Friday, August 13, 2010
Worth Re-posting
“The expression of Christian character is not good doing, but God-likeness. If the Spirit of God has transformed you within, you will exhibit divine characteristics in your life, not good human characteristics. God’s life in us expresses itself as God’s life, not as human life trying to be godly. The secret of a Christian is that the supernatural is made natural in him by the grace of God, and the experience of this works out in the practical details of life, not in times of communion with God.” Oswald Chambers (1874–1917)
Saturday, June 5, 2010
New RV Blog
When I blogged the first time about our move to the RV I didn't envision turning this into a project. Well, it is now my project at Kathy's encouragement. "Reflections" is my blog centered around philosophical and theological musings and really isn't a suitable vehicle for our RV life so I have added a new blog; "Lucy & Leroy's Great RV Adventure."
http://flahal-rvblog.blogspot.com/
http://flahal-rvblog.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Saying No to Militancy
"And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, {25} In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; {26} And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will." (2 Timothy 2:24-26)
In my younger years I often fell into a rhythm of militancy when expressing my doctrinal understanding and convictions. It required a great deal of time for the truth of “the servant of the Lord MUST NOT strive” (emphasis mine)to sink in. After years of ministry it has been my observation that a militant presentation of truth is a fruitless endeavor. At times it has appeared that one has been successful in making converts to ones point of view only to discover that a new militant has been created. This suggests that the person influenced was not persuaded of truth but was, in reality, a militant looking for a cause.
Strife only breeds more strife as indicated in Proverbs 15:18 when Solomon writes; “A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife." Our apostle of grace, Paul, exhorted believers to "let nothing be done through strife or vainglory.” I can with honesty attest that I have never witnessed one spiritual victory gained through militancy. Militancy is not about gentleness but conquering. Militancy is not about teaching but replication and rigidity. Militancy is not about patience or meekness but the properly timed strike, and triumph, and the pride of a vanquished foe.
Someone once said that Christians, in the spiritual battle, are often guilty of shooting their own wounded. Perhaps not, but it does often appear that believers are quick to throw another believer under the bus, so to speak, rather than to extend themselves in sincere ministry and edification. Paul makes it clear that the battleground of the Lord’s servant is the mind. To win the mind requires gentle, patient, and meek instruction which enables the errant to recover themselves. The result of a campaign of this nature is capitulation to truth, not the conquest of one will over another. Truth becomes the victor, not the Lord’s servant.
"For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. {15} But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another." (Galatians 5:14-15)
"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. {18} For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. {19} Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another." (Romans 14:17-19)
In my younger years I often fell into a rhythm of militancy when expressing my doctrinal understanding and convictions. It required a great deal of time for the truth of “the servant of the Lord MUST NOT strive” (emphasis mine)to sink in. After years of ministry it has been my observation that a militant presentation of truth is a fruitless endeavor. At times it has appeared that one has been successful in making converts to ones point of view only to discover that a new militant has been created. This suggests that the person influenced was not persuaded of truth but was, in reality, a militant looking for a cause.
Strife only breeds more strife as indicated in Proverbs 15:18 when Solomon writes; “A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife." Our apostle of grace, Paul, exhorted believers to "let nothing be done through strife or vainglory.” I can with honesty attest that I have never witnessed one spiritual victory gained through militancy. Militancy is not about gentleness but conquering. Militancy is not about teaching but replication and rigidity. Militancy is not about patience or meekness but the properly timed strike, and triumph, and the pride of a vanquished foe.
Someone once said that Christians, in the spiritual battle, are often guilty of shooting their own wounded. Perhaps not, but it does often appear that believers are quick to throw another believer under the bus, so to speak, rather than to extend themselves in sincere ministry and edification. Paul makes it clear that the battleground of the Lord’s servant is the mind. To win the mind requires gentle, patient, and meek instruction which enables the errant to recover themselves. The result of a campaign of this nature is capitulation to truth, not the conquest of one will over another. Truth becomes the victor, not the Lord’s servant.
"For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. {15} But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another." (Galatians 5:14-15)
"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. {18} For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. {19} Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another." (Romans 14:17-19)
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Where Did He Go?
True, there are some positive differences. He was nervous and his self-assuredness was more bravado than substance while I am comfortable in my skin. He was somewhat self-absorbed while I am more aware of circumstances and people around me. He was more easily angered and argumentative while I am more laid back and introspective.
At times I wish I could go back to the days of my youth, but in reality I recognize that, even if it were possible, it’s doubtful that I would do it much better the second time around. I guess I’ll just be content with who I have become.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
A New Year: A New You
The year is closed, the record made,
The last deed done, the last word said,
The memory alone remains
Of all its joys, its griefs, its gains,
And now with purpose full and clear,
We turn to meet another year.
Robert Browning (1812–1889)
Many of us embark on a new year with the hope that things will be better than the previous year. A common practice upon January first is the “resolution”. New Year Resolutions are attempts on our part to reshape or redirect our lives with a view to improving our circumstances. Historically, this process soon results in personal failure and the painful realization that nothing has changed. Circumstances are what they are and one’s personal resources for addressing them remain as they did in the previous year.
(2 Corinthians 5:17) "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." In this scripture the apostle Paul reveals the startling secret that “all things are become new.” The difficulty with this truth, for many believers, is that they don’t feel new. Their circumstances aren’t new and life appears no different than it has always been.
The truth is that “in Christ” we are a new creature. The moment we trust Christ there is a miraculous operation of the Holy Spirit where we are baptized into the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). In this we become eternally and irrevocably identified with our Savior, Jesus Christ. This identification brings completeness to our lives that we could never achieve in our own strength.
(Colossians 2:6-12) "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: {7} Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. {8} Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. {9} For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. {10} And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: {11} In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: {12} Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead."
Colossians two contains much vital information for the struggling Christian. First, our walk (the way we live) is to function on the same basis as our conversion; by grace through faith. Second, we need to be established (grounded and mature) in the faith which, in the Pauline context, means being rooted in the doctrines of grace. Third, the realization that our sufficiency lies in our identity “in Christ” where we discover the fullness of everything God has accomplished for us in His Son, making us complete.
In our new identity in Christ we are to bring this completeness to our circumstances. It isn’t an issue of resolve but of faith. Also, it is not about what we can do differently but about God has done for us. When we conduct our lives on the basis of these truths we experience “newness”.
Please note; (Romans 6:4) "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." We “should walk in newness of life” because of our identification with the Lord Jesus Christ. This, of course, is what we “should” do but too often we choose to make life’s choices on the basis of our Adamic heritage. In living in light of our earthly identity we negate the privileges and power of our heavenly identity.
This may appear to be a philosophical point, only, but the essential truth is that we don’t need to resolve to become new. What is required of us is to choose to live as the new creature God has made us to be “in Christ”. While many Christians angst over their difficult circumstances, pleading with God to remove the difficulties, they overlook the secret to peace in their lives. All things are become new because we are new “in Christ”. Our situation may not change but the resources at our disposal have. God doesn’t need to fix our circumstances because he fixed us.
In Ephesians 2:10 we read that “we are His workmanship” and it stands to reason that God’s handiwork is thorough and reliable. Over the coming installments we will explore the contrasts between who we were before Christ, and who we are now “in Christ.” It is my sincerest desire to encourage the saints to experience the newness that is only found in living in light of the new creature God has made us to be. The resources of God’s grace are bountiful and it is shameful for the children of God to live as spiritual paupers when, in truth, they are “blessed with all spiritual in heavenly places blessings in Christ”.
The last deed done, the last word said,
The memory alone remains
Of all its joys, its griefs, its gains,
And now with purpose full and clear,
We turn to meet another year.
Robert Browning (1812–1889)
Many of us embark on a new year with the hope that things will be better than the previous year. A common practice upon January first is the “resolution”. New Year Resolutions are attempts on our part to reshape or redirect our lives with a view to improving our circumstances. Historically, this process soon results in personal failure and the painful realization that nothing has changed. Circumstances are what they are and one’s personal resources for addressing them remain as they did in the previous year.
(2 Corinthians 5:17) "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." In this scripture the apostle Paul reveals the startling secret that “all things are become new.” The difficulty with this truth, for many believers, is that they don’t feel new. Their circumstances aren’t new and life appears no different than it has always been.
The truth is that “in Christ” we are a new creature. The moment we trust Christ there is a miraculous operation of the Holy Spirit where we are baptized into the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). In this we become eternally and irrevocably identified with our Savior, Jesus Christ. This identification brings completeness to our lives that we could never achieve in our own strength.
(Colossians 2:6-12) "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: {7} Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. {8} Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. {9} For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. {10} And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: {11} In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: {12} Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead."
Colossians two contains much vital information for the struggling Christian. First, our walk (the way we live) is to function on the same basis as our conversion; by grace through faith. Second, we need to be established (grounded and mature) in the faith which, in the Pauline context, means being rooted in the doctrines of grace. Third, the realization that our sufficiency lies in our identity “in Christ” where we discover the fullness of everything God has accomplished for us in His Son, making us complete.
In our new identity in Christ we are to bring this completeness to our circumstances. It isn’t an issue of resolve but of faith. Also, it is not about what we can do differently but about God has done for us. When we conduct our lives on the basis of these truths we experience “newness”.
Please note; (Romans 6:4) "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." We “should walk in newness of life” because of our identification with the Lord Jesus Christ. This, of course, is what we “should” do but too often we choose to make life’s choices on the basis of our Adamic heritage. In living in light of our earthly identity we negate the privileges and power of our heavenly identity.
This may appear to be a philosophical point, only, but the essential truth is that we don’t need to resolve to become new. What is required of us is to choose to live as the new creature God has made us to be “in Christ”. While many Christians angst over their difficult circumstances, pleading with God to remove the difficulties, they overlook the secret to peace in their lives. All things are become new because we are new “in Christ”. Our situation may not change but the resources at our disposal have. God doesn’t need to fix our circumstances because he fixed us.
In Ephesians 2:10 we read that “we are His workmanship” and it stands to reason that God’s handiwork is thorough and reliable. Over the coming installments we will explore the contrasts between who we were before Christ, and who we are now “in Christ.” It is my sincerest desire to encourage the saints to experience the newness that is only found in living in light of the new creature God has made us to be. The resources of God’s grace are bountiful and it is shameful for the children of God to live as spiritual paupers when, in truth, they are “blessed with all spiritual in heavenly places blessings in Christ”.
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