sense of peace 4. A holy life 5. A Spirit-filled life 6. Recognizing God's voice 7. Filled with the fruit of the Spirit 8. Experiencing God's power This is only page three and I'm already convicted! Last night I was taking a couple of candidates through the church membership class and caught myself saying, "But we're only human" as though that excuses us from reaching for the goal for which Christ had destined us as believers. There are numerous passages that remind us that being "only human" doesn't cut it but this one from Ephesians 4:23, 24 (NIV) is particularly pointed: " You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude ...