I was convicted yesterday by a message I heard about boasting. If you have the time, I encourage you to listen: http://www.redeemerkansascity.org/sermons/wisdom-folly-boasting/
I've been allowing myself to feel overwhelmed recently, getting completely caught up in school and feeling like a total failure when my efforts don't translate to favorable results. I've been frustrated with friendships, experiencing insecurity when it seems like people are too busy or have moved on to other friends.
So I've been overwhelmed; frustrated. I've been tired. Self-pitying.
And then it hit me yesterday. I've been trying really hard to have something to boast in. Attaching my worth to school or friendships, hoping that through them I would find value. I'd find something to feel good about.
It doesn't feel like boasting when things aren't going your way. It feels like rock-bottom. But the truth is, if I had been doing well in these areas of my life, what would be coming through in my attitude would be pride. Both self-deprecation and pride stem from a heart that desires to boast in its own value, achievements, etc. And both are futile. Both lead to emptiness, disappointment, a wrong view of self, and a wrong view of God.
Boasting is "that of which one glories or can glory". Here's the beautiful truth I was reminded of yesterday: I have nothing of my own to glory in. All boasting ought to be for the One who is infinitely glorious and who ALONE is worthy. He has given us everything in Christ. ALL glory is due to His name. So let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord!
"For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
(1 Corinthians 1:26-31 ESV)
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
growing pains.
For the past few months, I have been experiencing growing pains.
I'm not talking about the physical sense of the term; my body doesn't ache as my muscles are stretching and growing. In fact, I think my last growth spurt happened in middle school.
What I am, however, referring to I think is a very accurate description of how I've been thinking/feeling recently.
It's interesting-- I've been noticing that the longer a person walks with Christ, the more sinfulness in them is revealed. I am more aware of my sin this year than I ever have been, and yet I know that even now I don't fully comprehend the depths of that sinfulness.
The word sanctification has been on my mind as of late. To sanctify is "to make holy". After a person has been justified by repenting and believing Christ's death and resurrection, they are saved from the penalty of sin. Christ's righteousness is on them and the Father sees them as holy. However, sin is still present in our lives until we stand before God in heaven. Therefore, sanctification is the process by which we walk with God, seek him, love him, praise him, and learn to delight in obedience to him.
When you put it in those terms, it is easy to romanticize. I've been guilty of rationalizing that if life with Christ isn't great and wonderful, it isn't worth the effort. But the truth is, growing pains are often (if not always) part of the process. I have to be broken of sin and self over and over and over again before I can see God's goodness, before I can delight in his presence. Before he can change me into his likeness.
As I said before, so much of my sinful nature has been revealed to me recently. It's overwhelming. It's convicting. It's hard. But if that is what it takes to draw me nearer to my God, (and it IS), then growing pains are worthwhile. Stretching is required, but growing comes as a result. That is something to rejoice in.
"What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
(Romans 6:15-23 ESV)
I'm not talking about the physical sense of the term; my body doesn't ache as my muscles are stretching and growing. In fact, I think my last growth spurt happened in middle school.
What I am, however, referring to I think is a very accurate description of how I've been thinking/feeling recently.
It's interesting-- I've been noticing that the longer a person walks with Christ, the more sinfulness in them is revealed. I am more aware of my sin this year than I ever have been, and yet I know that even now I don't fully comprehend the depths of that sinfulness.
The word sanctification has been on my mind as of late. To sanctify is "to make holy". After a person has been justified by repenting and believing Christ's death and resurrection, they are saved from the penalty of sin. Christ's righteousness is on them and the Father sees them as holy. However, sin is still present in our lives until we stand before God in heaven. Therefore, sanctification is the process by which we walk with God, seek him, love him, praise him, and learn to delight in obedience to him.
When you put it in those terms, it is easy to romanticize. I've been guilty of rationalizing that if life with Christ isn't great and wonderful, it isn't worth the effort. But the truth is, growing pains are often (if not always) part of the process. I have to be broken of sin and self over and over and over again before I can see God's goodness, before I can delight in his presence. Before he can change me into his likeness.
As I said before, so much of my sinful nature has been revealed to me recently. It's overwhelming. It's convicting. It's hard. But if that is what it takes to draw me nearer to my God, (and it IS), then growing pains are worthwhile. Stretching is required, but growing comes as a result. That is something to rejoice in.
"What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
(Romans 6:15-23 ESV)
