I was reminded again how pain & trials are really the key to being “conformed to the image of Christ.” Romans 5:3-5 says (New Living Translation), “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to endure. 4 And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. 5 And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”
That reminds me of another passage found in James 1:4-6 which says, “Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. 3 For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.”
One of the biggest lies -- or at best, mis-truths - in the Christian church today is the thinking that when I attend church services (worship services, youth group, small group, Sunday School class, adult fellowship, men’s or women’s class or whatever), that it is during that class that I am growing in my walk with Jesus Christ.
That is not exactly right! It is in those meetings that I primarily receive the information, encouragement & inspiration necessary to use to turther my growth. It really is only in the day-to-day living that my faith is shaped/strengthened/established and proven. It is in the “mundane things of life” where the true believer shines. I think of moms who spends 18 hours of her day caring for the needs of children crying for food, nurture, love, attention, guidance, understanding, hope and so much more. In contrast, is my work meeting for an hour or two with young people to discuss their spiritual pilgrimage, troubles or dreams more important in the Kingdom of God than that which moms do day-in and day-out? Absolutely not. Not only is they having a far greater impact on the lives of those children by molding their priorities, attitudes, responses to difficulties and much more, but their own faith is being tested & proven as they seek understanding from the Lord in handling disputes, beg Him for wisdom as to how to comfort a restless child, or as they cry out for physical & emotional strength to give just a little more attention/focus/love to the little ones who rise at 5:30am and finally crash at 11:00pm. (Oh sure, there’s a nap or 2 in between there, but that’s just enough time to get laundry started, wash dishes, do meal prep or any number of other day-in and day-out chores.)
My faith isn’t truly proven during church-sponsored events (though they certainly help). My faith is proven in how it impacts my decisions at work (do I put off that project that my boss wants? do I “fudge” a little on the expense report - after all, I did tell him the name of the company I work for, so doesn’t that make it a business lunch? - This company is so big that they’ll never miss this thing... Maybe you do something or don’t do something because it actually does sobotage someone else’s job and that person doesn’t really deserve to work here anyway.)
When my faith affects my daily living (work decisions/attitudes, what I spend my money on, what I watch or don’t watch on TV/DVD/computer, whether I help my wife in the kitchen, spend time with my kids, give money AND time to a non-profit organization that really needs the help, how many hours I work, and so very much more!), then I truly have a faith that can be a llight shining before men so that they can see our Heavenly Father, not to mention that it is a faith worth watching from a distance by others who will be encouraged, inspired, convicted or challenged. At any rate, they’ll certainly be drawn to our Lord Jesus -- and isn’t that the point?
That reminds me of another passage found in James 1:4-6 which says, “Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. 3 For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.”
One of the biggest lies -- or at best, mis-truths - in the Christian church today is the thinking that when I attend church services (worship services, youth group, small group, Sunday School class, adult fellowship, men’s or women’s class or whatever), that it is during that class that I am growing in my walk with Jesus Christ.
That is not exactly right! It is in those meetings that I primarily receive the information, encouragement & inspiration necessary to use to turther my growth. It really is only in the day-to-day living that my faith is shaped/strengthened/established and proven. It is in the “mundane things of life” where the true believer shines. I think of moms who spends 18 hours of her day caring for the needs of children crying for food, nurture, love, attention, guidance, understanding, hope and so much more. In contrast, is my work meeting for an hour or two with young people to discuss their spiritual pilgrimage, troubles or dreams more important in the Kingdom of God than that which moms do day-in and day-out? Absolutely not. Not only is they having a far greater impact on the lives of those children by molding their priorities, attitudes, responses to difficulties and much more, but their own faith is being tested & proven as they seek understanding from the Lord in handling disputes, beg Him for wisdom as to how to comfort a restless child, or as they cry out for physical & emotional strength to give just a little more attention/focus/love to the little ones who rise at 5:30am and finally crash at 11:00pm. (Oh sure, there’s a nap or 2 in between there, but that’s just enough time to get laundry started, wash dishes, do meal prep or any number of other day-in and day-out chores.)
My faith isn’t truly proven during church-sponsored events (though they certainly help). My faith is proven in how it impacts my decisions at work (do I put off that project that my boss wants? do I “fudge” a little on the expense report - after all, I did tell him the name of the company I work for, so doesn’t that make it a business lunch? - This company is so big that they’ll never miss this thing... Maybe you do something or don’t do something because it actually does sobotage someone else’s job and that person doesn’t really deserve to work here anyway.)
When my faith affects my daily living (work decisions/attitudes, what I spend my money on, what I watch or don’t watch on TV/DVD/computer, whether I help my wife in the kitchen, spend time with my kids, give money AND time to a non-profit organization that really needs the help, how many hours I work, and so very much more!), then I truly have a faith that can be a llight shining before men so that they can see our Heavenly Father, not to mention that it is a faith worth watching from a distance by others who will be encouraged, inspired, convicted or challenged. At any rate, they’ll certainly be drawn to our Lord Jesus -- and isn’t that the point?
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment