1 Corinthians chapter 4, verse 7 asks a question I have found myself pondering: “What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?”
You could look around right now and reflect on what you are receiving at this moment. Of course there is the air we take for granted, but just feel it now as it fills your lungs and your nostrils. It flows and does its work without any thought or extra care from you. And the protection from the elements provided by this building or your home or car. The other morning I rushed through the dry, cold, still air to my car and quickly closed the door as I scooted in. I shivered, impatient for the anticipated warmth from the heater vent. In that short time, think of all that I received from God – a car; the cold of winter; the dryness rather than the penetrating cold of moisture; the knowledge and possession of the coming warmth; a place to go that required my journey; a place to start that journey and the safety of both; the roads on which my car would travel; the agreement with our neighbors to abide by standard rules that allows a safe interaction while driving; the ability to move myself, with hardly a thought, to the car and to quicken the pace without any concern. We could go much further in the pursuit of all that we receive. But one more thing needs to be said before we move toward gratitude.
Some of those things you have received cannot be purchased at any price. There are those who would pay anything to own what some of us receive freely, without thought. From another perspective: others work just as hard or harder with both their minds and their bodies, but will never have the opportunity to receive what you have. Perhaps their mind is not as agile as yours or their body not as able; perhaps they didn’t receive the same opportunities.
Which of these can you thank God for, right now? Can you reflect a little further to realize other blessings you may regularly take for granted, but which make a profound effect on who you are and what you are able to do?
When you begin to notice these works of God in you and for you, you may also find a tendency to balance them with thoughts of what you do not have or what you have lost. Why do we sometimes do this? Does this affect our attitude of thankfulness? Is it possible that in losing something we now miss we may have gained something else? Perhaps even something that we are presently unaware of?
Showing posts with label transformation spiritual. Show all posts
Showing posts with label transformation spiritual. Show all posts
Friday, December 11, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Colossians 3:12-17
Reflections before I Get There
Colossians chapter three does not stand on its own; 2:23 says that the rules we make for ourselves, or even those imposed upon us by religion, “have no value in restraining sensual indulgence.” (NIV) One translation says, “These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desire.” (NLT)
I confess that I have been a part of the tribe that has worked very hard to conquer the sinful desires in my life by adherence to the rules. I don’t mean just any arbitrary rules. I chose the best: straight from scripture (and my parents, and my church, and my own interpretation of all those…). And, I confess that it worked – that is, it sort of worked. I felt stronger by my adherence to the rules. I felt more pleasing to God because of my adherence to the rules. I felt that I was a better testimony because of my adherence to the rules. The rules were comforting as long as I believed that I was staying on top of them. But I finally realized that, although those rules of religion may change my behavior, they weren’t doing much to change me.
If Colossians 2:23 tells me that the power to overcome sin is not found in the rules, then the next verse tells me how sin is overcome – it is in being raised with Christ. Although much of this chapter, and the next, is occupied with right living, the reader is blessed who notes that, there is no claim here that righteous living will overcome sin and its inherent conflict within us. There is nothing to say that following even these rules will transform one into the image of the Christ. Instead, these “moralisms” are emphatically described as the result what has already been accomplished in Christ.
2:20
You died with Christ and were set free from the battle to attain righteousness through the rules that work in the flesh.
2:23
Those rules have no value in the transformation from a person embattled with sin to the one who lives in the image of Christ.
2:6, 7, 3:1-3
The power of transformation comes from sinking our roots deep into Christ, accepting him as the only way to win the spiritual battle with the allure of this world and its rules. The thought here is not that one roots himself in Christ, but that he allows (passive) his roots to sink into Christ, further, that he allows his life to be built firmly on those roots and his faith can also be expected to grow. Perhaps it could be said, Since you have accepted Jesus as your Lord, let him do his work in your body to anchor you, construct you and nourish your faith. That is similar to 3:1, Since you have been raised to new life (instead of trying to re-create that old life into something worthy, grab hold of your new vision of heaven and hold tightly to it. Stop being controlled by the old vision of a better you in this world and let heaven’s vision transform you. Someone has said, “live up to what Christ has done for you.”
1. If rules of righteousness provide no help in conquering evil desires, do these passages offer any help?
2. How may the rules contribute to self righteousness? Or defeat? How are rules comforting? Or disconcerting?
3. How does rule-keeping affect one’s testimony about the Christ?
4. How might Paul have meant for 3:12-17 to differ from the idea of rule-keeping?
5. Pray about the work of Christ in raising you into a new life and how his righteousness might live in your body. Do you think God might show you the answer to this prayer?
Colossians chapter three does not stand on its own; 2:23 says that the rules we make for ourselves, or even those imposed upon us by religion, “have no value in restraining sensual indulgence.” (NIV) One translation says, “These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desire.” (NLT)
I confess that I have been a part of the tribe that has worked very hard to conquer the sinful desires in my life by adherence to the rules. I don’t mean just any arbitrary rules. I chose the best: straight from scripture (and my parents, and my church, and my own interpretation of all those…). And, I confess that it worked – that is, it sort of worked. I felt stronger by my adherence to the rules. I felt more pleasing to God because of my adherence to the rules. I felt that I was a better testimony because of my adherence to the rules. The rules were comforting as long as I believed that I was staying on top of them. But I finally realized that, although those rules of religion may change my behavior, they weren’t doing much to change me.
If Colossians 2:23 tells me that the power to overcome sin is not found in the rules, then the next verse tells me how sin is overcome – it is in being raised with Christ. Although much of this chapter, and the next, is occupied with right living, the reader is blessed who notes that, there is no claim here that righteous living will overcome sin and its inherent conflict within us. There is nothing to say that following even these rules will transform one into the image of the Christ. Instead, these “moralisms” are emphatically described as the result what has already been accomplished in Christ.
2:20
You died with Christ and were set free from the battle to attain righteousness through the rules that work in the flesh.
2:23
Those rules have no value in the transformation from a person embattled with sin to the one who lives in the image of Christ.
2:6, 7, 3:1-3
The power of transformation comes from sinking our roots deep into Christ, accepting him as the only way to win the spiritual battle with the allure of this world and its rules. The thought here is not that one roots himself in Christ, but that he allows (passive) his roots to sink into Christ, further, that he allows his life to be built firmly on those roots and his faith can also be expected to grow. Perhaps it could be said, Since you have accepted Jesus as your Lord, let him do his work in your body to anchor you, construct you and nourish your faith. That is similar to 3:1, Since you have been raised to new life (instead of trying to re-create that old life into something worthy, grab hold of your new vision of heaven and hold tightly to it. Stop being controlled by the old vision of a better you in this world and let heaven’s vision transform you. Someone has said, “live up to what Christ has done for you.”
1. If rules of righteousness provide no help in conquering evil desires, do these passages offer any help?
2. How may the rules contribute to self righteousness? Or defeat? How are rules comforting? Or disconcerting?
3. How does rule-keeping affect one’s testimony about the Christ?
4. How might Paul have meant for 3:12-17 to differ from the idea of rule-keeping?
5. Pray about the work of Christ in raising you into a new life and how his righteousness might live in your body. Do you think God might show you the answer to this prayer?
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