Both

I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!-Phil 3:10

 Dear Reader, many who claim to follow Christ focus on the Holy Spirit and his gifts to seek a life of power, others teach that Christians should be healthy and wealthy and wise, to the exclusion of all other options. Paul affirms he wishes to know the power of God, but shows that this path is walked by sharing in suffering.
It takes wisdom. God does want us to live a life of freedom. He did indeed die so we could be healed of sin and disease. It is "just" to pray for these things; understanding that suffering for the glory of the gospel is often God's way of reaching those still trapped under the enemies influence.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Regeneration

The British Science Fiction series "Dr Who" has a clever mechanic. The lead character can regenerate. In effect allowing one actor to pass the baton of the character to another. In this regeneration, memories can be passed down, but it allows for a new "persona" to become apparent. Useful for actors who have a wildly differing presentation of what is meant to be the same person. Sometimes the Doctor is charming, debonair, others hard and callous. The Bible considers humanity and through the actions of Jesus, offers each of us our own chance to regenerate. While we have old memories and consequences for past actions, we no longer need to let them define "who" we are for future endeavours. We can be counted a new person in Christ. We can have the opportunity to walk a fresh path and see a completely different, and superior destination. Better still, this blessing is not contingent upon us, but upon the carpenter Jesus. My life and actions are not relied
Read more

Same

One post I watched, had a line "In reality, there is a lot more that makes us similar than makes us different" It's good to remember. In fact, the thing which makes us all similar is being made in the image of God. During a war, authorities are at pains to paint the enemy as something different, even to labelling the enemy with names to differentiate the people we are fighting against. If we can de-humanise the enemy we will be more effective fighters. Jesus points us in the opposite direction. He reminds us that we all are similar, and all need a way to salvation. For those who accepted this salvation, it is the first step of many, which imparts a direction to life previously not thought of! We are to see one another not in pessimism and fear but rather hope and love. For the Christ Child saw that his life was to be given to all nations and all peoples of all times. We are the same in the need to be saved, we are the same in that this salvation is universal i
Read more

Passive

When I write, I am forever being told by my grammer program that I write in the "passive voice". I assume it wants me to be more assertive! It may be right!, Tozer writes  "By moral action, we mean a voluntary response to the Christian message: not merely the acceptance of Christ as our personal Savior but a submission to the obligation implicit in the doctrine of the Lordship of Jesus. We must free ourselves from the inadequate concept of the gospel as being only 'good news,' and accept the total meaning of the Christian message centering in the cross of Christ. We must restore again to the church the idea that the offer of salvation by faith in Christ carries with it the condition that there must be also a surrender of the life to God in complete obedience. Anything less than this puts the whole thing in the passive voice. A lifetime of passive listening to the truth without responding to it paralyzes the will and causes a fatty degeneration of the heart.&
Read more