WHO REMEMBERS MUSICAL CHAIRS?
I am soooooooo old I had to look up the rules for this game. Remember the scrambling and competition part, though.
MUSICAL CHAIRS, EH?
>>>Chairs are set up in a double row, back-to-back, with one less chair than there are players.
>>>Music is played, and the players march around the chairs.
>>>Singing along is allowed.
>>>The music suddenly stops; at which point everyone scrambles for a chair.
>>>The player left standing is out of the game and one chair is removed for the next round.
>>>Last player left wins
So we are down to two persons and only ONE chair. The participants are alert, poised to move with the commencing of the music. Reminiscent of track sprinters at the starting line, tensed to 'explode' out of the starting blocks.
The music starts, the two move cautiously around the chair, jockeying for 'position.' Remember that feeling: the already-eliminated persons jumping, yelling, cheering, watching?. MUSIC STOPS!!! The contestants lunge to grab the back of the chair for leverage and swing up onto the chair. Bodies clash... Pushing, shoving, jostling, elbowing. One falls to the floor---and the other claims possession of the chair. What a game! Wow! Only one ends up on the chair---the victor! Cheering, laughing, and congratulations follow.
My friends, this happens to be a REAL LIFE situation, not with a chair, but a THRONE. The throne in the center of your very being---in your heart, if you please. The throne that governs the mind, thoughts, emotions, activities of your life every day. Just who is in charge there? Who is the king? Who does your "free will/mind" put on your very own throne?
Just one critical difference in the rules in this 'musical throne'---One Participant refuses to scramble and jostle to be seated on the throne. He says, By Invitation Only. The other person can access the throne at will, and usually does. This is the I-Person: he/she thrives on control of the throne. The I-Person lives the the I-Life, without consideration to the patiently awaiting Person-to-be-Crowned---the One Who defers to the free will choices of the I -Person. He is the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth, represented by the Spirit of God.
The Apostle Paul in the book of Romans nailed down the problem: "Those who live according to the sinful nature (I-Person) have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man (the I-Person) is (SPIRITUAL) DEATH, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is LIFE and PEACE.; the sinful mind (the I-Person) is hostile to God...And if the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead is LIVING in you (and reigning on your throne), He Who (God the Father) raised Christ from the dead will also give (SPIRITUAL) LIFE to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, Who lives in you." Rom 8:5-7; 11. Let's put the aforementioned Who on the throne of our lives. Jesus Christ/Holy Spirit are like gentlemen. They will not force themselves onto that esteemed position---your throne.
PLAYING SPIRITUAL MUSICAL THRONES IS FRUITLESS
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