We’ve all heard the saying that “wounded people wound people” and we’re typically best at identifying this behavior when a wounded person wounds us. It’s not so easy to identify when we’re the wounded doing the wounding. Right after Paul encouraged believers to have the same mind and attitude of Christ (Philippians 2:1-11), he calls them to continue obeying God, to work out their own salvation, and to refrain from grumbling and arguing. Why? VS 15 “that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.” Paul was calling Christians to a life that was the opposite of the crooked and twisted generation; to a life that was different than the world, not the same! What is the Ricochet Effect? It’s when we allow the behaviors produced by the crooked and twisted generation to dictate our own behaviors and the direction of our own lives. Someone hurt you, so instead of remaining unblemished, you develop a critical spirit towards others. Someone betrayed you, so instead of remaining blameless you retreat into your own isolation reneging on your own commitments and promises to others. Someone abandoned you, so you abandon innocence and begin lashing out at others, controlled by anger. You’re wounded and you’re wounding, just as you were wounded but you don’t even see it! Fill in the blank____________ . What behavior from a crooked and twisted generation has been levied against you? How are you allowing it to redirect the direction of your life? How are you allowing it to control your own behavior? As Christians, let us react differently than the crooked and twisted generation (Philippians 2:1-18 ESV http://bit.ly/1ToaiVY)
Do Hard Things
Last Sunday, at New Passion, we concluded a 6 week message series titled, “All In” which was directed at those in the church that claim to be followers of Jesus.
Today, I was reading through My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers and decided to catch up on some of the devotions that I have missed when I came across the July 7 entry, “All Efforts of Worth and Excellence are Difficult“. I think it fits well with the All In series, so please read below:
“Enter by the narrow gate…Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life…” Matthew 7:13-14
If we are going to live as disciples of Jesus, we have to remember that all efforts of worth and excellence are difficult. The Christian life is gloriously difficult, but its difficulty does not make us faint and cave in—it stirs us up to overcome. Do we appreciate the miraculous salvation of Jesus Christ enough to be our utmost for His highest—our best for His glory?
God saves people by His sovereign grace through the atonement of Jesus, and “it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). But we have to “work out” that salvation in our everyday, practical living (Philippians 2:12). If we will only start on the basis of His redemption to do what He commands, then we will find that we can do it. If we fail, it is because we have not yet put into practice what God has placed within us. But a crisis will reveal whether or not we have been putting it into practice. If we will obey the Spirit of God and practice in our physical life what God has placed within us by His Spirit, then when a crisis does come we will find that our own nature, as well as the grace of God, will stand by us.
If we are going to live as disciples of Jesus, we have to remember that all efforts of worth and excellence are difficult.
Thank God that He does give us difficult things to do! His salvation is a joyous thing, but it is also something that requires bravery courage, and holiness. It tests us for all we are worth. Jesus is “bringing many sons to glory” (Hebrews 2:10), and God will not shield us from the requirements of son-ship. God’s grace produces men and women with a strong family likeness to Jesus Christ, not pampered, spoiled weaklings. It takes a tremendous amount of discipline to live the worthy and excellent life of a disciple of Jesus in the realities of life. And it is always necessary for us to make an effort to live a life of worth and excellence.
God’s grace produces men and women with a strong family likeness to Jesus Christ, not pampered, spoiled weaklings.
My Note: We drift towards doing what comes easy and what is comfortable and manageable, but following Jesus is difficult and it requires that we do HARD things with purpose rather than settling for what naturally comes easy. This is why Christianity is a faith journey, we can only do hard things through faith.
Join the Conversation….What do you find most difficult to do as a Christ Follower?
Under Construction
Last night I was driving back from the Bloggers Meet-up in Atlanta with Billy, when I had a typical thought that comes to my mind as I drive through Atlanta.
“I’ve never been to Atlanta when they have not been doing some type of road construction” – Or at least that I can remember!
If you’ve ever been stuck in rush hour traffic in Atlanta, you would understand why they are continually having to improve the roads, expand them, and create new paths to help get people where they are going.
It made me think, which is not always a good thing, but I believe this time it was safe. Shouldn’t that be how we are as Christ Followers? Always under construction? Always growing and expanding. Always improving. Always finding ways to be more effective in what we are called to do in our faith journey?
I love the verse 1 Peter 2:2
“Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation…”
“…so that you will grow into…”
A clear indication that we are not all where Christ wants us to be. At salvation we are given a totally brand new life, but that does not mean every habit, every sin, and every struggle will magically disappear. Becoming like Christ is a process…it takes time. Don’t get frustrated when you realize that you still have a ways to go.
Join the Conversation…What is an area that you’ve seen God working on in your life lately?