One of the reasons we're told not to judge others on "doubtful matters"-- things that aren't stated outright in Scripture-- is that we don't know what God is working on with someone else. We don't even know that about ourselves so often. Because Christ is the Author and Finisher of our faith, it is His job to decide what needs to be changed when. Our job is receive one another, accept one another, and live according to the law of love in order not to trouble others with our mode of life. That is hard enough without trying to fix others.
If any correction needs to happen, let it be done by those with the authority to do so, and let it be on the clear doctrines of Christ, such as fornication.
When King Hezekiah-- grieved by the spiritual adulteries perpetrated by his predecessor-- desired to bring the nation back to a right relationship with God and reinstate the temple worship, he didn't seem to dictate exactly how that was to be done. He exhorted the priests and Levites to consecrate themselves and to cleanse out the temple. He told them to take out the rubbish, but he left it to them to do the work. Since we each are a temple of the Holy Spirit, and each of us kings and priests unto the Lord, it is the Holy Spirit's task to lead each one of us as to how to cleanse ourselves from dead works. Some of the rubbish in our souls might be obvious to others, but some of it might look OK to someone else, but the Lord reveals to us that it's not OK for us. "Whatever is not of faith is sin." This is a basic key to walking in holiness (wholeness), but it really comes down to the individual working out their salvation with Christ's leading. We are all in different stages of our growth and development.
The mysterious thing is how the Spirit works in each of us, deep inside our hearts, to prepare us for the next stage. Sometimes we observe a brother or sister who seems to be wandering around in darkness, and then, voila! All of a sudden they seem to have snapped out of it, moving forward in a level of glory that might even pass us by temporarily. We should rejoice when that happens. It gives me hope to know that if I'm struggling in life, God's got it under control, and He's leading me step by step out of the maze of confusion and darkness that I might be in.
I think we can anticipate a sudden "coming round the bend" for the Church in general. God is doing a work in His people, much of it unseen. Christ is still the head of His body. He is still in charge of each individual's salvation process, and of the building of His Kingdom, living stone by living stone. Maybe at this moment some of the trash is being taken out of the temple in one person's life, and another is getting their instrument of praise polished up and ready to go. At the proper time, all will be in order and the glory of God will be seen in a unity, joy and love that is greater than has ever been seen before. This verse will again be very relevant: "All the people rejoiced that God had prepared the people, since the events took place so suddenly."
2 Chronicles 29:36
Showing posts with label Author and Finisher. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Author and Finisher. Show all posts
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
June 9, 2010 The Spirit of Excellence
Being an artist, I always love reading the descriptions of the temple, in all of its stages throughout the Bible. They've become more vivid to me as I've practiced imagining the details in my mind's eye. The varied way that the Spirit of Wisdom worked in Solomon-- either in the practicalities of business, or in the beautiful details of an artistic vision-- is a vivid picture of how God's wisdom is a priceless endowment in every area of life. Christ is now building His temple, the Church, as a habitation for God's name, and the glory that permeates His workmanship, through the Spirit of Wisdom, is what sets the Church apart and makes her great in every area of influence.
The same Spirit of Wisdom works through the members of Christ's Body today. No matter what our endeavors and areas of gifting are, the Spirit of Wisdom, when allowed to guide and empower, will enable us to glorify God by helping us to achieve a level of excellence that shines. I am reminded that when people began to notice Jesus, they commented that He did "all things well." The fact that Solomon did "all things well" clues us in to the concept that he is a "type and shadow" of Christ. Think how glorious His reign will be! Do you ever let yourself imagine what that time will be like? I certainly do!
Nobody that I know does "all things well"! I'm good at several things, but I'm terrible with numbers! Lucky for me, my husband Bob is a whiz! He, on the other hand, has some holes in his abilities that I can fill nicely. We're a good team! And this is the glory of oneness: not only in marriage, but in the Body of Christ, the Church! As we each do our part by the Spirit of Wisdom and Excellence, we participate in building a living temple for the glory of God's name. "O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth!" Psalm 8:9
We should never look down on someone because their part doesn't look spiritual to us. Everyone has a duty, whether they are prophets or plumbers, to walk in the Spirit, and thus shine with God's wisdom and excellence, which is part of His glory. As for the saints who are on the earth, "They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight." Psalm 16:3 Being excellent in all we do is not about getting glory for ourselves (which is worldliness), but is all about showing forth the glory of God.
Sadly, a religious spirit of false humility has, over the decades, tended to tarnish the Church's ability to shine forth the glory, promoting, in many individuals, a need to diminish the light of Christ in themselves. If we are truly walking in the Spirit, we will do whatever it is we do, whether small or great, in an attitude of worship, which will allow God's excellence to be seen.
Even when something is unnoticed by people, excellence glorifies God! One of the marks of quality-- for example, of a piece of designer clothing-- is that even the hidden seams are marked with excellence of workmanship. Never think that what you do doesn't matter-- it's all part of the Church's reason for existence: to glorify God's name.
Don't get discouraged if you feel like you're not doing excellently! Jesus is still the Author and Finisher! It's our job to take His yoke upon us and learn of Him, not stress and strive in a perfectionistic way. (see how today's Psalm addresses this: Psalm 127:1-2). He will teach and guide, and if we just keep on being faithful, we will eventually do excellently without even trying.
Jesus Christ is excellent. If you're born of God, and if the Spirit of God lives in you, you are made of excellent material! As Christ is formed in you, you will become-- you are becoming-- more and more excellent, just like Him!
The same Spirit of Wisdom works through the members of Christ's Body today. No matter what our endeavors and areas of gifting are, the Spirit of Wisdom, when allowed to guide and empower, will enable us to glorify God by helping us to achieve a level of excellence that shines. I am reminded that when people began to notice Jesus, they commented that He did "all things well." The fact that Solomon did "all things well" clues us in to the concept that he is a "type and shadow" of Christ. Think how glorious His reign will be! Do you ever let yourself imagine what that time will be like? I certainly do!
Nobody that I know does "all things well"! I'm good at several things, but I'm terrible with numbers! Lucky for me, my husband Bob is a whiz! He, on the other hand, has some holes in his abilities that I can fill nicely. We're a good team! And this is the glory of oneness: not only in marriage, but in the Body of Christ, the Church! As we each do our part by the Spirit of Wisdom and Excellence, we participate in building a living temple for the glory of God's name. "O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth!" Psalm 8:9
We should never look down on someone because their part doesn't look spiritual to us. Everyone has a duty, whether they are prophets or plumbers, to walk in the Spirit, and thus shine with God's wisdom and excellence, which is part of His glory. As for the saints who are on the earth, "They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight." Psalm 16:3 Being excellent in all we do is not about getting glory for ourselves (which is worldliness), but is all about showing forth the glory of God.
Sadly, a religious spirit of false humility has, over the decades, tended to tarnish the Church's ability to shine forth the glory, promoting, in many individuals, a need to diminish the light of Christ in themselves. If we are truly walking in the Spirit, we will do whatever it is we do, whether small or great, in an attitude of worship, which will allow God's excellence to be seen.
Even when something is unnoticed by people, excellence glorifies God! One of the marks of quality-- for example, of a piece of designer clothing-- is that even the hidden seams are marked with excellence of workmanship. Never think that what you do doesn't matter-- it's all part of the Church's reason for existence: to glorify God's name.
Don't get discouraged if you feel like you're not doing excellently! Jesus is still the Author and Finisher! It's our job to take His yoke upon us and learn of Him, not stress and strive in a perfectionistic way. (see how today's Psalm addresses this: Psalm 127:1-2). He will teach and guide, and if we just keep on being faithful, we will eventually do excellently without even trying.
Jesus Christ is excellent. If you're born of God, and if the Spirit of God lives in you, you are made of excellent material! As Christ is formed in you, you will become-- you are becoming-- more and more excellent, just like Him!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
May 4, 2010
What a good role-model is John the Baptist! He faithfully and passionately carried out his mission from God: to prepare the people for the Messiah. He was a great preacher, and got results. Lots of people followed him. But when the Messiah was indeed revealed to him, just as God had told him, John the Baptist gave way to him. "He must increase, but I must decrease." He had joy, not resentment when the fulfillment of his calling had brought his ministry to an end. His testimony about Christ is one of the most clearly articulated in Scripture: he left no doubt as to who Jesus was and what He was here to accomplish. It would be good for us to meditate on John the Baptist's words and get them deep into our hearts.
There is plenty of practical application of John the Baptist's gracious giving-way to Christ. Parents' ministry is to raise children to grow up and have their own life. Ministers are preparing the saints to mature and carry out their own callings. If we do our job well, we will come to an obvious place of having to release that which we birthed, for it has a life of its own.
I came to the Lord as a broken and dysfunctional person who had no idea who she was. My personhood had been stolen from me. The Lord Jesus, by His Spirit and Word, and through His godly ministers, nursed me back to health, restored me to healthy functioning, and gave me a sense of worth, identity and purpose. He gave me back myself! It was so awesome to finally feel good about myself and about being alive. Then I truly had the opportunity to "lay down my life" for Him. Before that, I had little to offer, only a "broken and contrite heart", which we know He does not despise. Now I'm in a different place of making way for Christ.
I think it is important to note that John the Baptist said, "He must increase, but I must decrease." The Lord certainly increased in me, building me up from the inside out, starting from a below-basement level of destruction. As I learned who I was, I discovered my weaknesses and how He could fill them. I discovered my empty places and how He could fill those too. He revealed my wrong thinking and replaced it with His truth. He showed me my strengths and how He could empower them for His glory. There's much, much more to do, (I'm far from being Christlike) but at least now, I know how to let Him live in me.
At a certain point in my life, however, I became aware that He was "letting go." He again gave me a choice to follow and serve Him. Now that He had restored me, He was setting me free! Is this amazing or what? Of course, it wasn't a difficult choice for me. I was like that Old Testament picture of the slave who didn't want to be set free because of love for the master, choosing to become a bondservant for life. My ear has been pierced! I totally belong to Him! He chose me first, but then He gave me a chance to choose Him back. I chose Him, and I have never regretted it.
Now, as I live for Him, study His Word and get more revelation of Him, He continues to grow in me; it gets very uncomfortable for my "self" and I have to make more room for Him by letting go of pride, an agenda, or anything else that doesn't fit with Him. I don't just try to get rid of something about myself or "kill myself off". Picking up your cross and following Him daily is not the same as trying to crucify yourself! That just doesn't work. It leaves holes in us that can be filled with something other than Him if we're not very careful. I think it's dangerous to try to decrease yourself so that He can increase. The Lord will expose deeper holes in you that need to be filled with Him (He's done this to me more than once lately, through some trials). He will also discipline us if we're resisting Him. Seek the Lord with as much of your heart as you can, being as pliable as you are able, and let Him increase. Present yourself to Him, obey Him, and He will take care of the rest.
Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of our faith. I have total confidence in His ability to finish the work He started in me, and in you too. He knows what He's doing. He is the Author and Finisher of the Church too, and He is in charge (the Head). We should trust Him in forming us, and in forming the Church. He's going to present us to the Father without spot or blemish. What a glorious day that will be!
There is plenty of practical application of John the Baptist's gracious giving-way to Christ. Parents' ministry is to raise children to grow up and have their own life. Ministers are preparing the saints to mature and carry out their own callings. If we do our job well, we will come to an obvious place of having to release that which we birthed, for it has a life of its own.
I came to the Lord as a broken and dysfunctional person who had no idea who she was. My personhood had been stolen from me. The Lord Jesus, by His Spirit and Word, and through His godly ministers, nursed me back to health, restored me to healthy functioning, and gave me a sense of worth, identity and purpose. He gave me back myself! It was so awesome to finally feel good about myself and about being alive. Then I truly had the opportunity to "lay down my life" for Him. Before that, I had little to offer, only a "broken and contrite heart", which we know He does not despise. Now I'm in a different place of making way for Christ.
I think it is important to note that John the Baptist said, "He must increase, but I must decrease." The Lord certainly increased in me, building me up from the inside out, starting from a below-basement level of destruction. As I learned who I was, I discovered my weaknesses and how He could fill them. I discovered my empty places and how He could fill those too. He revealed my wrong thinking and replaced it with His truth. He showed me my strengths and how He could empower them for His glory. There's much, much more to do, (I'm far from being Christlike) but at least now, I know how to let Him live in me.
At a certain point in my life, however, I became aware that He was "letting go." He again gave me a choice to follow and serve Him. Now that He had restored me, He was setting me free! Is this amazing or what? Of course, it wasn't a difficult choice for me. I was like that Old Testament picture of the slave who didn't want to be set free because of love for the master, choosing to become a bondservant for life. My ear has been pierced! I totally belong to Him! He chose me first, but then He gave me a chance to choose Him back. I chose Him, and I have never regretted it.
Now, as I live for Him, study His Word and get more revelation of Him, He continues to grow in me; it gets very uncomfortable for my "self" and I have to make more room for Him by letting go of pride, an agenda, or anything else that doesn't fit with Him. I don't just try to get rid of something about myself or "kill myself off". Picking up your cross and following Him daily is not the same as trying to crucify yourself! That just doesn't work. It leaves holes in us that can be filled with something other than Him if we're not very careful. I think it's dangerous to try to decrease yourself so that He can increase. The Lord will expose deeper holes in you that need to be filled with Him (He's done this to me more than once lately, through some trials). He will also discipline us if we're resisting Him. Seek the Lord with as much of your heart as you can, being as pliable as you are able, and let Him increase. Present yourself to Him, obey Him, and He will take care of the rest.
Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of our faith. I have total confidence in His ability to finish the work He started in me, and in you too. He knows what He's doing. He is the Author and Finisher of the Church too, and He is in charge (the Head). We should trust Him in forming us, and in forming the Church. He's going to present us to the Father without spot or blemish. What a glorious day that will be!
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