Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
PRESS ON TO POSSESS
Kay Wray writes a thoughtful blog called Quiet Times Reflections. This post reflects one of the important truths as we grow in Christ.
What would happen if I rode my bike, went for a walk, drove my car or
cooked a meal all the while not looking forward but behind me? Well, if
you knew me you would realize I wouldn’t need that reasoning for
falling off my bike or tripping while walking (I do that quite well
looking ahead!!). A car accident would be more than probable and
cooking would be a disaster. What about our relationships? If we
always remember and base any present or future relationships on what
he/she/they did to us are we not living in the today with our hearts
looking backwards?
In order to look forward the Apostle Paul had a lot to forget. Not only in whom he had become or what he did to others in the name of religion, but what was now being done to him in the name of religion.
“…I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me…forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on…” *
The possess Paul describes as central to this process is the same described in the gospels when people brought their loved ones to Jesus for deliverance. This possession is a total takeover of our minds, hearts, a seizing of all of us by Christ. But just as importantly, and we tend to miss, is our possession of Christ; a desperate seizing, a grabbing hold of, and a willful abandonment of all of me, for all of him. When we forgo our righteousness and allow Christ’s to become ours we can release the hold our past has on us today.
I love the vulnerability of Paul! “No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead…”* It’s ok to admit we don’t have it altogether, and at times we may even fail. But I also love the encouragement Paul gives, “… we must hold on to the progress we have already made.”* This speaks of present, actively pursuing and looking forward, taking the hard road and doing the work by not giving up or in to past behaviors or thoughts.
It is a permanent forgetting of the past in order to create and build upon the present and future.
Wherever you are in this process be assured you are not alone. We all have a lot of work to do…don’t give up! “Press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”*
Our promise: “God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. (Phil 2:13)
*Philippians 3:9-16
Press on to possess
In order to look forward the Apostle Paul had a lot to forget. Not only in whom he had become or what he did to others in the name of religion, but what was now being done to him in the name of religion.
“…I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me…forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on…” *
The possess Paul describes as central to this process is the same described in the gospels when people brought their loved ones to Jesus for deliverance. This possession is a total takeover of our minds, hearts, a seizing of all of us by Christ. But just as importantly, and we tend to miss, is our possession of Christ; a desperate seizing, a grabbing hold of, and a willful abandonment of all of me, for all of him. When we forgo our righteousness and allow Christ’s to become ours we can release the hold our past has on us today.
I love the vulnerability of Paul! “No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead…”* It’s ok to admit we don’t have it altogether, and at times we may even fail. But I also love the encouragement Paul gives, “… we must hold on to the progress we have already made.”* This speaks of present, actively pursuing and looking forward, taking the hard road and doing the work by not giving up or in to past behaviors or thoughts.
It is a permanent forgetting of the past in order to create and build upon the present and future.
Wherever you are in this process be assured you are not alone. We all have a lot of work to do…don’t give up! “Press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”*
Our promise: “God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. (Phil 2:13)
*Philippians 3:9-16
Sunday, March 11, 2012
NOT JUST WISE WORDS BUT WISDOM PERSONIFIED
One of the blogs I subscribe to is called CALM-IN-THE-CHAOTIC. Written by a young woman from Great Britain named Rebekah, she states her purpose as: “The purpose of this blog is to explore, along with my readers, what it means to find calm in a world full of chaos, by looking into biblical truths using music and poetry as a stimulus.” This past Saturday evening, having put my Sunday morning message to bed I was doing some on-line reading and delved into her archives. This post spoke to me powerfully. – Steve
Here is an example of Solomon’s poetic skill in the use of idiosyncratic personification to characterise wisdom and folly:
Wisdom has built her house;
she has hewn out its seven pillars.
She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;
she has also set her table.
She has sent out her maids, and she calls
from the highest point of the city.
“Let all who are simple come in here!”
she says to those who lack judgment.
“Come, eat my food
and drink the wine I have mixed.
Leave your simple ways and you will live;
walk in the way of understanding.
Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult;
whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse.
Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you;
rebuke a wise man and he will love you.
Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still;
teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
For through me your days will be many,
and years will be added to your life.
If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you;
if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.”
The woman Folly is loud;
she is undisciplined and without knowledge.
She sits at the door of her house,
on a seat at the highest point of the city,
calling out to those who pass by,
who go straight on their way.
“Let all who are simple come in here!”
she says to those who lack judgment.
“Stolen water is sweet;
food eaten in secret is delicious!”
But little do they know that the dead are there,
that her guests are in the depths of the grave. ~ Proverbs 9
The end of this chapter is sobering. The foolish (literally: morally deficient, which, if we’re honest, is characteristic of mankind at its core) end up in the grave. As Glenn Scrivener says, “We are spiritually foolish” as “a fool is just a person who trusts in themselves – who relies on their own strength, their own decision making, their own plotting and planning and strategising to make life work. If you rely on yourself to get through life and not on Jesus Christ, the Bible would say you’re a fool.” The last sentence in the Proverbs passage reminds me of Paul’s words in Romans: “The wages of sin is death…” Thankfully the sentence doesn’t end there. It is followed by a life-changing but:
“The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
“So we can make wise choices if we belong to Jesus Christ because He is Wisdom and we become wise in relationship with Him… It’s not ‘make right choices so you become a right person’ – it’s ‘become a right person in Jesus Christ. Then you’ll start to make right choices.’” (Glen Scrivener)
For a full explanation of this rich passage from Proverbs, I would highly recommend Glen Scrivener’s insightful talk on guidance (click on the link to listen).
* “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
TO READ MORE FROM THIS BLOG GO TO CALM …
Not Just Wise Words But Wisdom Personified
November 15, 2011
Again, I have forsaken my first love — poetry that is. So, to make up for it, here’s a section from Proverbs, the kind of poetry which is edifying because it is the very Word of God. It is, as Paul writes, God-breathed*. Proverbs was written by Solomon (the son of King David, the poet-king) and is known as wisdom poetry.
Here is an example of Solomon’s poetic skill in the use of idiosyncratic personification to characterise wisdom and folly:
Wisdom has built her house;
she has hewn out its seven pillars.
She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;
she has also set her table.
She has sent out her maids, and she calls
from the highest point of the city.
“Let all who are simple come in here!”
she says to those who lack judgment.
“Come, eat my food
and drink the wine I have mixed.
Leave your simple ways and you will live;
walk in the way of understanding.
Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult;
whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse.
Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you;
rebuke a wise man and he will love you.
Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still;
teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
For through me your days will be many,
and years will be added to your life.
If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you;
if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.”
The woman Folly is loud;
she is undisciplined and without knowledge.
She sits at the door of her house,
on a seat at the highest point of the city,
calling out to those who pass by,
who go straight on their way.
“Let all who are simple come in here!”
she says to those who lack judgment.
“Stolen water is sweet;
food eaten in secret is delicious!”
But little do they know that the dead are there,
that her guests are in the depths of the grave. ~ Proverbs 9
The end of this chapter is sobering. The foolish (literally: morally deficient, which, if we’re honest, is characteristic of mankind at its core) end up in the grave. As Glenn Scrivener says, “We are spiritually foolish” as “a fool is just a person who trusts in themselves – who relies on their own strength, their own decision making, their own plotting and planning and strategising to make life work. If you rely on yourself to get through life and not on Jesus Christ, the Bible would say you’re a fool.” The last sentence in the Proverbs passage reminds me of Paul’s words in Romans: “The wages of sin is death…” Thankfully the sentence doesn’t end there. It is followed by a life-changing but:
“The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
“So we can make wise choices if we belong to Jesus Christ because He is Wisdom and we become wise in relationship with Him… It’s not ‘make right choices so you become a right person’ – it’s ‘become a right person in Jesus Christ. Then you’ll start to make right choices.’” (Glen Scrivener)
For a full explanation of this rich passage from Proverbs, I would highly recommend Glen Scrivener’s insightful talk on guidance (click on the link to listen).
* “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
TO READ MORE FROM THIS BLOG GO TO CALM …
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