Feb 25th: Cure for the nearsighted and the blind 2 Peter 1:5-9
Well, I must admit, the time has finally come for me to venture into the land of "bifocals". While I have prayed for my eyes regularly, I must yield to science and God's provision via corrective lenses...I am at the point where I can't read my own blog. What a drag! I will still keep seeking the Lord to heal my eyes though.
Have you ever stopped to think how people functioned years ago before the eyeglass was invented? (...thanks Benjamin Franklin). They must have needed to depend on each other much more for everyday things. We so take our eyesight (corrected eyesight) for granted these days.
While our Lord brought eyesight to the blind (physically), He also cured (cures) a lot of our blindness. While I need to take the effort to go to the eye doctor and get an examination, and have lenses made and fitted to the frames...the Apostle Peter says I must also make every effort to add to my faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self control; and to self control, perseverence; and to perseverence, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.
Faith-->Goodness-->Knowledge-->Self-Control-->Perseverence-->Godliness-->Brotherly Kindness-->Love
If we do not have these, we have forgotten that we have been cleansed from our past sins...we are nearsighted and blind.
When we finally get corrective lenses we feel like a whole new world opens up to us, the edges of objects seem sharper, our depth perception improves, we see things we haven't seen before...well, when we add to (and walk in) the qualities of Jesus our Lord in increasing measure we again gain our Godly sight...we can see through God's eyes, we can pierce the darkness with our daily obedience.
If we are to WAJD, we need to add to our faith...
Let's start right now!
posted by BPC @ 12:18 PM
11 comments
11 Comments:
So it has come to this, then...making the decision to accept the fact that you need corrective lenses...just like I need to come to the point of recognizing that I need correction to my way. I MUST make the effort to add to my faith. I MUST first acknowledge the need that my way is the wrong way. I MUST determine that there are things I have to do...
As I listened to our associate pastor preach his heart out (and it was a very good message indeed), I thought for sure that the response would be great. The message was well prepared; the context was relevant to where I lived; the length of the sermon was near perfect---but there was extremely minimal response. I actually thought that there would be an erruption of response on the part of many who wanted to move forward in their faith and climb the obstacles of their lives that prevented them from a refreshing and a renewal of faith.
We so often look for a sign. We are good at waiting for something great to move us along. We hang on for "the move of the Spirit."
But the truth of God's word is that there are imperatives that cry aloud for action. We know what we should do. We understand the commands. We even have them memorized, along with the commentaries ready to share with others.
Yet, it is the first in these characteristics that we have failed to know: FAITH. We have somehow so convaluted our daily activities that FAITH is just a buzz word for the commmunity we belong to. Have I failed to know this FAITH personally????
Faith to believe that He is alive. Faith to act out as if He was walking in the flesh beside us. Faith to believe that everything He said about Himself is true.
When I CHOOSE to add this faith to my heart and life (like when no one else is looking, kind of living), that is when I am making the effort; that is when I am adding to my faith goodness, and knowledge, and self-control....
If I could just get to the point where I don't let my own selfishness and "feelings" rule my heart, then I will be able to say how much I love Him. That will be the time when I can honestly lead others to see Christ in me...when I will be able to honestly confess How Great He Is.
LORD, Help our UNfaith to become faith that is alive, piercing, and real every moment of our lives....
Francois, I too join you in your decision to act. Act, is either a verb or a "deception" (i.e. actor). Our Lord said, "If you love me, you will do such things.."
Yes, faith without action is dead..our faith gets added-to. But there is a caution; we can start to beat ourselves up for failure (that's what the enemy of our soul does)...instead we can confess our need and actually (confindently) repent (change our ways) and walk in His strength, in only the victory He can give.
I believe there is a suttle ploy of the enemy to bring us to a point of recognized failure that (forever) says that we are not good and must do this-or-that. To me this is his bondage...we can (must/should) break out of this cycle and be more than conquerers; by truly moving forward and breaking the cycle...a cycle that he would hold us under for decades. In this world we will have troubles but, praise God, He has overcome the world and we can walk as overcomers, finally proclaiming (for others' to gain hold of)that victory is attainable because sin will not be our master.
"You are chosen, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a child of the living God...do not delay, run out of the dungeon, behold the gate is loosened; our weapons are not carnal. He has purchased your freedom, your victory, your song and you can dance a victory dance, proclaiming from your roof-top His triumph, His banner. Oh, I can see the finish-line, the time is now! There is nothing in the way...your faith has made you whole, and you are whole indeed...rejoice, rejoice!
Let's join our hearts in agreement: that we allow the Spirit to say YES as we step out, obeying what we know God has told us to do, and to be.
Let's allow the Spirit to change our hearts as we commit to making the changes in attitude and behaviour that we know is right.
Let's allow the Spirit to imprint the image of the Son on our lives as we agree to obey, and as we take steps, one by one, to follow His leading to "add to our faith goodness...."
On francois initial comment, why would we care what the response would be from the church, shouldn't we individually respond?
I would venture to scribe that if we say the message was good but we don't respond, then we are taking the roll of an observer/critic, instead of personal. At times I try to weigh the motive of the messenger giving the altar call, instead of my personal response which places me in the observer/critic position, so I'm just as guilty.
Oh what a wretched man I am...
On francois initial comment, why would we care what the response would be from the church, shouldn't we individually respond?
I would venture to scribe that if we say the message was good but we don't respond, then we are taking the roll of an observer/critic, instead of personal. At times I try to weigh the motive of the messenger giving the altar call, instead of my personal response which places me in the observer/critic position, so I'm just as guilty.
Oh what a wretched man I am...
I suppose that it is not so much that we care (although as members of "community" we should care about the spiritual condition of our brother and sister, especially how we can spur onto good deeds and how we can effectively encourage spiritual growth) but more of an observation.
In this discussion about adding to our faith, my comments we related to the reality that as believers in community we can sometimes become so familiar with the message of God in our services that the message becomes "old" and we become callous of heart.
Yes, it is possible to become guilty for not responding when we know that the message is for us. But we must remain strong in the knowledge that God will continue to build us up.
It is He that is making us holy...that is, so distinct and so different from what man can do that our behaviour and our speech is so fresh, so invigorating, so delightful, so pleasant, so encouraging, so unique.
My comments weren't pointed to missing the call...but were specific to our dialogue about adding verses 5-9 to our lives, and the encouragement for us bloggers to "kick it in gear" and strive on.
Yes, let us all make a decision to move forward in our walk. First the decision and then the "action". As we all know, the enemy of our souls would want us to wait, and wait, and wait. Scripture however says, ...today if you hear His voice...
Let's look at this a different way; why don't we get right with God (personally)and be an example of "working-out our salvation". Could we not lovingly challenge and accept the challenge to spur one another on...? I agree Francois, let us (all) start now, let us (all) repent in the areas that the Holy Spirit has shown us, and stop playing the "tomorrow" game. Today, is the day! Today, if you hear His voice...WAJD.
Brian, I have to confess to you that over the past 2+ weeks, God's Spirit has been with me in a fresh way...a presence that I have not felt in a very long time.
It is so good to have this sense that He is changing me...certainly far from perfect, but still changing. And I am taking these "little" wins as wins --- If God is moving upon my life, if He is helping me to control my mouth a little more, if He is stirring my own towards more study, more prayer, more kindness, more mercy, more joy --- it is so exciting to sense His presence so fresh and so real.
Of greater significance is the reality that my countenance does not reflect Joy within; of importance to my "awakening" is the truth that my speech is not seasoned with Joy.
So, if you would join with me in seeking to renew the command to "consider it joy" and to "rejoice, and again I say, rejoice" I would be indebted to you.
And as you have touched on in past dialogues, join with me in being at guard against what the enemy will attempt in our recent decisions to action, let's "watch out for each other's back."
This is Cheryl
I am prepared to say that I would say I am due for a spiritual eye exam. Part of me just wants and craves that excitement of being part of something fresh and new in my life with God. Phil 2:12 says
"...continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." The key word for me is to continue so I am plugging away, feeling a little tired admittedly though. Then I read this.... it is this faith that causes me to believe in Him whom I haven't seen and be filled with inexpressible joy and glorious joy.And I am thankful for my life in Christ and I am going to choose to do what is necessary to correct my vision.
Francois,Cheryl -- it does appear that the Holy Spirit is at work here. Francois, I felt such a release in the Spirit for you over the last two weeks and am glad to hear your report of a renewed resolve. Yes, I will join you in prayer and continue to wear the armour (and honour the armour provider) regarding your (our) battle for the truth, and the good fight. What are the alternatives? Bondage, Lies, Condemnation, Defeat...No, we are ambassadors, we have been bought with a price, the very blood of Jesus...Our faith has made us whole and free -- an we are free indeed!
You are right!
And this freedom comes to us when we follow Christ in discipleship. Then we will know the truth...and the truth will set us free! (John 8:32).
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