Abba'sLil'Girl
December 14th, 2007, 04:39 PM
We humans are rather interesting creatures. We seem to do things backwards. We often act out of desire when we should be acting out of will. We've been living in such a manner for so long that it is often difficult to change what we have come to know as natural.
Change is difficult for us. We resist it by nature. We don't like change because we have come to find security in the status quo. Our desire to satisfy self often overrides our will to do what is best. Change for us often represents a death of an idea that has for so many years brought us comfort. Yet, change is what Christ requires.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus calls the people to live a life that is contrary to their nature. He challenges them to think differently. He knows that how the people think controls how they live. They have been taught by the religious leaders of their day that it is okay to hate their enemy, but Christ says to them that they should not only love their enemies but pray for them (Matthew 5:43). This idea is strange to them. It goes against what they were taught from an early age. To accept Christ's teaching requires them to change. It means not only changing their actions but changing their thoughts. It means putting away hateful desires and willing the self to do what Christ commands.
The apostle Paul resonates Christ's call to change in many of his letters to the young and struggling church. Paul encourages them to seek after what is pleasing to God so that they may know His will.
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
The pattern of the world is self-seeking. It is one of acquiring material wealth to satisfy one's desires instead of using what God has blessed us with to bless others. It is regarding others as less - less important, less intelligent, less of a Christian, etc. The pattern of this world is to act out of one's desires which have been shaped by the thoughts we allow to seduce our minds. The world bombards us with thoughts and images of what would bring us instant gratification and comfort . . . a new and more expensive car, a better social position, a bigger house or even the appearance of a more holier-lived life. These things in and of themselves are not bad, but when married to a desire to please self, they become destructive.
So in practical terms, how do we change how we live? How do we learn to love someone who we see as our enemy if we don't feel like loving them? Paul goes into more detail in Ephesians. . . .
2You were taught [by Christ], with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24
It is by renewing the attitude of our minds - controlling our thoughts and willing ourselves by the power of the Holy Spirit - to follow after Christ. It is the will (choice of mind) that leads the heart (one's desires) to act upon the commands of Christ and live a life in the Spirit. That is the way of our Lord who Himself set His mind to the Father's and willed Himself to carry our Cross. When we choose to do the same, then our hearts will follow and the desire to do God's will then becomes our nature.
Whatever thought that comes through our minds needs to be tested. It needs to be challenged even if that thought is one we have thought every day of our life - even if that thought comes from within the church. If we are to live a life of holiness, a life pleasing to God, then we must surrender our will to His so that our actions become a reflection of Jesus Christ.
Grace and Peace to you.
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1Peter 1:13
Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. Hebrews 3:1
Change is difficult for us. We resist it by nature. We don't like change because we have come to find security in the status quo. Our desire to satisfy self often overrides our will to do what is best. Change for us often represents a death of an idea that has for so many years brought us comfort. Yet, change is what Christ requires.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus calls the people to live a life that is contrary to their nature. He challenges them to think differently. He knows that how the people think controls how they live. They have been taught by the religious leaders of their day that it is okay to hate their enemy, but Christ says to them that they should not only love their enemies but pray for them (Matthew 5:43). This idea is strange to them. It goes against what they were taught from an early age. To accept Christ's teaching requires them to change. It means not only changing their actions but changing their thoughts. It means putting away hateful desires and willing the self to do what Christ commands.
The apostle Paul resonates Christ's call to change in many of his letters to the young and struggling church. Paul encourages them to seek after what is pleasing to God so that they may know His will.
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
The pattern of the world is self-seeking. It is one of acquiring material wealth to satisfy one's desires instead of using what God has blessed us with to bless others. It is regarding others as less - less important, less intelligent, less of a Christian, etc. The pattern of this world is to act out of one's desires which have been shaped by the thoughts we allow to seduce our minds. The world bombards us with thoughts and images of what would bring us instant gratification and comfort . . . a new and more expensive car, a better social position, a bigger house or even the appearance of a more holier-lived life. These things in and of themselves are not bad, but when married to a desire to please self, they become destructive.
So in practical terms, how do we change how we live? How do we learn to love someone who we see as our enemy if we don't feel like loving them? Paul goes into more detail in Ephesians. . . .
2You were taught [by Christ], with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24
It is by renewing the attitude of our minds - controlling our thoughts and willing ourselves by the power of the Holy Spirit - to follow after Christ. It is the will (choice of mind) that leads the heart (one's desires) to act upon the commands of Christ and live a life in the Spirit. That is the way of our Lord who Himself set His mind to the Father's and willed Himself to carry our Cross. When we choose to do the same, then our hearts will follow and the desire to do God's will then becomes our nature.
Whatever thought that comes through our minds needs to be tested. It needs to be challenged even if that thought is one we have thought every day of our life - even if that thought comes from within the church. If we are to live a life of holiness, a life pleasing to God, then we must surrender our will to His so that our actions become a reflection of Jesus Christ.
Grace and Peace to you.
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1Peter 1:13
Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. Hebrews 3:1