Are We External?

I had a realization the other day while sipping my hazelnut coffee - sitting alone at Panera studying the Bible and reading Dallas Willard - that I have been too concerned with my outward acts of the disciplines. I keep thinking of what I must DO, what disciplines I must "perform" to be "where I want to be with Jesus." And in turn - my goal is - these outward disciplines would then emerge a Christ-likeness in my character. Willard has called this a focus on the "external manifestations of Christ-likeness" and they should not be the focus at all.

I need to pray more, read more, give more, praise more, fast more, etc. But for me - currently - I am too focused on the doing. On the external. I think because I'm desiring to do these disciplines for the sake of doing them without taking to heart & mind what the purpose is: TRANSFORMATION. I need to be in "progressive inner transformation." Seeing that when I discipline myself to pray to my Savior, read His word, that the outcome is not that I've "done" them, but that I am transforming my heart/mind/soul in union with Jesus.

We have this desire for Knowledge, for knowing God (speaking of...J.I. Packer's book is a must read). But isn't knowledge an "interactive relationship" like Willard says? I believe it is. That interactiveness is the disciplines. Seeking those times with Jesus, those times serving Jesus, giving to him, etc.

I have a desire to know God. To know Jesus of Nazareth. My Savior, the author of my salvation. But what keeps me from knowing him? (well, that's a loaded question) Not knowing His Word. I was reading Psalm 119 the other day and verse 11 completely floored me:

"I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you."

Whoa.

Am I seeking?
Am I storing up His Word?

"This seeking is driven by the desire to be inwardly pure before God, to be wholly for Him, to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Inseparable from that desire is the desire to be good as Christ himself is good: to love our relatives, friend and neighbors as he loves them and to serve them with the powers of God's Kingdom."

"This seeking is implemented though the discovery of the state of our own heart and inner world by study, reflection, prayer and counsel and then through the taking of appropriate measure to change what is not right within, as well as in the visible, social world of which we are a part. We find what God is doing in us and in the visible world and merge our actions into His. This what Jesus described as constantly seeking 'first for the kingdom of God and his kind of righteousness' (Matthew 6:33)" [Willard]

I know I quote Willard a lot, but he is what is really moving me right now. "Taking appropriate measure to change what is not right within..." That is what I need. That is what is going on inside my heart. I am need of seeking Him more and more and more. To seek and be transformed.

To seek and be transformed...that is my new motto.

Know Your Poverty

We know our bodies wage war against our spirit. We know we're "in" battle constantly, and that we conform more times than not. But how do we have total "conformation to Christ" in our bodies?

We also know that the Spirit is willing but the body is weak (Matthew 26:41). How then can we move and use our "body" to interact with God for his glorification? This something I've been reading about from all sorts of literature. I try to grasp it, yet my grip is loosened almost immediately. And that is why I write about this topic...

I was reading in Luke today about Jesus' first great big sermon to the mulititudes who follow him. He said Blessed are you who are poor. Blessed are you who are hungry, who weep and who are spit on you for the sake of Me (Jesus). Poor, hungry, weep. Those aren't exciting words. But they are words of poverty, the emptying of "self." Jesus then gives the "woes." Woe to you who are rich, who are full, who laugh now and speak well of yourself. Woe to us who think we are self-relient and who are self-glorifying. It makes so much sense that he says these right after one another. We must be poor, self-emptied before we may follow him.

Oswald Chambers wrote: "We are apt to say that because a man has natural ability therefore he will make a good Christian. It is not a question of our equipment but of our poverty, not of what we bring with us, but of what God puts into us; not a question of natural virtues of strength of character, knowledge and experience - all that is of no avail in this matter. The only thing that avails is that we are taken up into the big compelling of God and made his comrades. The comradeship of God is made up out of men who know their poverty."

For me as of late, it is going back to the first "beatitude": blessed are the poor in spirit. I have to start there. I have to wake up everyday and know that I am not capable - in my carnal flesh - to bring glorification to God. I actually "need" God and have to be God-reliant, not self-reliant. Do we have this attitude when life goes well? I tend to forget to tell you the truth. But it is imperative that the first of the beatitudes is implemented daily. We already are prone to evil... that is why we need to start at the bottom, to re-prioritize and re-plan our days.

Dallas Willard says the habit of self-indulgence can be broken if we train our thoughts by appropriate disciplines of study, meditation and service. Once we start there it will be a "place where faith meets grace to achieve conformity to Christ."

He also states: "In our fallen world this life is prepossessed by evil, so that we do not have to think to do what is wrong, but must think and plan and practice - and receive grace - if we are to succeed in doing what is right."

I have to end with this because it is so good...

"Learning Christ-likeness is not passive. It is active engagement with and in God. And we act with our bodies. Moreover this bodily engagement is what lays the foundation in our bodily members for readiness for holiness, and increasingly removes readiness to sin - so that "Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain" (Philippians 1:20-21).

I will continue in striving to know my poverty. Knowing who I am to Christ, but knowing who I am IN Christ as well. I want to be Christ-like. I want to be active, not passive. I want to have that comradeship that Chambers speaks of. I want to wake up everyday and be Christ-reliant. I have to relocate and reorient my body in this world to achieve that. I need to participate in these disciplines so that I will finally conform to Christ.

My goal, may it be yours as well...
Blessings.

Why Would He?

There comes a time in life when we ask why hasn't God shown me His answer. That time for me has been now. I have been discussing with my wife and with my covenant brother why God hasn't "shown" me what to do with my life. I mean, I know what I'm supposed to do daily, but there are specific things in my life I want answers for...for the future. I know others who are struggling with the questions: "When and how will I know this is from God?" or "What if I missed that opportunity?"


I do wonder these at times, I do. I wonder why God doesn't "speak" to me more often. Then it hit me. Why would He? Why would he if I am not actively seeking Him in his Word and in prayer? Seriously, here I am asking (in my stupid self-righteousness) the God of the universe to speak to me about my life when I'm not committing my everyday to him. How can I hear him if my ears aren't tuned to his voice? Then I remembered I need to be meditating on his Word day and night... And this is where scripture comes in:

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." - Psalms 1:1-3

I don't think I walk in the counsel of the wicked or sit in the seat of mockers. BUT, blessed is you and me when we delight in the law of the Lord. Read it again. It says we will prosper. Our fruit will be IN season. Our future, God has ahold of. Being IN season is about being in his perfect timing.


The bible has all the answers. I have been asking God for insight, wisdom, knowledge which I know he gives freely. I just need to "tap into" it more often, I need to MEDITATE ON HIM DAY AND NIGHT. Oh, think of the blessings. Think of how grateful we'd be for everything we already have.

Be Blessed. Be meditating...
And that's why he would...

Excerpts from The Great Omission

As I am trying to feed my Spirit to be obedient to Jesus, I have been blessed by the words of Dallas Willard. I want to share some excerpts from the Great Omission...

I'll preface this by saying that I have been in conflict. My mind, body, soul and spirit are at odds. I want to obey the life and teachings of Christ, but right now have been stuck. These words are helping (besides the Scriptures themselves)...

"The will to obey is the engine that pulls the train of spirituality in Christ. But spirituality in many Christian circles has simply become another dimension of Christian consumerism. We have generated a body of people who consume Christian services and think that that is Christian faith. Consumption of Christian services replaces obedience to Christ. And spirituality is one more thing to consume... But we must talk about spirituality, and this naturally leads us to talk also about spiritual disciplines. Spiritual disciplines are activities in our power that we engage in to enable us to do waht we cannot do by direct effort..." (He has a whole book on this, pick it up)

Spiritual Formation...

"'Spiritual formation' refers to the process of shaping our spirit and giving it a definite character. It means the formation of our spirit in conformity with the Spirit of Christ. Of course it involves the Holy Spirit in action. But the focus of spiritual formation is the formation of our spirit. (He equates spirit, will, and heart as in the human being.) "
"'Spiritual formation in Christ is the process whereby the inmost being of the individual (the heart, will or spirit) takes on the quality or character of Jesus himself.'

That is it. It's the process whereby the inmost being of myself takes on the quality and/or character of Jesus! Whoa.

I'm wrestling. I'm fighting. But I am in process...

Alive Alone

I wrote this after a brief conversation with a friend...thinking outside myself.

Self, what is but a breath?
Self, what are steps aimless?
What are colors to my eyes?
Self, do you know your life?

What have I not seen
What have I not done
What have I not loved
What have I not hated
What have I not needed
What have I not heard
And what have I not said

Long have I lived to see pleasure
To see a perfect icon in which to measure
If all has been and all is done
Then self, you are nothing new under the sun

I know I thirst to which there is no end
I see days closing every night, they all seem to blend
Life and death soak my screen
But why aren't my thoughts ever clean?

I feel so plastic
but my heart bends as if elastic

Strumming my own strings without a tune
Because I am in need of feeling solitary doom
I am alive alone, but screaming at many
I will never find the meaning of plenty...

(I pray for those that feel alone and don't realize the gift of life awaiting at the feet of Jesus of Nazareth. He is plenty, we are in need of Him, even if you don't know him yet)

Our Purpose Today

I've been reading some of Paul's letters in the Bible as of late and I have found the first chapter of Ephesians to probably be the most intense chapter he's ever written. I could not get over this chapter; I've read it over and over and over again. I'm trying to figure it out, trying to figure out what Paul is saying. I've come to one conclusion: it's about PURPOSE.

There are many definitions of "purpose." Most people try to find their "purpose" in life. Ask your co-workers what their purpose is in life...you'll be surprised I'm sure. But we, are not most people. We are not the same. We have a true purpose.

Here's the dictionary definition: "the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists."

I believe - using that definition - that Paul answers that in the first chapter of Ephesians. We could dig and dig into everything he is saying, but that's not my intent. I want to discover or rediscover our daily purpose. And that is our goal is it not, to be daily renewed, daily engaged "in Christ"? It is for me - I suck at it - but I strive for it...

There are a few things I want to pull out of this chapter and share. First is to see what God's purpose is, or will or plan is... Verse 5 & 6 "he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved." Paul used the words purpose and will together, but what are they: "to be the praise of his glorious grace." And this is what has caught my attention the most while reading this chapter...

Look down in verse 12 & 14: "so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory... the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory." Do we realize that we are to be that? We are to be the PRAISE OF HIS GLORY. I'm quite humbled thinking about that. I severely convicted at that thought of that. But with that conviction comes one thing: HOPE. We have to hold onto hope, which is Christ Jesus.

Today, in my devotional Oswald Chambers wrote about chapter 1 verse 18, that "you may know what is the hope to which he has called you..." I love how he starts this devotional:

"Remember what you are saved for - that the Son of God might be manifested in your mortal flesh. Bend the whole energy of your powers to realize your election as a child of God; rise to the occasion every time."

Later he writes and ends with this: "We have to exercise ourselves in order that the Son of God may be manifested in our mortal flesh. God never has museums. (I love that!) The only aim of the life is that the Son of God may be manifested... we are here to submit to His will so that He may work through us what he wants. When we realize this, He will make us broken bread and poured-out wine to feed and nourish others."

What is our purpose today? Time today to refresh our memories. Let us be one thing: to be the PRAISE OF HIS GLORY. But how, you ask. By knowing your hope. By remembering your purpose, by allowing God to manifest himself in your life. Spending all your energy, all your capable power in bring Christ to life in your "mortal flesh." And as I'm writing these words, I am thinking of my own day, it's not easy; never is. Our hope, our Purpose, our Life is all because of Jesus Christ...

It's time to manifest him today.

What We Put In

This verse keeps coming to my mind lately:

Philippians 4:8 - "...whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." [ESV] (emphasis mine)

Other translations use the phrase "dwell on these things," "fix your thoughts," and even "meditate on these things."

Paul just got finished telling us to rejoice always, to not be anxious but pray to God, and that the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds. We have to do our part however, and that is what Paul tells us next. He says, "Finally, brothers..." As if it's the 'how-to' part that sums it all up. I love that about Paul.

I'm just so guilty of not thinking about such things. I'm plagued with this world. I shared the song lyrics of a Delirious song Kingdom of Comfort last time. It's true, I need saving from this kingdom of comfort where I am king. I think about myself so much, not enough about things that are honorable or praiseworthy. And why? Why do most of us think it's so tough? I have a conclusion...

We live in a Kingdom of DISTRACTION. American Christianity is so difficult because we don't teach to be UNdistracted. We don't preach enough of Philippians 4:8. We preach about making the gospel nice for those who don't have ears to hear. For the lost. But don't you remember Jesus saying "For those who have ears to hear...." Jesus was tough. "I have not come to bring peace, but a sword... Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matthew 10:34, 39).

My point is that we have to get back to the BIBLE, and DO what it instructs. If you've ever traveled to a third-world country and you meet heart-felt, bible-doing Believers, you'll be inspired. You'll see a faith so strong. I'm sure you'll be almost jealous. When I've traveled to Benin and Liberia in West Africa I saw faith there that I will never see here in America. Despite their hardships, their faith was so strong and solid. But our western culture influences our faith. But why not their faith? One word: Distraction. We are distracted. Come on, America has everything the flesh could want. It's at our disposal. We are susceptible to everything Satan could have ever dreamed of to distract us from Jesus and His Truth. This means we have to be even more aware of what we're putting into our minds. It's our minds that control our actions. And the Spirit helps us control our minds. And thus the Spirit will help our actions when we... "think about these things..."

Our money, our jobs, our tv's, our iPod's and computers, our movies, they all distract us. (I am super guilty of this). But I have to come back to Philippians 4:8 in order to get a grip on what I'm putting in my mind. The more I think about purity, excellence and truth, the more my faith will grow and my love for Jesus will blossom and I will be "walking" with my Lord. And that's the goal isn't it? To walk with Jesus moment by moment...breath by breath...

Think about such things...it's the place to start.