A lot can be discerned about the state of a person's heart by what they worship and what they put their energy in. Scripture says that their are two possibilities for humans to worship. Quite bluntly, we either worship creation or the Creator. Needless to say, the latter is always to be preferred; however, overcoming the former is a difficult but necessary part of accomplishing in accomplishing the task of putting the Creator first.
Faith deals with jus this thing. When we come to God in faith, we are consciously changing our focus of worship. Our previous, fleshly focus is transformed and sanctified by the blood of Christ Jesus and transfixed on the Holy Lord Almighty.
For this reason, a great potentially convicting daily practice for us to engage in is a "worship check". A simple moment of self-assessment and awareness is a great way for us to see where our hearts are at and in what way we may need to refocus.
Sin, in its most literal sense, is about missing the mark. The etymology of sin comes from archery. To sin is to aim and hit something other than what we should. So, when we focus on that which is not God and less-than God, we are in fact sinning. This is a harsh but true reality. And the road of destruction is a moving sidewalk that leads us astray a single step at a time. Let us then take care to keep ourselves worshiping God and not His creation!
Showing posts with label self-control. Show all posts
Showing posts with label self-control. Show all posts
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
The Quest for Humility
Facebook has made all the world self-promoters, Twitter has made every one fancy themselves a quick-quipping pun king, and Youtube has made everyone think they should be a star. We live in a world that spreads self-esteem and expects self-exaltation, making the truly humble heart is a rarity. But God demands something more, indicating that there is ruin for those who would exalt themselves in haughtiness and pride.
This is a hard but necessary teaching. Many of us would rather be noticed and heralded, but God asks for something else altogether. Throughout the book of Proverbs, humility is contrasted to pride just as wisdom is contrasted to foolishness and as godliness is contrasted with sin (Pro. 3:34; 11:2; 15:31, 33; 16:18-19; 18:12; 21:4; 26:12; 29:23; 30:32). This should be enough in itself for us to know that God demands us to be humble so as to receive His favor and His blessings.
But before we should think that only the Old Testament was concerned with humility, we should be reminded of Jesus very own words: "For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, but whoever humbles himself will be exalted (Matt. 23:12; cf. Luke 14:7-11 & 18:9-14 )." We should take Jesus' words with seriousness and sobriety and it should, ultimately, convict us on to humility.
Clearly, humility is a big deal. However, as mentioned above, it goes against our well-ingrained, western tendencies. Accomplishing the task of humility is a holistic, full-person endeavor. To be sure, the quest for humility is a matter of identity. If we are to be found solely and securely in Christ, then there is simply no room for pride or haughty self-exaltation because we will be looking at our own worth in the light of the Holy Lord. Let us then look to God to be our identity and our only boast!
This is a hard but necessary teaching. Many of us would rather be noticed and heralded, but God asks for something else altogether. Throughout the book of Proverbs, humility is contrasted to pride just as wisdom is contrasted to foolishness and as godliness is contrasted with sin (Pro. 3:34; 11:2; 15:31, 33; 16:18-19; 18:12; 21:4; 26:12; 29:23; 30:32). This should be enough in itself for us to know that God demands us to be humble so as to receive His favor and His blessings.
But before we should think that only the Old Testament was concerned with humility, we should be reminded of Jesus very own words: "For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, but whoever humbles himself will be exalted (Matt. 23:12; cf. Luke 14:7-11 & 18:9-14 )." We should take Jesus' words with seriousness and sobriety and it should, ultimately, convict us on to humility.
Clearly, humility is a big deal. However, as mentioned above, it goes against our well-ingrained, western tendencies. Accomplishing the task of humility is a holistic, full-person endeavor. To be sure, the quest for humility is a matter of identity. If we are to be found solely and securely in Christ, then there is simply no room for pride or haughty self-exaltation because we will be looking at our own worth in the light of the Holy Lord. Let us then look to God to be our identity and our only boast!
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Don't be Fooled by the Speech of Fools
A mechanic is an expert in automobiles. He or she has been trained in the maintenance and repair of motor vehicles and has gotten sufficient experience for them to be considered mechanics. As a result, they are trusted for their study as experts in their respective field. Because of this, it would seem utterly asinine and idiotic for someone without any prior education or experience to tell that person what they "think" or "believe" to be the cause of their car troubles.
Or consider a medical doctor. After having spent years of arduous study and rote memorization, coupled with years of hands-on experience in dealing with various types of patients and their syndromes. Yet, inevitably, the patient will offer their arm-chair diagnosis with such gusto as if they themselves had done the schooling and they might know better or with more fullness what was actually going on.
However ludicrous the aforementioned examples may seem in their context, this principle is done with relative regularity and astonishing amounts of confidence in matters of faith and religion. Truly, just like everyone who tries to offer their own diagnosis of car troubles or health, the unrepentant unbeliever will often make up his or her own story about truth and about God, with no care nor reference to the work and study done by believers and theologians who have given their very lives to the task of pursuing God and His truth.
Moreover, the unbeliever who would assert their own unfounded theological systems, tend to do so in such a relativistic way that warrants any discussion of true truth, that is to be found solely in the One who IS truth, is made impotent by their babbling. Thus, the discussion is left unresolved because to the unbelievers unwillingness to hear the truth of God, due to their hardness of heart.
Strangely enough, Solomon spoke about such useless and foolish babbling several centuries ago. He writes in Proverbs, "A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, only in sharing his own opinion (Pro. 18:2)." He writes also that, "The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near (Pro. 10:14)." Thus, the man who continually airs his own opinion with no regard for transformational understanding is a fool.
This also brings to light the essential importance of humility in any theologizing. If we are to be people of wisdom, then we need to be slow to speak and quick to listen in these matters (James 1:19). The challenge is that this principle, though easily asserted for its merit, is far-from-easy to implement. However, if we remember that a fool will expose himself by his many words, if we simply listen attentively we will be in much better positions to address the fool with the truth that will pierce his foolishness: the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Let us then take heed the work done by great Christians of the past and those of the present who dedicate their very lives to pursuing God. For they are the spiritual doctors that are studied and trained in the things of God and should be thought of as such. Praise be to God that He would not leave us autonomous but that He would commission a body of believers with various gifts and callings to advance His Church and His Kingdom!
Or consider a medical doctor. After having spent years of arduous study and rote memorization, coupled with years of hands-on experience in dealing with various types of patients and their syndromes. Yet, inevitably, the patient will offer their arm-chair diagnosis with such gusto as if they themselves had done the schooling and they might know better or with more fullness what was actually going on.
However ludicrous the aforementioned examples may seem in their context, this principle is done with relative regularity and astonishing amounts of confidence in matters of faith and religion. Truly, just like everyone who tries to offer their own diagnosis of car troubles or health, the unrepentant unbeliever will often make up his or her own story about truth and about God, with no care nor reference to the work and study done by believers and theologians who have given their very lives to the task of pursuing God and His truth.
Moreover, the unbeliever who would assert their own unfounded theological systems, tend to do so in such a relativistic way that warrants any discussion of true truth, that is to be found solely in the One who IS truth, is made impotent by their babbling. Thus, the discussion is left unresolved because to the unbelievers unwillingness to hear the truth of God, due to their hardness of heart.
Strangely enough, Solomon spoke about such useless and foolish babbling several centuries ago. He writes in Proverbs, "A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, only in sharing his own opinion (Pro. 18:2)." He writes also that, "The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near (Pro. 10:14)." Thus, the man who continually airs his own opinion with no regard for transformational understanding is a fool.
This also brings to light the essential importance of humility in any theologizing. If we are to be people of wisdom, then we need to be slow to speak and quick to listen in these matters (James 1:19). The challenge is that this principle, though easily asserted for its merit, is far-from-easy to implement. However, if we remember that a fool will expose himself by his many words, if we simply listen attentively we will be in much better positions to address the fool with the truth that will pierce his foolishness: the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Let us then take heed the work done by great Christians of the past and those of the present who dedicate their very lives to pursuing God. For they are the spiritual doctors that are studied and trained in the things of God and should be thought of as such. Praise be to God that He would not leave us autonomous but that He would commission a body of believers with various gifts and callings to advance His Church and His Kingdom!
Friday, May 25, 2012
Sanctified Self-Control
Marianne pushed her grocery cart from aisle to aisle, marking every item off of her list as she placed it in the cart. Her five-year-old boy, Bradley, was walking beside her, more interested in causing a scene than helping his mother shop for groceries. In reality, Bradley was far too busy nocking boxes off the lower shelves, singing loudly to himself, and bombarding his mother with questions to help her out. Needless to say, Marianne was losing her patience and her son's ploys for attention, though less-than positive, were working.
Bradley pulled a can of soup from the shelf and, with the finesse of a dancer, bowled the chowder down the aisle, hitting a display of crackers and knocking it across the tiled floor: strike. Bradley hooped and hollered at his success. Marianne had had enough. She grabbed her son's arm and pulled him to her so that she could yell at him under her breath, "Bradley! We are in public! Show some self-control!" Bradley, acknowledging that his mother was mad, looked up at her and said sincerely, "But mom, I am in control!"
Perhaps Bradley's response is more appropriate than we could possibly conceive and it poses a question relevant to us all: at what point does the self lose control? In a world that is marked by excess and hedonism, self-control seems like an antiquated ideal that is all the more challenging to live-by and promote. But, which self do we put in control, the flesh? the Spirit?
Unequivocally, Christians are to be self-controlled in the Spirit. Recall Paul's letter to the Colossians, where he exhorts believers to put to death that which is earthly so as to put on that which is godly and right (Col. 3:1-17). In this way, we are to become self-controlled in the Spirit and compelled by Spirit to live lives of a worthy manner (Eph. 4:1-3).
Paul actually defines Spirit-led self-control as spiritual fruit, indicating that the truest form of self-control is gifted from the Lord, who trains us to live in such a way (Gal. 5:22-23; Tit. 2:11-14). Paramount to the pursuit of self-control is then faith. Only when we cling to Christ will we be equipped and able to live self-controlled in the godliest sense. In truth, self-control is a misleading term. For if we are to become self-controlled as God asks of us, then a more correct term would be God-controlled. But praise be to God who we can always rely upon for guidance and direction!
Bradley pulled a can of soup from the shelf and, with the finesse of a dancer, bowled the chowder down the aisle, hitting a display of crackers and knocking it across the tiled floor: strike. Bradley hooped and hollered at his success. Marianne had had enough. She grabbed her son's arm and pulled him to her so that she could yell at him under her breath, "Bradley! We are in public! Show some self-control!" Bradley, acknowledging that his mother was mad, looked up at her and said sincerely, "But mom, I am in control!"
Perhaps Bradley's response is more appropriate than we could possibly conceive and it poses a question relevant to us all: at what point does the self lose control? In a world that is marked by excess and hedonism, self-control seems like an antiquated ideal that is all the more challenging to live-by and promote. But, which self do we put in control, the flesh? the Spirit?
Unequivocally, Christians are to be self-controlled in the Spirit. Recall Paul's letter to the Colossians, where he exhorts believers to put to death that which is earthly so as to put on that which is godly and right (Col. 3:1-17). In this way, we are to become self-controlled in the Spirit and compelled by Spirit to live lives of a worthy manner (Eph. 4:1-3).
Paul actually defines Spirit-led self-control as spiritual fruit, indicating that the truest form of self-control is gifted from the Lord, who trains us to live in such a way (Gal. 5:22-23; Tit. 2:11-14). Paramount to the pursuit of self-control is then faith. Only when we cling to Christ will we be equipped and able to live self-controlled in the godliest sense. In truth, self-control is a misleading term. For if we are to become self-controlled as God asks of us, then a more correct term would be God-controlled. But praise be to God who we can always rely upon for guidance and direction!
Saturday, February 18, 2012
The Prospect of Pleasure
God is a God of enjoyment. He created the world and took pleasure in it, defining it all as good (Gen. 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31). The Lord delights and enjoys and, as we were created in His image, we do too. The pertinent question is what does God then say about pleasure? Surprisingly, the Bible has much to say about indulgence, both positive and negative. The purpose of this discourse is to address the biblical understanding of pleasure.
Many Christians have a distorted understanding of pleasure that is neither scripturally founded nor healthy. If we do not understand our pleasure and what constitutes as healthy pleasure, then we open ourselves to spiritual attack and the potential for sinfulness. Instead, understanding pleasure is essential to living the full life that God has gifted us with and called us to.
There is such a variety of pleasures to choose from that one could be spend the whole of a lifetime simply studying pleasure. Pleasure in and of itself is not fulfilling apart from the the Fulfiller, which is the Lord. Unfortunately, the endless search to fill pleasures seems to be the modus operani for much of the world. As a result, the world is inundated with hurt and unfulfilled people, longing for the pleasure that lasts. Think of Solomon, the ultimate measure of wealth and worldly pleasure could not find contentment in the world (See Ecclesiastes 1-12--that's right, the whole book).
A modern concept that is biblically supported in this regard is the law of diminishing returns, or as Solomon writes: "If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it (Pro. 25:15)." The word that covers this is temperance, also referred to as self-restraint. This is one of the keys to pleasure, that our pleasures refresh us but if not kept in check, they may become a burden or stumbling block for ourselves or anyone else.
Think of David, in the midst of a battle, calling out for the simple refreshment (pleasure) of a drink from his well at Bethlehem. Three of his mighty men thus risk their lives to bring him such a pleasure only to see David to refuse the pleasure for its cost (2 Sam. 23:15-17). We should take this mind among us, that pleasure should be weighed for its merits as much for its true cost.
Pleasure is a distinct gift from God. We should enjoy this life. However, enjoyment and pleasure should never come in the way of our ultimate mission, which is to love the Lord and to preach His gospel to the world. If our pleasure(s) are hindering our effectiveness or pulls us from our primary mission, then we need to rethink our priorities and where we are placing our pleasure.
The Lord is the source of life and the giver of pleasure. We should then seek our pleasure in Him. He desires for us to delight in Him. This is an amazing proposition. Instead of looking to the fleeting whimsy of this world, let us look to the eternal Lord as the source of our enjoyment and pleasure.
Many Christians have a distorted understanding of pleasure that is neither scripturally founded nor healthy. If we do not understand our pleasure and what constitutes as healthy pleasure, then we open ourselves to spiritual attack and the potential for sinfulness. Instead, understanding pleasure is essential to living the full life that God has gifted us with and called us to.
There is such a variety of pleasures to choose from that one could be spend the whole of a lifetime simply studying pleasure. Pleasure in and of itself is not fulfilling apart from the the Fulfiller, which is the Lord. Unfortunately, the endless search to fill pleasures seems to be the modus operani for much of the world. As a result, the world is inundated with hurt and unfulfilled people, longing for the pleasure that lasts. Think of Solomon, the ultimate measure of wealth and worldly pleasure could not find contentment in the world (See Ecclesiastes 1-12--that's right, the whole book).
A modern concept that is biblically supported in this regard is the law of diminishing returns, or as Solomon writes: "If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it (Pro. 25:15)." The word that covers this is temperance, also referred to as self-restraint. This is one of the keys to pleasure, that our pleasures refresh us but if not kept in check, they may become a burden or stumbling block for ourselves or anyone else.
Think of David, in the midst of a battle, calling out for the simple refreshment (pleasure) of a drink from his well at Bethlehem. Three of his mighty men thus risk their lives to bring him such a pleasure only to see David to refuse the pleasure for its cost (2 Sam. 23:15-17). We should take this mind among us, that pleasure should be weighed for its merits as much for its true cost.
Pleasure is a distinct gift from God. We should enjoy this life. However, enjoyment and pleasure should never come in the way of our ultimate mission, which is to love the Lord and to preach His gospel to the world. If our pleasure(s) are hindering our effectiveness or pulls us from our primary mission, then we need to rethink our priorities and where we are placing our pleasure.
The Lord is the source of life and the giver of pleasure. We should then seek our pleasure in Him. He desires for us to delight in Him. This is an amazing proposition. Instead of looking to the fleeting whimsy of this world, let us look to the eternal Lord as the source of our enjoyment and pleasure.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Training Our Thoughts
Compartmentalizing a person into the various parts that make up a human in order to understand each segment separately can be a useful practice. God exhorts us to love Him with all of our mind, body, and soul, with all strength (Matt. 22:37). This compels us to love the Lord with each part. As per this dialogue, the mind is the focus. The Bible actually has much to say in regards to the mind.
Of all the places of privacy, none is more enclosed and protected than our minds. For many, the mind is like a locked bank vault with bookshelves full of intellect and memories, beakers and vials of emotional tonics, and an arm wrestling table in the middle of the room where the id and ego settle their differences. Although this caricature is ridiculous, the reality is that we think of our minds as both the most secure place while simultaneously the most susceptible to weakness.
It is pertinent to remember that God, being omniscient, knows our very thoughts. In fact, Paul urges us to "Be transformed by the renewal of our minds (Rom. 12:2)." This is instep with Jesus' teaching during the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7), as He amplifies the commandments of the OT to include thoughts themselves. In this way, God reminds believers that we are held accountable for the content of our minds.
This is more than challenging. No one has enough mental fortitude or strength of will to keep their minds clear sin and/or ill thought. The Psalmist confirms this reality, "The Lord knows the thoughts of man; He knows they are futile (Ps. 94:11)." This is the point: apart from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, no one is able in the slightest to keep their mind pure and holy.
Recognizing that the Holy Spirit overpowers our minds when we remove the hindrance of personal control, we will be able to live transformed lives the way God desires of us (Rom. 8:6). Although there are a number of methods to keep ourselves aligned to the will of the Lord, Paul presents one in particular that is exceptional for its simplicity: "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Cor. 10:5)." This requires an active focus to ensure that any thought that passes or lingers in our minds is weighed in the light of Christ.
In reality, our minds are locked vaults full of sinfully crude and vile thoughts. Fortunately, the Lord not only has the key, which is faith in His Son, but He also has the moving company, the Holy Spirit and His Word, to clean out the junk of our minds and replace it with His holiness and divine will. The renewal of our minds by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a huge part of the sanctification process and we have an active role to play. Let us then work hard to rely on the Holy Spirit to renew our minds to make us more like Him!
Of all the places of privacy, none is more enclosed and protected than our minds. For many, the mind is like a locked bank vault with bookshelves full of intellect and memories, beakers and vials of emotional tonics, and an arm wrestling table in the middle of the room where the id and ego settle their differences. Although this caricature is ridiculous, the reality is that we think of our minds as both the most secure place while simultaneously the most susceptible to weakness.
It is pertinent to remember that God, being omniscient, knows our very thoughts. In fact, Paul urges us to "Be transformed by the renewal of our minds (Rom. 12:2)." This is instep with Jesus' teaching during the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7), as He amplifies the commandments of the OT to include thoughts themselves. In this way, God reminds believers that we are held accountable for the content of our minds.
This is more than challenging. No one has enough mental fortitude or strength of will to keep their minds clear sin and/or ill thought. The Psalmist confirms this reality, "The Lord knows the thoughts of man; He knows they are futile (Ps. 94:11)." This is the point: apart from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, no one is able in the slightest to keep their mind pure and holy.
Recognizing that the Holy Spirit overpowers our minds when we remove the hindrance of personal control, we will be able to live transformed lives the way God desires of us (Rom. 8:6). Although there are a number of methods to keep ourselves aligned to the will of the Lord, Paul presents one in particular that is exceptional for its simplicity: "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Cor. 10:5)." This requires an active focus to ensure that any thought that passes or lingers in our minds is weighed in the light of Christ.
In reality, our minds are locked vaults full of sinfully crude and vile thoughts. Fortunately, the Lord not only has the key, which is faith in His Son, but He also has the moving company, the Holy Spirit and His Word, to clean out the junk of our minds and replace it with His holiness and divine will. The renewal of our minds by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a huge part of the sanctification process and we have an active role to play. Let us then work hard to rely on the Holy Spirit to renew our minds to make us more like Him!
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Seeking Quiet through the Noise
In our world we are constantly bombarded with noise and device that continually distract us from our primary purpose. From email, social-networking, video games, phones, computers, iPods, movies, to television, everything seems to lead us to diversion in an ever-fragmented society. The pull of the digital world is strong as its bells and whistles steal our focus and fill the quiet of our hearts and minds with noise.
It is this noise that we should be made aware of. Often in life, we can go for some time without addressing an issue simply because we have not been made aware of it. The noise of the modern digital world is such an issue. Many people live lives like they handle their computer or digital device: switching back and forth between simultaneous programs.
This sort of fragmentation is not beneficial or effective. It's like putting one pant leg on, brushing the teeth of the left side of your mouth, putting on a shoe, turning off the alarm clock, turning on the TV, checking emails, pouring a bowl of cereal, then putting on the other pant leg, brushing the right side teeth, and sitting down to eat your cereal after putting on your other show. Clearly, this is an exaggeration, but if we're honest, is it that far off?
True multi-tasking is not the same as doing everything at the same time. Multi-tasking is always measured in effectiveness, not in how many things can we do simultaneously, but how many things can we do well. If we are being a poor friend, a sloppy employee, or an ineffective communicator, it might be that we are being distracted by the noise around i.e. TV, emails, texts, phone calls, etc. If our goal is to be excellent, a realigned measure of focus might be in order.
Fighting the fragmentation of the digital world we live in is not an easy proposition, particularly considering how plugged-in each of us is on a daily basis. Research as recent as 2009 indicates that around 90% of American households have computers, 83% have internet access in their homes, 83% of adults have a cell-phone, and some 80% of families have at least one modern gaming system (X-Box, Wii, Playstation 3, etc). This means that nearly every American is totally drowning in a sea of potential distractions.
The only thing that has any ability to cut through the noise of the digital world is the Lord, His Word and Holy Spirit. Getting into His presence is the only thing capable of slicing through the tumult of the world, which works tirelessly to distract us from Him. In reality, we are always in His presence, but we are often too distracted to be aware. Practically speaking, we need to turn down the noise in order to hear His voice. And, although this can be literal noise like turning our phones on silent, it is also an inner silence.
There is a distinct and clear quietness that accompanies the Christian life. When we allow and schedule times of quiet, we turn off the distractions and focus on the Lord. We should strive to make a regular habit of turning off the noise and disturbances of this world so that we can focus on, truly meditate on, the Lord, His Word and His will.
When we put Him first in this manner, we will be blessed and the distractions of the digital world will somehow seem to have less weight in our lives than we had previously thought. So let us resolve to not allow the digital world and its devices of distraction decide when we will be devout, but let our devotion to the Lord guide how we can most effectively use the digital world to live out our ultimate purpose of bringing people to Christ.
It is this noise that we should be made aware of. Often in life, we can go for some time without addressing an issue simply because we have not been made aware of it. The noise of the modern digital world is such an issue. Many people live lives like they handle their computer or digital device: switching back and forth between simultaneous programs.
This sort of fragmentation is not beneficial or effective. It's like putting one pant leg on, brushing the teeth of the left side of your mouth, putting on a shoe, turning off the alarm clock, turning on the TV, checking emails, pouring a bowl of cereal, then putting on the other pant leg, brushing the right side teeth, and sitting down to eat your cereal after putting on your other show. Clearly, this is an exaggeration, but if we're honest, is it that far off?
True multi-tasking is not the same as doing everything at the same time. Multi-tasking is always measured in effectiveness, not in how many things can we do simultaneously, but how many things can we do well. If we are being a poor friend, a sloppy employee, or an ineffective communicator, it might be that we are being distracted by the noise around i.e. TV, emails, texts, phone calls, etc. If our goal is to be excellent, a realigned measure of focus might be in order.
Fighting the fragmentation of the digital world we live in is not an easy proposition, particularly considering how plugged-in each of us is on a daily basis. Research as recent as 2009 indicates that around 90% of American households have computers, 83% have internet access in their homes, 83% of adults have a cell-phone, and some 80% of families have at least one modern gaming system (X-Box, Wii, Playstation 3, etc). This means that nearly every American is totally drowning in a sea of potential distractions.
The only thing that has any ability to cut through the noise of the digital world is the Lord, His Word and Holy Spirit. Getting into His presence is the only thing capable of slicing through the tumult of the world, which works tirelessly to distract us from Him. In reality, we are always in His presence, but we are often too distracted to be aware. Practically speaking, we need to turn down the noise in order to hear His voice. And, although this can be literal noise like turning our phones on silent, it is also an inner silence.
There is a distinct and clear quietness that accompanies the Christian life. When we allow and schedule times of quiet, we turn off the distractions and focus on the Lord. We should strive to make a regular habit of turning off the noise and disturbances of this world so that we can focus on, truly meditate on, the Lord, His Word and His will.
When we put Him first in this manner, we will be blessed and the distractions of the digital world will somehow seem to have less weight in our lives than we had previously thought. So let us resolve to not allow the digital world and its devices of distraction decide when we will be devout, but let our devotion to the Lord guide how we can most effectively use the digital world to live out our ultimate purpose of bringing people to Christ.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Marriage: a Beautiful Challenge
Getting married is easy. Having a healthy, godly, and successful marriage is hard. It requires emotional, physical, and spiritual commitment from both parties. More than anything, it is an exercise in sacrifice and service. Marriages fail for many reasons, but no reason is quite as prevalent or as destructive as selfishness.
Scripture presents a particularly unified account of the selfless love that marriage requires. Selfless love can be summed up simply: the denial of self to the benefit of the other. However simple the definition of selfless love may be, living it out is another thing all together. The key, as in all of life, is to look to Jesus as the ultimate example of selfless love.
In Paul's letter to the church in Philippi, Paul clearly indicates that Jesus, although being in very nature God, condescended to humanity to become the servant of all, and that we should likewise take an attitude and posture that emulates Christ's selflessness (Phil 2:1-10). The foundation that is Jesus should be not just the root of our salvation, but the example by which we live our lives as well.
The selflessness of Christ is to be an example for the selflessness of marriage, especially for husbands (Eph. 5:25-27). This is more than a convicting exhortation. To live with an attitude and posture of selflessness requires devotion and focus to the Lord. Only when we are focused on the Lord, Jesus, and His example by studying the Word, will we be truly able to live out the selfless love that successful marriage requires.
In reality, there are long-lasting marriages that are not rooted on the firmest of foundations. However, God desires marriage to be more than mere civil financial partnerships with an emotional component. Marriage is a divine pairing of two people to a single coupled person (Gen. 2:24). Selflessness then is one half of the couple holding up the other half and vice versa.
Marriage is a constant battle that pits the pull of selfishness against Christ's example of selflessness. The truth is that if both partners are living out Christlike selflessness, then they will have no need to be selfish as desires and needs will be fulfilled in and by the partner. This truly is the beauty of marriage, not to discount how thoroughly challenging it is to implement. But thanks be to God, who provides the example and the resources to have selfless marriages!
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Forgiving the Self
Life is hard.
It is full of painful pits, twisting hairpins, unseeable snares,
swirling storms, and countless other obstacles that impede our ability to walk
the straight and narrow. Because of the distinct and plentiful complications of life, sometimes, more often than
we’d like to admit, we make poor decisions. Tragically, the repercussions of poor decisions can be
painful, if not outright destructive.
Thankfully, because of sincere confession and belief in Christ, God forgives
all of our poor decisions (Psa. 103:12; 1
John 1:9). Handling missteps and
snowballs of sin is not God’s business.
He is in the business of salvation and forgiveness. However, we still have to deal with our
past choices, especially the ones that have lingering scars of
remembrance. It is how we face
those decisions, the good and bad,
that can reveal something about our reliance on the Lord.
The past, our pasts, usually come to us in emotional
vignettes: we remember specific episodes, how we felt, how we made others feel,
etc. These emotional memories,
though not always pervasive, linger with us after God has forgiven us. Simply put, God has forgiven us and, as
we live in Him by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we live in His
forgiveness.
This means that when we feel streams of regret and shame for
past sin that has been forgiven, we are bringing up sin that God has already
washed clean. In a sense,
replaying sin of the past is disbelief that we are truly forgiven because we,
in our flesh, are not able to fully believe the depth of God’s forgiveness.
It is important to note that judgment, in the form of guilt,
is always intended to draw us to repentance and sanctification. When we feel a divine guilt that
propels us to seek Him and to repair relationships, this is a beautiful
thing. However, if feelings of
regret torment us and hinder our ability to draw closer to Him, we are not
living in His grace but wallowing in our own fleshly weakness. Instead, we must claim our forgiven
identity.
Claiming an identity in Christ involves eschewing any and
every sin that hinders our sanctification and prevents the Holy Spirit from
entering every nook of our lives when every cranny already belongs to Him. Regret is one of Satan’s ploys and most powerful tactics. Remember, Satan is the
great accuser who tempts people to sin and then perpetually accuses them of
that sin (Rev. 12:10).
Whenever our pasts, the sin and bad decisions, accuses us with regret and guilt, it is not of God but is the enemy. The only way to overcome his accusations
is to, in the power of Jesus’ name, cast him out. Remember, our identity is made new in Christ, so any regret
of who we once were is not godly but is a hindrance to God’s holy work of
sanctification in our lives.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely,
and let us run with endurance the race that is marked out for us, looking to
Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, endured the cross, despising the
shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Heb.
12:1-2).” The casting aside of
weight and sin does not only refer to the sins of now but also to our past
sins. Let us cast them aside and
press forward in steadfastness and perseverance, keeping our gaze fixed on Christ and not allow ourselves to be distracted by ourselves.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Rest for the Redeemed
Rest, a time of refreshment, relaxation, and recovery. The seal of the Mosaic covenant was the keeping of the sabbath. The sabbath represented the seventh-day rest of creation. On every seventh day the Israelites were reminded of God's sovereign work of creation. Thus, the cycle of the week was a constant reminder of the Lord and the people's dependence on His provision and sovereignty.
The sabbath day was a day of rest but it served as much more than a mere "day off." It was a theological construct. On the sabbath, no work was to be done so that the people could focus on the Lord and His providence. Sabbath rest was a requirement and a seal of the covenant but it was to be surpassed by another, Promised Rest, that was to accompany the Promised Land. The Promised Land was to be paired with a Promised Rest. Unfortunately, due to covenant infidelity, the Israelites never saw the fulfillment of the Promised Rest.
This understanding of rest was amended under the New Covenant. The sabbath, and its theology, was changed by a new law, the law of Christ and grace. Under this new law, the rest for believers is not cyclical in the same sense but it is determined and bestowed by the Lord (Matt. 11:28-29). Rest is no longer dependent on the cycle of the week but is a constant state of being, a state of rest. Our rest is wholly dependent on the Lord alone. It is our reliance on the Lord that gives us our rest.
Additionally, the Promised Rest under Christ has a future fulfillment much like the Israelites' rest had a future fulfillment in the Promised Land. For Christians, rest has its ultimate realization in the eternal presence of the Holy Lord. This means that the rest we have now is only a part but to be made whole later in the Lord.
Rest, defined, refers to a time of relaxation and relief. Rest is often understood in relation to a particular activity or time but, as has been shown, rest is not defined in terms of activities or times. Rather, rest in Christ is a lifestyle, an attitude towards life itself, an utter reliance on the Lord. Rest is then paired with our understandings of hope and peace.
In Christ, rest is not occasion-dependent but is continuous because it is based on our reliance on the Holy Spirit. Therefore, Christians live in a state of rest because the Holy Spirit, who dwells within believers, is the giver of rest. Rest is one of the beautiful gifts that God bestows. Let us strive to live in the Spirit and thus live continuously in His rest.
The sabbath day was a day of rest but it served as much more than a mere "day off." It was a theological construct. On the sabbath, no work was to be done so that the people could focus on the Lord and His providence. Sabbath rest was a requirement and a seal of the covenant but it was to be surpassed by another, Promised Rest, that was to accompany the Promised Land. The Promised Land was to be paired with a Promised Rest. Unfortunately, due to covenant infidelity, the Israelites never saw the fulfillment of the Promised Rest.
This understanding of rest was amended under the New Covenant. The sabbath, and its theology, was changed by a new law, the law of Christ and grace. Under this new law, the rest for believers is not cyclical in the same sense but it is determined and bestowed by the Lord (Matt. 11:28-29). Rest is no longer dependent on the cycle of the week but is a constant state of being, a state of rest. Our rest is wholly dependent on the Lord alone. It is our reliance on the Lord that gives us our rest.
Additionally, the Promised Rest under Christ has a future fulfillment much like the Israelites' rest had a future fulfillment in the Promised Land. For Christians, rest has its ultimate realization in the eternal presence of the Holy Lord. This means that the rest we have now is only a part but to be made whole later in the Lord.
Rest, defined, refers to a time of relaxation and relief. Rest is often understood in relation to a particular activity or time but, as has been shown, rest is not defined in terms of activities or times. Rather, rest in Christ is a lifestyle, an attitude towards life itself, an utter reliance on the Lord. Rest is then paired with our understandings of hope and peace.
In Christ, rest is not occasion-dependent but is continuous because it is based on our reliance on the Holy Spirit. Therefore, Christians live in a state of rest because the Holy Spirit, who dwells within believers, is the giver of rest. Rest is one of the beautiful gifts that God bestows. Let us strive to live in the Spirit and thus live continuously in His rest.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Responsible Freedom
In Christ, Christians have been freed from the burden of the law. This means that believers have liberty. We are no longer slaves to sin but have been freed to righteousness. In this, Christians have a new found freedom to live. However, this freedom comes with a certain and definite responsibility. We are to be responsible so that we do not misuse our freedom to the detriment of others.
When we become disciples of Christ, we become image bearers of God, meaning that we are walking, talking testaments of the Lord. Becoming a beacon to the Lord, realizing that our decisions act as witnesses that attest to Him, is a lifelong process of realization and sanctification. Understanding that we are to live every moment to and for Him is what the Christian life is all about.
The freedom that Christians have in Jesus is to be used responsibly. For instance, if their is any action or behavior that hinders others from drawing closer to God, we need to change in order to help and not obstruct the spiritual growth of others (1 Cor. 10:23-33). We should never flaunt our freedom in serving our own desires but should always strive to be responsible with our freedom so that it is beneficial to others.
As Christians, our primary aim is to draw people to the Lord, to be salt and light. If we, in our freedom, become stumbling blocks for others, then we are not being obedient to what the Lord has for us. We should strive to live lives that are the most effective and beneficial in pointing people to God as possible. This means that we will practice personal discipline, decency, and temperance.
We are image bearers of God. Although God is God despite our actions, meaning that we can't, by our lives, make God look better. We can, by our actions, make God look bad. This should never be so. We should always endeavor to be pure and holy and, in so, become living testaments to Him, walking sacraments that point God. Praise be to God that He would use imperfect vessels such as us to be His image bearers on this earth!
When we become disciples of Christ, we become image bearers of God, meaning that we are walking, talking testaments of the Lord. Becoming a beacon to the Lord, realizing that our decisions act as witnesses that attest to Him, is a lifelong process of realization and sanctification. Understanding that we are to live every moment to and for Him is what the Christian life is all about.
The freedom that Christians have in Jesus is to be used responsibly. For instance, if their is any action or behavior that hinders others from drawing closer to God, we need to change in order to help and not obstruct the spiritual growth of others (1 Cor. 10:23-33). We should never flaunt our freedom in serving our own desires but should always strive to be responsible with our freedom so that it is beneficial to others.
As Christians, our primary aim is to draw people to the Lord, to be salt and light. If we, in our freedom, become stumbling blocks for others, then we are not being obedient to what the Lord has for us. We should strive to live lives that are the most effective and beneficial in pointing people to God as possible. This means that we will practice personal discipline, decency, and temperance.
We are image bearers of God. Although God is God despite our actions, meaning that we can't, by our lives, make God look better. We can, by our actions, make God look bad. This should never be so. We should always endeavor to be pure and holy and, in so, become living testaments to Him, walking sacraments that point God. Praise be to God that He would use imperfect vessels such as us to be His image bearers on this earth!
Friday, December 23, 2011
Practicing Righteousness
Practice. Life is all about practice. Practice is the action of repeating/rehearsing any activity while improving at doing it, whatever "it" may be. Nearly everything in life is a practice of some sort or another. From waking up in the morning, brushing teeth, putting on clothes, driving, or working: everything is a practice. The odd thing is that we do not always recognize everything that we practice.
In music, perfect practice has two basic features: (1) consistency, and (2) a good teacher. This is the same for the Christian life. Consistency means that we read the Word regularly, we are in prayer often, and we seek opportunities to serve. The second part, having a good teacher, points to the necessity of being tied to a local church.
Local churches, especially the elders/spiritually mature thereof, are responsible for discipling believers and helping them to grow into mature believers. Getting involved and being committed to local churches is essential for Christian growth. Remember, practicing, though not always desirable, is both rewarding and challenging but it is required when it comes to righteousness and living out the Christian life.
John talks about practice in reference to sin and righteousness (1 John 3:4-10). John is clear that those that practice sinning are lawless and unfaithful. Additionally, those that make a practice of sinning do not belong to the Father. Because God is holy, those that practice sin prove that the Father is not in him/her.
This should not be so. As John says, the evidence that the Father is in people is the measure of righteousness by which they live their lives. If we are in Him, we will live and desire to live by His holy standards of righteousness. This means that we will make an intentional practice of pursuing His righteousness.
There is an old adage: practice makes perfect. This is not correct. In truth, only perfect practice makes perfect. In spiritual terms, this means that the manner and method by which we practice righteousness must be righteous in order for it to be right practice. This means that we will be aware not just of the "what" of practicing righteousness, but also the "how" of practicing righteousness.
In music, perfect practice has two basic features: (1) consistency, and (2) a good teacher. This is the same for the Christian life. Consistency means that we read the Word regularly, we are in prayer often, and we seek opportunities to serve. The second part, having a good teacher, points to the necessity of being tied to a local church.
Local churches, especially the elders/spiritually mature thereof, are responsible for discipling believers and helping them to grow into mature believers. Getting involved and being committed to local churches is essential for Christian growth. Remember, practicing, though not always desirable, is both rewarding and challenging but it is required when it comes to righteousness and living out the Christian life.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Dusting off the Old Testament
The Old Testament was the Scripture that Jesus knew and that Paul
and the disciples used to teach the early Church. The Old Testament is
comprised of three major sections: the Law (the first five books), the Prophets
(Joshua to Isaiah plus the twelve latter prophets), and the Writings (Psalms,
Proverbs, etc). Jesus often taught that all of the Scriptures
(the Old Testament) revealed who He was, most notably after His resurrection
when He revealed how the whole of Scripture spoke of Him (Luke 24:27).
Needless to say, this means that the Old Testament warrants examination
by Christians.
At the onset, the ancient writing is challenging, "the past
is a foreign country: they do things differently there (L.P. Hartley)."
Because of its nature, the challenge is more prevalent with the Old
Testament. The composition of the Old Testament spans many centuries;
understanding it requires a bit of study. The canon of the Old Testament
is comprised of a variety of literary styles written by a diverse set of
authors that was edited by later scribes. A good study Bible is the first step.
Additionally, the Old Testament is full of stories that reveal
that nature of God and His relationship to mankind. Therefore,
understanding the Old Testament can be rewarding but it requires practice.
Although the Old Testament is compiled of episodes, it is not merely
about stories: there is much more. In this, the key is to read from a
broad perspective, keeping in mind the forest before getting too fixed on the
individual trees; focus on the whole before addressing the minutiae.
For this, reading whole books is in order. Reading the whole
book or major sections helps us to understand the big things. Then,
following the completion, making basic mental outlines and plain synopsis of
theme and purpose will help to define the most important elements.
Additionally, understanding why the book was written and for whom is a
great way to garner pertinent information that is helpful in interpretation.
Ultimately, the whole Bible is about God, who He is and how He
relates to us. We should dig into it and not shy away from the Old
Testament in the process. The Old Testament is rich with theology and
Christology that make it essential study for all Christians. That being
said, it can be difficult to understand and a good study Bible as well as basic
hermeneutical technique can go a long way to help.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Not Conformed to the World
The world is full of shimmer and shine, temptations that distract and lead people astray. John was clear that we should not desire the world and its fleshly desires, and that the love of the world is not compatible with the will of God. Paul confirms this position as well as giving us further exhortation for handling the world. "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Rom. 12:2)." Understanding the richness of this verse and the theology thereof is a multi-faceted venture.
First of all, what is the pattern of this world that we should not conform to any longer? Although answering this question is complex, a contracted summation could be defined in two words: irreverence & sin. The most striking feature of the world is its irreverence to the Lord. And, as a result of this irreverence, the world does not fear the Lord. This inevitably and without fail leads to sin.
In contrast, Christians are to live a life of fear and reverence to the Lord, which prevents believers from falling into sin. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Pro. 9:10; Psa. 111:10). Therefore, any person that strives to wisdom will begin with this basic assertion and will live in reverence to the Lord.
Moreover, the world defines itself in individuality, autonomy, and independence. The central theme of the world and those living within it is the "I" and "me." The individual strives to assert his/her individuality and lives life as if independent and autonomous. The world's identity is defined by the individualism. Thus the individual pursues individuality and self-reliance. The irony is that we can categorize the world's individuals, making them less than unique.
This is antithetical to Christian life which is defined as dependent. The Christian is to be reliant on the Lord and dependent on the body of Christ. The individual in Christianity is established not in terms of worldly identity but in reference to divine design and gifting. The Christian does not strive for individuality but his/her uniqueness is defined in the body of Christ, not autonomous but contingent.
Understanding the world that we are no longer to conform to is the first step in understanding Romans 12:2. The next step is the renewal of our minds. This is essential and not passive. It requires study and diligence. Our identities are deeply entrenched in how we think. When our minds our renewed by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, who we are changes to be inline with the will of God.
Lastly, being able to discern the will of God is the product of the renewal of our minds. It is important to note that the will of God is not the only will that is presented to us. When Paul says that we are to discern the will of God implies that we will still have to choose His will among other potential choices. Not conforming to the world and renewing our minds is the preparation that equips us to be able to choose, to discern, the will of God.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Controlling Self
Self-control: the telltale sign of a devout and maturing Christian. The term defines a lifestyle, an attitude towards discipline; however, in regards to Christians, self-control could be misleading. A more correct understanding of what it is to be self-controlled is Spirit-filled and obedient. In truth, we are called to lead self-controlled, disciplined lives, but our ability to control ourselves does not come from ourselves but is intimately dependent on God.
Controlling self could be synonymous with denying self continually. When we are asked to control ourselves, it is a request to deny our fleshly selves. Self-control is not about monitoring our fleshly selves, but replacing them with our spiritual selves by the power of the Holy Spirit. When we replace our fleshly selves with our spiritual selves we will live self-controlled lives.
Paramount to understanding self-control is temptation. We would have no need for self-control if not for the power of temptation. Temptation tugs, it pulls, it compels us to do and think things that are ungodly. Self-control is about combating temptation. In this regard, it is essential to remember that self-control, the denial of self to the exaltation of God, helps us to handle temptation. Moreover, God is faithful to not let us be tempted beyond our ability to deny our selves (1 Cor. 10:13).
Additionally, the grace of God helps us to say "no" to temptation (Tit. 2:11-12). In many ways, self-control could be described as a tactic, a strategy for dealing with temptation (1 Thes. 5:8). The enemy of our souls, Satan, prowls around hoping to snare, trap, and devour (1 Pet. 5:8). Being self-controlled is an attitude, a lifestyle, a tactic of spiritual warfare that helps us to overcome the temptations and snares of Satan and this world.
Self-control is also a practice that requires discipline to grow. Luckily, we have an advocate, Christ, who is able to help believers to be self-controlled and to overcome temptation (Heb. 2:18). Furthermore, we have to set our minds, prepare them for action, in order to handle temptation, to become men and women who are self-controlled (1 Pet. 1:13). Praise be to God that He would be faithful to us in temptations and that He would desire for His Spirit to dwell in us!
Controlling self could be synonymous with denying self continually. When we are asked to control ourselves, it is a request to deny our fleshly selves. Self-control is not about monitoring our fleshly selves, but replacing them with our spiritual selves by the power of the Holy Spirit. When we replace our fleshly selves with our spiritual selves we will live self-controlled lives.
Paramount to understanding self-control is temptation. We would have no need for self-control if not for the power of temptation. Temptation tugs, it pulls, it compels us to do and think things that are ungodly. Self-control is about combating temptation. In this regard, it is essential to remember that self-control, the denial of self to the exaltation of God, helps us to handle temptation. Moreover, God is faithful to not let us be tempted beyond our ability to deny our selves (1 Cor. 10:13).
Additionally, the grace of God helps us to say "no" to temptation (Tit. 2:11-12). In many ways, self-control could be described as a tactic, a strategy for dealing with temptation (1 Thes. 5:8). The enemy of our souls, Satan, prowls around hoping to snare, trap, and devour (1 Pet. 5:8). Being self-controlled is an attitude, a lifestyle, a tactic of spiritual warfare that helps us to overcome the temptations and snares of Satan and this world.
Self-control is also a practice that requires discipline to grow. Luckily, we have an advocate, Christ, who is able to help believers to be self-controlled and to overcome temptation (Heb. 2:18). Furthermore, we have to set our minds, prepare them for action, in order to handle temptation, to become men and women who are self-controlled (1 Pet. 1:13). Praise be to God that He would be faithful to us in temptations and that He would desire for His Spirit to dwell in us!
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