Many of us don't find work to be fun. We go but it is a fight. 'Do what you love.' may not always be an option for us but we make a choice because we have weighed our options and work allows us certain benefits. It is great if we love what we do but even if that is true we likely have aspects of work that are not our favorite but they are necessary. We do what we need to do because we are adults and it is part of being a mature responsible person.
Purpose or pleasure. Which will it be? Sometimes you can't have your cake and eat it too. Sometimes you and I must just make a choice and live with that choice. It we choose in anger, exhaustion, self-justification or exasperation we may live to regret what we did because in those states we are seeking relief and are often not building on a future happiness.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." - John 3:16-17 ESV
"But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors." - Isaiah 53:10-12 NASB
God has made some tough choices because of love. We can also. Love is pleasurable but it has stages that we must tough out because we care about the end result. God gave us free will and He has had some hard days because of that choice. His hardest day was the cross but God 'was pleased' to crush His Son so that we could be reconciled. That boggles the mind.
Don't quit.
Don't throw up your hands and self medicate.
Don't choose pleasure over purpose. Let's have pleasure in our purpose because our purpose aligns with God's purpose. If we value investment and redemption all the sweat and tears will contribute to a great increase.
"Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For, 'Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.' But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls." - Hebrews 10:35-39 ESV
Yes and Amen.
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Showing posts with label Maturity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Maturity. Show all posts
Thursday, August 3, 2017
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
O Virgin Israel
I see in this next passage a great parallel to the human experience. We 'grow in grace' and our diminished capacity gets restored.
"There is hope for your future, declares the LORD, and your children shall come back to their own country. I have heard Ephraim grieving, 'You have disciplined me, and I was disciplined, like an untrained calf; bring me back that I may be restored, for you are the LORD my God. For after I had turned away, I relented, and after I was instructed, I struck my thigh; I was ashamed, and I was confounded, because I bore the disgrace of my youth.' Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he my darling child? For as often as I speak against him, I do remember him still. Therefore my heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him, declares the LORD. 'Set up road markers for yourself; make yourself guideposts; consider well the highway, the road by which you went. Return, O virgin Israel, return to these your cities.' " - Jeremiah 31:17-21 ESV
This is a parallel but not a perfect one. God is anthropomorphizing Israel. Israel isn't a person (anthropomorphizing is giving an object or thing human qualities). People 'slap their thigh' about their past. Their eyes look up and away as they sigh or groan remembering.
God speaks often against Israel in the scriptures but He never speaks against us. We only identify with the 'darling child' part of this passage. That is one place where the parallel breaks down. God does remember the transgressions of an institution but sin and sins of individuals have been paid for on the cross. We are prodigals who have returned. God has nothing but gifts for us and restored status. Our sin was cast into the deepest sea.
He gave them a way back and we have a way back also. Grace thinking is our way back. Maturity is when we return and set up landmarks as reminders.
'Return, O virgin Israel'
Yes. We are clean like that. Grace will establish that reality if we let it wash us. If we learn to think with God. Our groans will turn into laughter. Detachment will happen when there is a new healthy identification with what Christ has done on our behalf.
--
"There is hope for your future, declares the LORD, and your children shall come back to their own country. I have heard Ephraim grieving, 'You have disciplined me, and I was disciplined, like an untrained calf; bring me back that I may be restored, for you are the LORD my God. For after I had turned away, I relented, and after I was instructed, I struck my thigh; I was ashamed, and I was confounded, because I bore the disgrace of my youth.' Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he my darling child? For as often as I speak against him, I do remember him still. Therefore my heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him, declares the LORD. 'Set up road markers for yourself; make yourself guideposts; consider well the highway, the road by which you went. Return, O virgin Israel, return to these your cities.' " - Jeremiah 31:17-21 ESV
This is a parallel but not a perfect one. God is anthropomorphizing Israel. Israel isn't a person (anthropomorphizing is giving an object or thing human qualities). People 'slap their thigh' about their past. Their eyes look up and away as they sigh or groan remembering.
God speaks often against Israel in the scriptures but He never speaks against us. We only identify with the 'darling child' part of this passage. That is one place where the parallel breaks down. God does remember the transgressions of an institution but sin and sins of individuals have been paid for on the cross. We are prodigals who have returned. God has nothing but gifts for us and restored status. Our sin was cast into the deepest sea.
He gave them a way back and we have a way back also. Grace thinking is our way back. Maturity is when we return and set up landmarks as reminders.
'Return, O virgin Israel'
Yes. We are clean like that. Grace will establish that reality if we let it wash us. If we learn to think with God. Our groans will turn into laughter. Detachment will happen when there is a new healthy identification with what Christ has done on our behalf.
--
Friday, February 19, 2016
The Rocky And Thorny Ground
I'm still chewing on the parable of the sower in Luke chapter eight.
"Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience." - Luke 8:11-15 ESV
Parables are interesting things. They are very good to chew on because the meaning of the parable is deep and lasting but if you play with them to much they will break because they have a central meaning and it can be lost if you focus on the wrong things.
Someone could say, 'We are not farmers. Does He want us to be farmers? Is farming a more spiritual profession?'.
Whole groups of people have gone in directions like this. Jesus used Earthy illustrations and so people surmised that Jesus preferred rural activities and therefore they must be more spiritual but that is a stretch. Grace is white collar and blue collar. Grace is God's method for dealing with all people.
Robertson McQuilkin calls a parable one of the 'figures of comparison' in his book 'Understanding and Applying The Bible'. Figures of comparison are a distinct form of literature. Like a question or a command it has a primary usage and that must be known in order for it to be understood correctly.
The disciples understood that what they were hearing was a riddle of some kind. Jesus goes deeper and explains...
"And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, 'To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that 'seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.' " - Luke 8:9-10 ESV
So, I want to avoid how 'others' would interpret Jesus' words about the seed and the ground and find the way that is 'given'. The grace way. The gift way.
On the wayside the seed gets trodden down before it takes root. On the rocky ground things begin in joy but never progress. If there are thorns the plant grows to a certain point but never produces fruit. Only the good ground has fruit.
We talked about wayside ground but today I'm looking at rocky and thorny ground. Rocky ground is shallow and thorny ground has three aspects in the Gospel of Luke.
"...they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature..." Luke 8:14b
That is distilled further in Matthew.
"As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful." - Matthew 13:22 ESV
Grace understanding is good soil. The seed is given and the understanding is given.
If our understanding is shallow we will like what we hear but it won't take root because we have a system underneath that is incompatible with growth and maturity.
Thorns are unlike rocks. They are allowed to grow. They happen and they have benefits attached with them. Those benefits are deceitful ones but pleasurable for a season.
"The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved." - Jeremiah 8:20 ESV
It is a sad lament. Jeremiah said this of Israel. Opportunities were wasted in their window of opportunity and there was no spiritual food to satisfy the hunger that was to come upon them.
God has good seed but do we have good soil?
Grace. Grace. Grace. That is what is needed.
My effort will fix nothing. God's grace is everything. Truth is given as a gift. I don't want to be shallow or distracted. There is to much at stake. The harvest season is only so long and what is planted today is needed for tomorrow.
God help us. Help us to handle the truth with care. Cause us to receive the truth with depth. Teach us grace. We want the principles to turn into application in our lives. We want to live the message. We want the fruits of the Holy Spirit to abound in our lives. Thank You God. You are the farmer and we are your field. Thank You God.
--
"Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience." - Luke 8:11-15 ESV
Parables are interesting things. They are very good to chew on because the meaning of the parable is deep and lasting but if you play with them to much they will break because they have a central meaning and it can be lost if you focus on the wrong things.
Someone could say, 'We are not farmers. Does He want us to be farmers? Is farming a more spiritual profession?'.
Whole groups of people have gone in directions like this. Jesus used Earthy illustrations and so people surmised that Jesus preferred rural activities and therefore they must be more spiritual but that is a stretch. Grace is white collar and blue collar. Grace is God's method for dealing with all people.
Robertson McQuilkin calls a parable one of the 'figures of comparison' in his book 'Understanding and Applying The Bible'. Figures of comparison are a distinct form of literature. Like a question or a command it has a primary usage and that must be known in order for it to be understood correctly.
The disciples understood that what they were hearing was a riddle of some kind. Jesus goes deeper and explains...
"And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, 'To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that 'seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.' " - Luke 8:9-10 ESV
So, I want to avoid how 'others' would interpret Jesus' words about the seed and the ground and find the way that is 'given'. The grace way. The gift way.
On the wayside the seed gets trodden down before it takes root. On the rocky ground things begin in joy but never progress. If there are thorns the plant grows to a certain point but never produces fruit. Only the good ground has fruit.
We talked about wayside ground but today I'm looking at rocky and thorny ground. Rocky ground is shallow and thorny ground has three aspects in the Gospel of Luke.
"...they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature..." Luke 8:14b
That is distilled further in Matthew.
"As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful." - Matthew 13:22 ESV
Grace understanding is good soil. The seed is given and the understanding is given.
If our understanding is shallow we will like what we hear but it won't take root because we have a system underneath that is incompatible with growth and maturity.
Thorns are unlike rocks. They are allowed to grow. They happen and they have benefits attached with them. Those benefits are deceitful ones but pleasurable for a season.
"The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved." - Jeremiah 8:20 ESV
It is a sad lament. Jeremiah said this of Israel. Opportunities were wasted in their window of opportunity and there was no spiritual food to satisfy the hunger that was to come upon them.
God has good seed but do we have good soil?
Grace. Grace. Grace. That is what is needed.
My effort will fix nothing. God's grace is everything. Truth is given as a gift. I don't want to be shallow or distracted. There is to much at stake. The harvest season is only so long and what is planted today is needed for tomorrow.
God help us. Help us to handle the truth with care. Cause us to receive the truth with depth. Teach us grace. We want the principles to turn into application in our lives. We want to live the message. We want the fruits of the Holy Spirit to abound in our lives. Thank You God. You are the farmer and we are your field. Thank You God.
--
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Weighty Love
I'm sitting here thinking of people and how important and precious each one is and praying for a way to communicate that truth without it sounding like a cliche of some kind.
I'm going through verses like John 3:16 and thinking about God's love. He wouldn't send His Son for people that weren't important. But I couldn't land there and be satisfied with that. It does not sound specific enough.
Perhaps if we see we are needed then we see our importance. A mother and father know they are needed by their small children. If the need lessens does our importance lessen? Perhaps it seems that way. It's not true but it seems that way. Naturally speaking usefulness seems linked to importance.
But God sees things differently. He loves. He Is love.
"Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was not at all his will to come now. He will come when he has opportunity. Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love." - 1 Corinthians 16:12-14 ESV
You are important. How you love is important. Who you love is important. Where you go and what you do when you love is not a light matter.
Act like a man. (If you are a woman then be God's woman.) Know that the people you love need the love you have to give. If you have been touched by divine love then you have a unique perspective of importance and the importance of loving others.
People who don't know that they are loved can't know their true worth.
We can't afford to get lax and passive. People are too important. God, the all important One, loves them and His love makes people important.
Who knows how much time we have? Individuals may be gone from our sight tomorrow. We might be gone tomorrow.
Maybe you are older or sick or busy and don't feel important. Maybe you are young or silly or afraid and you can't see your importance. You are important.
You.
Be strong. Be watchful. Love and make decisions with love in mind. Eternity will tell the story of those who loved with God's love.
--
I'm going through verses like John 3:16 and thinking about God's love. He wouldn't send His Son for people that weren't important. But I couldn't land there and be satisfied with that. It does not sound specific enough.
Perhaps if we see we are needed then we see our importance. A mother and father know they are needed by their small children. If the need lessens does our importance lessen? Perhaps it seems that way. It's not true but it seems that way. Naturally speaking usefulness seems linked to importance.
But God sees things differently. He loves. He Is love.
"Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was not at all his will to come now. He will come when he has opportunity. Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love." - 1 Corinthians 16:12-14 ESV
You are important. How you love is important. Who you love is important. Where you go and what you do when you love is not a light matter.
Act like a man. (If you are a woman then be God's woman.) Know that the people you love need the love you have to give. If you have been touched by divine love then you have a unique perspective of importance and the importance of loving others.
People who don't know that they are loved can't know their true worth.
We can't afford to get lax and passive. People are too important. God, the all important One, loves them and His love makes people important.
Who knows how much time we have? Individuals may be gone from our sight tomorrow. We might be gone tomorrow.
Maybe you are older or sick or busy and don't feel important. Maybe you are young or silly or afraid and you can't see your importance. You are important.
You.
Be strong. Be watchful. Love and make decisions with love in mind. Eternity will tell the story of those who loved with God's love.
--
Friday, July 5, 2013
Sainthood
People have been lifting other people to exalted positions of spiritual significance throughout history. They make statues and set them on un-climbable marble columns in the town square. I think in some ways it is an easier way to live.
We can live like little boys and girls who never grow up.
"When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." 1 Corinthians 13:11 KJV
"And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ." Matthew 23:9-10 KJV
As children we need examples and they are given to us readily. Examples of people who do the right things and wrong things are ways to tell character lessons and instill moral fiber. Children need those lessons.
What happens when children become adults? Suddenly they become accountable to adult responsibilities... the middle man is taken away.
Oppressive societies want their inhabitants to remain childlike in these ways. It makes it easier to keep people under their thumbs. Other cultures strip all honor and respect from people causing a loss of innocence on fundamental levels.
God has a balance. A way to mature without loss of innocence. It is grace.
"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." 2 Peter 3:18 ESV
Grace by nature gives glory to God while giving dignity to people.
"To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 1:7 ESV
All people can hear and answer the call to be Saints. The word actually means called out ones. Freedom means accountability. When we stand before God there will be no merely moral man standing between us and Him to shield us.
If anything shields us it will be the gracious relationship we have with Christ. Being in Christ will be the Ark that saves us.
"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor." Romans 12:9-10 ESV
It is from this vantage point that true honor can be shown. We don't worship people but we do honor them more and more. Grace lets us love ourselves and have the power to face the future head on with no buffer but God Himself. The honor of a pioneer is a priceless thing. Let's love God, others and ourselves just that way.
We can live like little boys and girls who never grow up.
"When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." 1 Corinthians 13:11 KJV
"And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ." Matthew 23:9-10 KJV
As children we need examples and they are given to us readily. Examples of people who do the right things and wrong things are ways to tell character lessons and instill moral fiber. Children need those lessons.
What happens when children become adults? Suddenly they become accountable to adult responsibilities... the middle man is taken away.
Oppressive societies want their inhabitants to remain childlike in these ways. It makes it easier to keep people under their thumbs. Other cultures strip all honor and respect from people causing a loss of innocence on fundamental levels.
God has a balance. A way to mature without loss of innocence. It is grace.
"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." 2 Peter 3:18 ESV
Grace by nature gives glory to God while giving dignity to people.
"To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 1:7 ESV
All people can hear and answer the call to be Saints. The word actually means called out ones. Freedom means accountability. When we stand before God there will be no merely moral man standing between us and Him to shield us.
If anything shields us it will be the gracious relationship we have with Christ. Being in Christ will be the Ark that saves us.
"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor." Romans 12:9-10 ESV
It is from this vantage point that true honor can be shown. We don't worship people but we do honor them more and more. Grace lets us love ourselves and have the power to face the future head on with no buffer but God Himself. The honor of a pioneer is a priceless thing. Let's love God, others and ourselves just that way.
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