CAN YOU IMAGINE?

 

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8 (KJV)

What if everyone in the whole world—kings and presidents, corporate leaders, tribal chiefs, priests and pastors, parents and children, everyone—heeded the above injunction? What if YOU and I looked at this list and committed ourselves to obedience? From this point on, we will think only about things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy.

Proverbs 23:7 says we are what we think about. A quick inventory over just the past couple of days finds thoughts of past failure, memories of slights, concern over ministries… But I also see thoughts of incredible gratitude, God’s faithfulness, his abundance, his loving care, his mercy, and joy in the relationships he has planted in my life. Can you imagine what life would become if only the true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy thoughts were allowed to remain and even to saturate every tiny cell in our brains? The way that would affect every aspect of our being—our relationships, our work, our health, our future…

Some of God’s promises assure that we are kept in perfect peace when we keep our minds on him (Isa. 26:3). Couldn’t we all embrace 24/7 perfect peace? That’s peace all the time. And that’s a promise—from GOD. If we believed and activated the mind of Christ in us (another promise—I Cor. 2:16), we’d live and act differently. Talk about transformation. And that peace from God guards our hearts (emotions) and minds (Phil. 4:7), keeping us stable and calm whatever the journey brings.

I don’t see the Scripture talking about denial. I believe these encouragements are meant to keep us from camping in negative territory. We’re just to pass through those places that cause pain and grief, acknowledging, addressing, processing, and then move forward into the next part of our unique pilgrimage. We intentionally embrace the healthy, positive thoughts that spring from abiding in Christ and intentionally reject those lies that frequently tempt us and tear at the work God is doing in us.

It appears that we are very much responsible for what we allow to remain in our heads. Paul tells us that we are changed by changing our minds (Rom. 12). We’ve got to choose to fill our minds with things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy. We must “set our minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Col. 3:2), things that make us negative, doubtful, fearful, anxious, unloving, and so on. Essentially, we are to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (II Cor. 10:5).

Can you imagine what would happen if, from this point forward, you and I choose and discipline ourselves to think in the way God has told us? I’m not there yet, but I’m working on it.

Father, knowing our fragile makeup, you give us strong words of encouragement for living godly, joyous, peaceful lives. Now help us to discipline ourselves to access all that you have for us. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.

RADICAL TRUST

 

…but as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good. Genesis 50:20

 

I was having lunch with a friend recently, and she said, “I’ve asked God to intervene in my child’s life no matter what it takes.” Pretty radical. She meant it. I’ve walked for decades with this friend as she continues to pray that her child’s hurtful lifestyle will be transformed by God’s unconditional love. And she is trusting him.

 

And then I read on a Facebook entry another friend who thanks God for using the legal system to bring his grandchild to a personal relationship with his loving Father (and with his own family). From the posted photo I saw a set of beaming grandparents with their beaming grandchild who now has peace (Dare I say “freedom”?) and ministry in prison based on redemptive grace. Where better to touch castaways? Pretty radical.

 

Think about that rascal Jacob whose life was colored by deception. Although God changed him to Israel, he still experienced the fruit of lies through his children. As they grew older, perhaps he prayed, “Lord, my favorite son, born of my favorite wife is filled with potential, but pride makes him intolerable. And then I have other sons who are violent, while none of my children get along. Do what you need to do, but please change them.”

 

We know the rest of the story, how God used circumstances to bring Joseph to Egypt, to humble him, to test and make new creations of his brothers, and to save the whole family. No one human person could have done what God did nor could they even have imagined the salvation of a whole nation. God could, and he did.

 

I could go on about the way I’ve seen God use circumstances to accomplish miracles in lives when radical trust has been at work. Think of Monica whose son Augustine was such a rebel. She anguished when he went to Rome—but that’s where he found God. You know the rest of that story.

 

We trust; God works. Let’s give it a go.

 
Father, sometimes we shrink back from allowing you to be Lord of a situation. We want to spare and protect those we love from the very circumstance that might be the instrument for the makeover they need. Help us to let go and radically trust you to be God. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.

TRANSFORMATION

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.  Romans 12:2

 

 

National Geographic (September, 2017) has an excellent article about addiction that includes many behavioral addictions which are just recently being seen as destructive, life-altering dependencies.  Research indicates the changes that occur in the brain, chemistry, and synapses that actually “remold neural circuits to assign supreme value to [the substance or behavior], at the expense of other interests such as health, work, family, or life itself.”  Eventually, the addict has no control of his/her behavior because his brain material and functions have essentially been reshaped.

This makes me think of Paul, in chapter 7 of Romans, who talks about not doing what he wants to do but behaving in a contrary fashion.  Paul isn’t talking about addiction here but rather the sin principle that’s part of each of us.  Later, in Romans 12 he zeroes in on the problem that we all struggle with—being conformed to the world (complying with the secular world’s standards).  We become so entangled with cultural mores and contemporary lifestyles that we excuse the sin that’s taken root in us.

Paul’s remedy sounds just like the treatments that are being offered to addicts in new medical trials.  Researchers are talking about and experimenting with “repairing the brain’s wiring”—what Paul states as “transformation of the mind.”  In both instances, there must be voluntary participation.  With the medical trials, the patient must want a change.  God’s remedy infers that each of us must cooperate with the work of the Holy Spirit by “renewing” our minds, exchanging those deadly, sinful thoughts and behaviors for godly, wholesome patterns.  This sounds to me like the “rewiring” with which today’s medical community is experimenting.

Science knows that continued behaviors set the synapses in pathways that are difficult to disrupt, but the Creator who initially put our bodies in motion also provided healing for us to be transformed.  In fact, he’s given us everything we need for life and godliness (II Peter 1:3)—the provision is already there.  He’s given us the Holy Spirit, his Word, the community of believers that we call the Church, and he’s given us science and the medical profession.

We have to make the choice for transformation, and it’s one that should be made every single day so that we’re free from any bondage that diminishes us as Children of God.  Whether the addiction is something frowned on by society or is seemingly as innocent as negativity or disruptive thought patterns, if it controls us, we need to be set free.  God has the answer; we can be changed.

 

Father, it’s easy for us to see the sins in the lives of others without seeing the things that trip us up in our own lives and relationships.  Give us the courage to identify anything in ourselves that entangles us and keeps us from freedom in you.  In Jesus’ name.  AMEN.

TRANSFORMATION

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.  II Corinthians 3:18  (NIV)

 

 

Have you ever wished you could change a certain attitude or drop an unattractive trait?  The Good News is that it’s possible.  Paul tells us how it can happen in a couple of his letters.  First, by exposing our true selves and concentrating on Jesus (II Cor. 3:18), his attributes, his character, and his love, we become more and more like him.  Then, we trust his working in us will be for good.  Remember, he has already begun a good work in us and will continue it until the day of Christ Jesus (Phil. 1:6), and he is working in us just now giving us the desire and the power to do what pleases him (Phil. 2:13 NLT).

Finally, if we really want to grow and to change, we must listen to the Holy Spirit who speaks to each one of us.  It is his job to convict us regarding sin and righteousness (John 16:8).  Essentially, prior to our pursuing an attitude displeasing to God or speaking unkind words or acting in a manner unbecoming his child, the Holy Spirit quietly warns us.  In this millisecond we have a choice:  Do we follow our selfish instincts or do we respond to God?

God always does his part in changing us from glory to glory, but we have to do ours.  God has given us free will to follow him or to indulge our flesh.  The instant his Spirit softly alerts us, we can respond in obedience and find ourselves more like our Lord or we can reject him and become more entrenched in the behaviors and attitudes that even we despise.

So we return to that life regimen we call discipline. To cooperate with God’s work in transforming us, we listen when his Spirit speaks, and we discipline ourselves to do his will.  In that instant of decision, he empowers us, and as we continue this right behavior, it becomes a habit.  At last, with practice, we are no longer enslaved by that sinful attitude or behavior.  It’s really quite simple.

God’s part:  conviction and empowerment; our part: disciplined obedience.  Result:  transformation.

 

 

Father, how long have we tried to change ourselves when we know that only you can make us like Jesus?  Give us ears to hear your Spirit and determination to do your will.  In Jesus’ name.  AMEN.