Life is an adventure: sometimes wild, sometimes mellow, sometimes scary but always an adventure. Every day brings a new experience. Days roll in, roll by, roll away depending on how we choose to live. Have you ever stopped to think about your adventure? Have you been rolling along on the highway, going in a relatively straight line? Or have you been 4-wheeling it for years bumping and banging along with mud splattering all over the place? Maybe you've been cruising on the main road with occasional side trips along less travelled roads.
Most likely you have been on different roads at different times in your life. Whether you find yourself in an off road experience or cruising with the windows down, you can choose to be grateful for the adventure right where you are.
I don't know about you, I want my adventure to be purposeful whether it's bumpy or smooth. Because I've found the road won't always be smooth and straight; likewise, the road will not always be bumpy and full of curves. That, my friend, is the adventure of it all.
Ultimately, we are headed for an eternal destination, this adventure is just temporary so sit back, trust our sovereign God and enjoy the ride.
" 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.'"
Jeremiah 29:11
Showing posts with label purpose. Show all posts
Showing posts with label purpose. Show all posts
Monday, February 13, 2012
Monday, November 23, 2009
Sluggishness and Faith
Hebrews 6: 11-12
11 "And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end,
12 so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises."
Beloved friends, as I have been studying Hebrews, the Lord has been opening my eyes, challenging my heart, and teaching me deeper truths. Today I wanted to share some of that with you from Hebrews 6. I pray this will be a great encouragement to you in your walk today and in the days to come.
In this passage the author encourages his audience not to be sluggish but what does that word mean? In the Greek, sluggishness actually means "an inborn sluggishness which makes a person unfit for activities of the mind or spirit". This reminds me of the wrestling match I have with my sin nature to do what is right; my regenerate heart desires to do God's will but my flesh wants to live an easier life. This battle is resonated in Pauls words in Romans 7:15 , "For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate."
Instead of just telling them what NOT to do, he puts before them the example of those who have gone before, those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. That faith he speaks of is confidence in certain divine truths, especially those of the gospel. Yet faith does not stand alone, it is coupled with patience. Patience in this context is is actually self-restraint of the mind before it gives room to action or passion... so I see a forbearance of nature as a lifestyle.
This, dear friends, is the Christian life... active, faithful, patient, focused on God's promises. Our walks are exactly that, they are a walk... an active life, one that is lived out by applying the truth of God's Word to every aspect of our lives. We do not do what we do without purpose, by His grace we demonstrate faith and patience as we hold on to the promises of a faithful, changeless God, One who is not slack concerning His promise (II Peter 3:9).
Be encouraged today, whatever your trial or joy may be... God is faithful, you are firmly in His grip.
~G
11 "And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end,
12 so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises."
Beloved friends, as I have been studying Hebrews, the Lord has been opening my eyes, challenging my heart, and teaching me deeper truths. Today I wanted to share some of that with you from Hebrews 6. I pray this will be a great encouragement to you in your walk today and in the days to come.
In this passage the author encourages his audience not to be sluggish but what does that word mean? In the Greek, sluggishness actually means "an inborn sluggishness which makes a person unfit for activities of the mind or spirit". This reminds me of the wrestling match I have with my sin nature to do what is right; my regenerate heart desires to do God's will but my flesh wants to live an easier life. This battle is resonated in Pauls words in Romans 7:15 , "For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate."
Instead of just telling them what NOT to do, he puts before them the example of those who have gone before, those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. That faith he speaks of is confidence in certain divine truths, especially those of the gospel. Yet faith does not stand alone, it is coupled with patience. Patience in this context is is actually self-restraint of the mind before it gives room to action or passion... so I see a forbearance of nature as a lifestyle.
This, dear friends, is the Christian life... active, faithful, patient, focused on God's promises. Our walks are exactly that, they are a walk... an active life, one that is lived out by applying the truth of God's Word to every aspect of our lives. We do not do what we do without purpose, by His grace we demonstrate faith and patience as we hold on to the promises of a faithful, changeless God, One who is not slack concerning His promise (II Peter 3:9).
Be encouraged today, whatever your trial or joy may be... God is faithful, you are firmly in His grip.
~G
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Set apart for His good purpose
This past Sunday morning in our adult fellowship group our teacher talked about how we have been chosen for a purpose (Ephesians 1:3-6). For what purpose? To be holy and blameless before Him, to be conformed to the image of His Son, and to bring Him glory.
While we are positionally sanctified in the eyes of God at the point of salvation because of the atoning sacrifice of Christ, in order to accomplish His good purpose we who are His children go through practical sanctification in this life (I Peter 1:15, Heb. 12:14). According to Romans 12:1-2, it is presenting our bodies as living sacrifices, dying to our own will and be transformed into the image of His Son.
Webster's dictionary defines sanctification this way:
1. The act of making holy. In an evangelical sense, the act of God's grace by which the affections of men are purified or alienated from sin and the world, and exalted to a supreme love to God.
God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. 2Thess. 2. 1Peter 1.
God has chosen us (Eph. 1:4), God has redeemed us by Christ's blood (1:7), and God has sealed us by His Holy Spirit (1:13). His Holy Spirit is the sanctifier:
~He abides in us (John 14:17)
~He is the One who teaches us (John 14:26)
~He guides us in all truth (John 16:13)
~He reveals the things of Christ (John 16:14)
~He reveals the things of God (I Cor. 2:10-13)
Praise God for the Holy Spirit. Because of Him, practical progressive holiness is not left up to our own devices. Yes it is a constant yielding of our will, desires, and plans to God. Yes we must daily build altars upon which we burn those things that would draw our hearts away from our Lord. This is all made possible by the grace of God through the inner working of the Holy Spirit. We are more than conquerors as we fully rely on Him to take these weak vessels and affect change.
While we are positionally sanctified in the eyes of God at the point of salvation because of the atoning sacrifice of Christ, in order to accomplish His good purpose we who are His children go through practical sanctification in this life (I Peter 1:15, Heb. 12:14). According to Romans 12:1-2, it is presenting our bodies as living sacrifices, dying to our own will and be transformed into the image of His Son.
Webster's dictionary defines sanctification this way:
1. The act of making holy. In an evangelical sense, the act of God's grace by which the affections of men are purified or alienated from sin and the world, and exalted to a supreme love to God.
God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. 2Thess. 2. 1Peter 1.
God has chosen us (Eph. 1:4), God has redeemed us by Christ's blood (1:7), and God has sealed us by His Holy Spirit (1:13). His Holy Spirit is the sanctifier:
~He abides in us (John 14:17)
~He is the One who teaches us (John 14:26)
~He guides us in all truth (John 16:13)
~He reveals the things of Christ (John 16:14)
~He reveals the things of God (I Cor. 2:10-13)
Praise God for the Holy Spirit. Because of Him, practical progressive holiness is not left up to our own devices. Yes it is a constant yielding of our will, desires, and plans to God. Yes we must daily build altars upon which we burn those things that would draw our hearts away from our Lord. This is all made possible by the grace of God through the inner working of the Holy Spirit. We are more than conquerors as we fully rely on Him to take these weak vessels and affect change.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
An Interesting Exercise
In "7 Habits of Highly Effective People", the author challenged the reader to try a very interesting exercise. Look down the corridors of time and imagine yourself at a your own funeral. Picture the room full of friends and family, business acquaintances and school friends. Of those present, four people will stand up and share what they remember about you and your life.
Therein lies the exercise... imagine what they would say. Consider what you would want them to say. Here are some of the questions posed plus a few of my own:
What is it that you would want those people to say?
What character did they see in you?
What difference did you make in their lives?
What difference did you make within your sphere of influence?
What kind of friend were you?
What kind of daughter?
What kind of wife?
What kind of mother?
What kind of sister?
What kind of qualities were you remembered for?
What adjectives would they use?
If you were a business owner, how did you handle your business?
In what way is the world different because you were in it?
As you mull these questions over, write down your answers. For me it was very fascinating to look at life in the reverse. I spent some time journaling my thoughts and impressions. It was a mixed bag of course... there were some things that I did not want to hear at my "funeral", things I knew I wanted to change. Yet there were glimmers of things that I wanted to hone and further develop.
Purpose... that is the point... to live life with purpose. Looking at life with a definite plan - if you will - so that you can live effectively. How different would my life look if I consistently thought about the end result of my choices and the use of my time? This exercise sort of built some personal accountability into my life because I set the bar myself (especially since I wrote it down). Keeping that bar in front of me motivates me to strive to accomplish it.
Therein lies the exercise... imagine what they would say. Consider what you would want them to say. Here are some of the questions posed plus a few of my own:
What is it that you would want those people to say?
What character did they see in you?
What difference did you make in their lives?
What difference did you make within your sphere of influence?
What kind of friend were you?
What kind of daughter?
What kind of wife?
What kind of mother?
What kind of sister?
What kind of qualities were you remembered for?
What adjectives would they use?
If you were a business owner, how did you handle your business?
In what way is the world different because you were in it?
As you mull these questions over, write down your answers. For me it was very fascinating to look at life in the reverse. I spent some time journaling my thoughts and impressions. It was a mixed bag of course... there were some things that I did not want to hear at my "funeral", things I knew I wanted to change. Yet there were glimmers of things that I wanted to hone and further develop.
Purpose... that is the point... to live life with purpose. Looking at life with a definite plan - if you will - so that you can live effectively. How different would my life look if I consistently thought about the end result of my choices and the use of my time? This exercise sort of built some personal accountability into my life because I set the bar myself (especially since I wrote it down). Keeping that bar in front of me motivates me to strive to accomplish it.
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