I had an eye-opening and very humbling experience this weekend. I judged quickly (and therefore, misjudged) a brother in the Lord, and I realized that this type of analysis and conclusion is a habit of mine--the way I think almost all the time. I felt condemned, myself, until I realized that I had judged myself to the same conclusion of condemnation. But I have found freedom in the truth: Heaven cannot be under obligation to my righteousness; Christ died in order to justify the ungodly, not those who are righteous (for there are none), and I am in good standing.

Comfort vs. Truth

I spend too much time in my prayer life seeking comfort--praying for things that I think will make me feel better and calling those things, "good." However, the true Believer prays: "Not my will, but Thine be done." And that prayer typically starts with some version of: "Take this cup from me." I infer that more often than not, "good" is uncomfortable and praying for Truth, not comfort, is what truly sets us free to receive righteousness, peace and joy.

Thankfulness

The Book of Colossians is rife with references to thankfulness. After reading it, I have reached the following conclusions:
1. We should be thankful for:
a. Faith, love and hope from the gospel (truth) (Co. 1:3-5)
b. Inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light (Co. 1:12)
c. Redemption (forgiveness of sins) (Co. 1:13)
d. Fullness in Christ who is the head over all power and authority (Co. 2:6; 2:10)
2. We should pray for:
a. Knowledge of his will (Co. 1:9)
b. A life pleasing to God (Co. 1:10)
c. Growth in the knowledge of God (Co. 1:10)
3. Comments:
a. Everything we should be thankful for and everything we should pray for are related to the kingdom of God
b. The prayer Jesus taught us to pray seeks His will (1.a above) and His kingdom
4. Conclusion: Since (not if) God is sovereign (1.d above) and we are [redeemed (1.b above)] heirs of his kingdom (1.b above), as we grow in the knowledge of God (2.c above) we will see ever more clearly that he is indeed causing everything to work together for good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose (Ro. 8:28)—to please (glorify) God (2.b above; Isa. 43:7)—and thankfulness in everything naturally ensues, for this is His will (2.a above; I Thes. 5:18).
5. Note: And yes, we do love God because He first loved us (I John 4:19).

Father in heaven, I have wondered how you exercise your lordship over sewing and reaping; where do grace and sovereignty truiumph over cause and effect? Then I read from your word (prompted by your Spirit), “All things work together for good to those who love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.” Then I wonder if I really love you. Then I remember (prompted again by the Holy Spirit), “We love Him because He first loved us.” Ah, Sovereign God, Jehovah, Abba, Father, what a privilege to be loved by You, the Maker of all, Most High, sovereign God!

Love Language

How does God speak to you? He has made us for his glory. He would not make anything not intended to be good; the first chapter of Genesis tells us repeatedly that everything He made was good. None of us should think for a moment that we are unloveable, for God is Love and He made us for romance with Him as our Bridegroom. So until we are glorified with Him He must communicate with us somehow in a way that won't kill us, for if we were to see Him for a millisecond, we'd evaporate; if we were to hear His terrible voice, we'd explode. His solution: After Jesus, God's Son, left the earth, He sent the Holy Spirit to show us the truth, comfort us, convict us--commune with us.

He speaks to me through His Word, through the words of friends (as well as enemies sometimes), songs, sermons, books, and any number of other media. But I've noticed something recently that I never noticed before: He has spoken to me through the "mouth of two or three witnesses." He made me, He loves me, and He loves the way He made me--a hard-headed Deutchman, who needs to hear it more than once, and by His grace He makes the extra effort.

He speaks to all of us if we will just listen. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

The "Principled Man"

I had a conversation a few days ago with someone who insisted he lived as a "principled man." This self-characterization came as an alternative solution to my expression of a desire to seek God's wisdom as an answer to a dilemma. I recoiled, "Did you ever see the movie, 'No Country for Old Men?'" He had. I continued. "There was a man," I said of the story's villain, "who lived by principles."

I do not argue that a man should not live a principled life. I do, however, believe that living a life based primarily on principles can lead into the temptation of self-righteousness, thereby setting the yielding captive in the judgment seat above others where he will relentlessly pursue the ever-elusive illusion of control of everyone and everything. Ultimately frustrated with the losing battle, he will slide down the slippery slope of resentment and bitterness, which will drive him ever further into his obsession until his insides rot.

"Lord, let us never believe we have reached our final destination in our search for truth. Help us rather to find love and love others, for love conquers all."

It's not about me

We seldom, if ever, have it all figured out. I was going along just fine, and then, slowly but surely, I felt squeezed out. The ones I had mentored and developed began to replace me, and I felt like a misfit. So I did the logical thing: I resigned. But my leader showed me that I had totally missed the point. I had done such a good job, in fact, that I was promoted from the guy who was performing the task to the guy who had become designated to support those who were performing the task. Once again I had to learn: It's not about me. Could it be that the less we fit in here--where we see, feel, here, touch, taste and smell--the more we fit in there--where the reward awaits those who have been faithful to the higher calling?