We bought a mobile phone, mostly to call AA (the NZ equivalent of AAA in the USA) in case our car breaks down. We have a 1992 Camry, but it seems to be running very well. Any way, we bought a prepay plan, or pay as you go plan. I thought that this seems to be how I think of God's grace some times... I some how pay for it and have a finite amount that I'm afraid to use up. Or sometimes I think I'm on a contract monthly plan where I regularly make a payment (go to church, do ministry, etc.) and then the grace stays "topped up"... but I have only so much grace per month.
Well, that's all silly. Christ paid for our sins once, for all time (Hebrews). No more grace bills to be paid. now if I would only call Him up more frequently to talk...
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
Man in the Mirror, Part 3
It' very possible I've only lost two pounds, but I also suspect that the scale in our bathroom in Laramie, WY is not the same as the scale at SportsMed in Christchurch, NZ. This is the problem with scales - they are relative. They need to be calibrated to an absolute standard.
Similarly, any man-made measure of spiritual growth we use must ultimately be calibrated to the absolute standard of God's word. In this case, why don't we just measure ourselves against the standard directly? And why all these measurements? Are we in a competition? Is there a target goal where we can say we are finished? I think not. As long as I am growing, I'm happy (or should be). I have the rest of my life and all eternity to grow. Now doing God's will and finishing His work, there is some urgency there...
Similarly, any man-made measure of spiritual growth we use must ultimately be calibrated to the absolute standard of God's word. In this case, why don't we just measure ourselves against the standard directly? And why all these measurements? Are we in a competition? Is there a target goal where we can say we are finished? I think not. As long as I am growing, I'm happy (or should be). I have the rest of my life and all eternity to grow. Now doing God's will and finishing His work, there is some urgency there...
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Man in Mirror, Part 2
Earlier, I had posted that my only scale here is a mirror and that the lesson I learned is that I should measure my spiritual growth in the mirror of God's word and God's people rather than scales and metrics. Well, I finally found a scale (at the Physio Therapist office) and to my dismay I had only lost one or two pounds. All other evidence in the mirror suggests I have lost more than that. Yes I know that muscle mass is more dense than fat, but I am losing upper body muscle mass as I can not lift heavy right now (actually, I don't think I will lift weights while in NZ).
This made me think - how do we measure spiritual growth? What is real? God's Word that says I'm a new creation, or how I measure up to some standard of behavior?
And why all the measuring? We will never "arrive". The Apostle Paul himself says, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me".
I press on to take hold...
This made me think - how do we measure spiritual growth? What is real? God's Word that says I'm a new creation, or how I measure up to some standard of behavior?
And why all the measuring? We will never "arrive". The Apostle Paul himself says, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me".
I press on to take hold...
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
A little at a time...
By nature I am an impatient man. I want my research program to grow quickly; I want to be restored quickly on this sabbatical; I want my computer to load quickly... you get the point. God, in His infinite wisdom knows that I need to grow a little at a time. He tells Israel that when they occupy the promised land he will drive out their enemies a little at a time while they "ramp up":
Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land.
- Exodus 23:30
I am realizing that this restoration process will take time. Little by little God will drive out my pathological behaviors until I have increased enough in Jesus to take possession of the land.
Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land.
- Exodus 23:30
I am realizing that this restoration process will take time. Little by little God will drive out my pathological behaviors until I have increased enough in Jesus to take possession of the land.
Every seven years...
One of the biggest perks of a life in academia is a sabbatical. As the name implies, we can do this every seven years. I missed my first one and I am actually on year 15 in academia during my first sabbatical. Anyway, the timing of one off every seven is prevalent in scripture, but I had not observed this about slaves before in Exodus 21:
2 "If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free, without paying anything. 3 If he comes alone, he is to go free alone; but if he has a wife when he comes, she is to go with him.
My faculty job is very cushy and nowhere near slavery, but I really identify with these verses. I've served my six years and am now going free (sort of) and Susan is with me!
2 "If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free, without paying anything. 3 If he comes alone, he is to go free alone; but if he has a wife when he comes, she is to go with him.
My faculty job is very cushy and nowhere near slavery, but I really identify with these verses. I've served my six years and am now going free (sort of) and Susan is with me!
Wise counsel
Moses was on the road to burnout. Here's what his father-in-law had to say about his situation in Exodus 18:
Moses' father-in-law replied, "What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.
- Exodus 18:17-18
The solution was to delegate. What really speaks to me is the phrase: "you cannot handle it alone". Now the challenge is to make some changes, especially in how I do my work.
Moses' father-in-law replied, "What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.
- Exodus 18:17-18
The solution was to delegate. What really speaks to me is the phrase: "you cannot handle it alone". Now the challenge is to make some changes, especially in how I do my work.
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