Ever had one of those moments when you realise that for a change you actually got it right, but it is impossible to feel proud because you realise how close you came to getting it wrong? I had a similar moment recently. But God’s provision for a good outcome came a few days before in my daily Bible reading:
“The mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace” (Rom. 8:6).
At the time of reading this verse, I was powerfully struck by the result of having a mind controlled by the Spirit. Who is up for a greater dose of life and peace? Don’t know about you, but I could do with heaps more life and peace. In fact, the more life and peace I can get the better.
If I can do with more life and peace, the implication of course is that I should give the Spirit more control of my thinking. But how can I do that? The answer lies in verse 5: I must set my mind on what the Spirit desires.
In the incident I alluded to earlier, it was very tempting to react with anger and frustration. But the Spirit does not desire us to react in anger. Actually, the Spirit says: be slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires (James 1:19-20). An angry reaction pours petrol on the flames.
Another temptation I experienced was to make assumptions, reading into the situation more than I should have because of past experiences and my own insecurities. But the Spirit says: love rejoices with the truth (1 Cor. 13:6). We must ALWAYS try to get the facts and listen to all sides of the story. I guess that is why James said: “My dear brothers, take note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:19).
In contrast to what the Spirit wants is what the flesh is screaming out for. But we are no longer owned by sin. We need not say yes to the flesh. We can set our minds on what the Spirit desires, and the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. Bring it on Lord!!
Cheers for now - Ian
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Thursday, October 27, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Beyond Selfishness
“I have no one quite like Timothy. He is loyal and genuinely concerned for you. Most people around here are looking out for themselves, with little concern for the things of Jesus (Phil 2:20-21 – The Message Translation)”.
From time to time, I am shocked by the degree of self-interest I find in my life. Even things done in the name of Jesus are intended to further my own agenda. Talk about using the Lord’s name in vain! How often do we appear to be working for Jesus but actually it is all about us? Then the there are those who claim the name of Christ without even pretending to be concerned with the things of Jesus. Both conditions are deadly serious.
Currently, my self-interest is expressed in the amount of time I spend “looking in the mirror”. That is to say, I can get preoccupied with what I look like in the eyes of others. Perhaps you can relate to what I am talking about?
Further, I am currently distressed because it looks like God is requiring me to set aside a writing project that has been a long-standing dream of mine. To put it bluntly: people and their needs keep getting in the way of my writing! I can’t seem to put the one above the other! But maybe that is an indication of transformation. Paul’s words about Timothy remind me that concern for the things of Jesus is expressed as a genuine concern for others.
Perhaps God will allow me to continue the project in the future. Maybe then it will be a genuine provision for the needs of others rather than a pandering to my own need for significance or worth. God knows! And He always knows best.
Cheers for now - Ian
From time to time, I am shocked by the degree of self-interest I find in my life. Even things done in the name of Jesus are intended to further my own agenda. Talk about using the Lord’s name in vain! How often do we appear to be working for Jesus but actually it is all about us? Then the there are those who claim the name of Christ without even pretending to be concerned with the things of Jesus. Both conditions are deadly serious.
Currently, my self-interest is expressed in the amount of time I spend “looking in the mirror”. That is to say, I can get preoccupied with what I look like in the eyes of others. Perhaps you can relate to what I am talking about?
Further, I am currently distressed because it looks like God is requiring me to set aside a writing project that has been a long-standing dream of mine. To put it bluntly: people and their needs keep getting in the way of my writing! I can’t seem to put the one above the other! But maybe that is an indication of transformation. Paul’s words about Timothy remind me that concern for the things of Jesus is expressed as a genuine concern for others.
Perhaps God will allow me to continue the project in the future. Maybe then it will be a genuine provision for the needs of others rather than a pandering to my own need for significance or worth. God knows! And He always knows best.
Cheers for now - Ian
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Don't let it happen to you
Israel’s failure to enter the Promised Land has got to be one of the greatest tragedies described in the Bible. However, I think we often consider the failure a tragedy for the wrong reasons. We see in our minds eye an entire generation trudging for forty years in a pall of dust, the very dust that eventually swallowed them up and to which they returned. They never saw the lilies of the valley, the dew of Hermon never sparkled like jewels in their hair nor did they drink beneath the roar of her waterfalls. Flies and heat were their lot as they shrivelled like raisins in the burning sun.
But the real tragedy was that Israel missed out on the purpose that God had for her. Yes, Israel was saved from a terrible slavery, yet her rescue was intended as a means to something else. God was in the process of bringing redemption to mankind, and Israel had a part to play in that redemption. Israel was to become God’s people, and He was to become their King so that they could teach the nations of the world about God, setting the stage for the coming of Jesus.
Israel’s inheritance, therefore, was not ultimately for her own satisfaction. The Promised Land was a place where Israel could meet her divine destiny. It was provided so that Israel would have the means to fulfil God’s divine purpose for her existence. And God’s choice was perfect, for the Land was at the centre of civilisation, placed strategically at the intersection of the world’s greatest trade routes.
So may you see that saving you from slavery to sin was not God’s ultimate intention for your life. He has an inheritance for you. It is an inheritance that will enable you to fulfil God’s purposes. And here’s the thing: the world is literally dying for you to enter your inheritance so that you may start walking in God’s purpose for your life.
Cheers for now - Ian
But the real tragedy was that Israel missed out on the purpose that God had for her. Yes, Israel was saved from a terrible slavery, yet her rescue was intended as a means to something else. God was in the process of bringing redemption to mankind, and Israel had a part to play in that redemption. Israel was to become God’s people, and He was to become their King so that they could teach the nations of the world about God, setting the stage for the coming of Jesus.
Israel’s inheritance, therefore, was not ultimately for her own satisfaction. The Promised Land was a place where Israel could meet her divine destiny. It was provided so that Israel would have the means to fulfil God’s divine purpose for her existence. And God’s choice was perfect, for the Land was at the centre of civilisation, placed strategically at the intersection of the world’s greatest trade routes.
So may you see that saving you from slavery to sin was not God’s ultimate intention for your life. He has an inheritance for you. It is an inheritance that will enable you to fulfil God’s purposes. And here’s the thing: the world is literally dying for you to enter your inheritance so that you may start walking in God’s purpose for your life.
Cheers for now - Ian
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