Examine yourself 112212

Examine yourselves ----

Are you "on board" with examining yourself?  It is quite clearly commanded in the Word and hence not some optional undertaking.

What would keep us from engaging in this command?

Do we fear we will find our faith to be false?  Then run to Christ in open and honest confession and need.

Do we fear we will find our faith ill-informed and or un-biblical?  Then run the the Word for clear and godly instruction.

Do we fear we will find our faith weak?  Then run to the duties and obligations of the faith which will strengthen it mightily.

Do we fear we will be overcome by our littleness in our faith?  Then run to the Spirit who is God's power in us for serving Him.

Do you not see that what ever the condition or quality of your faith it is none-the-less faith?  

Do you not know that be it but a mustard seed in comparison to others, it is enough to begin?

Do you not know that He knows well the condition of our faith and that His great desire is to strengthen, inform and use it?

Do you not know that nothing - not even a small and wavering faith which needs instruction, perhaps correction is enough to separate you from His love?

Have you not realized that Christ is not a cookie maker?  He does not spread the dough and simply stamp out identical cookies?  No!  As He knit you uniquely in your mother's womb so He would shape you and mold you as that unique creation the only same-ness being that we all be conformed to His likeness.

Has no one told you that you, weak faith, twisted faith, struggling faith - have a unique place and role in His will?  Has no-one told you that regardless and even perhaps because of your limitations, struggles, condition or circumstance you are no less His child even His servant in working out His will?

Have you not seen, in the very Word of God, that He takes all kinds and all conditions and makes then magnificent when they serve His purposes?  Do you not get the lesson that is there for you?

What have you to lose by self-examination except pride and sin and the distraction of baseless and fruitless worry?

Indeed, we have nothing to lose in self-examination except that which has hindered our confidence and comfort until now.  And could that be a bad thing?

Oh but you say, "I am a weak child of God!"  "I am a lazy child of God!"  I am an ignorant child of God!"  I am a blind, lame, depressed, bi-polar even schizophrenic child of God!" "I am an unworthy child of God!"

Let me ask you, "What part of child of God isn't good enough?"

There is the "faithful" child of God and the "unfaithful" child of God.  The only difference is dependent focus.  The faithful child of God dependently focuses on God and what pleases Him.  The "unfaithful" child of God focuses on themselves and others.  But - both are children of God.  Once His child - the choice is yours.  He paid the price for you to be made His child - don't let the small cost of living as His child cripple or hinder you.

Do not let your doubts about your salvation worry you overmuch.  If you do they will paralize you and keep you from making use of His great provision for your confidence and comfort.  Feelings are not facts - they are our responce/reaction to things.  What "so called" fact has wounded your confidence and stolen your comfort?  It is either God calling you to your next adventure in Him or it is Satan up to his old distractions and traps.

The "proof" of our faith is indeed in the pudding.  It is in the practice of the dutied and obligations of the faith that our faith and hence our confidence and comfort grows.  As we grow - it all grows.  But to grow we must be fed (by the Word) exercised (by the duties and obligations) and guided (by the Spirit).  which of these is missing in your life?  Reclaim is and use it!!

Peter’s Pen 1st Peter 1:13-16 (C)

1Pe 1:13-16  Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  (14)  As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,  (15)  but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,  (16)  since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 

V14

Note please the “as.”  It’s not easy to obey – especially as we grow up considering ourselves to be savvy and smart, thinking we can figure it out. 

But we are not asked to obey as grown-ups but as children.  This word translated “children” carries the idea of dependent, student, disciple.  Thayer, in his definition, writes this:

. . . the name transferred to that intimate and reciprocal relationship

formed between men by the bonds of love, friendship, trust,

just as between parents and children, . . .

This is not the same word that Jesus uses in the gospels when He says to allow the “little children” to come to Him.  Is the difference really important?  In a way, yes.

When we “come” to Him, we come as little children – as infants.  We come utterly dependent upon Him (which we always are).  As we grow in Him, we learn to make use of all the graces and mercies He has given us.  We learn to read the Word, to pray, even to do works of ministry.  Though we look to Him as infants, He grows and matures us so that we are of wider use.

So, Peter is recognizing that we are growing-up in Him and Peter enjoins us to obey Him in the maturing relationship we have.  And, Peter has a particular aim for this obedience –

do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, v. 14

Now here is a Peter/Paul moment -  Paul writes in Romans:

Rom 12:2  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Let’s take a look at this “conformed” thing.  Both men use the same word:

συσχηματίζω    suschēmatizō

Zodhiates writes in reference to the Romans passage:

An expanded rendering might read, ‘Stop being molded by the external and fleeting fashions of this age, but undergo a deep inner change by the qualitative renewing of your mind.’ Such a transformation can be wrought only by the Holy Spirit.

Of the 1^st Peter passage, John Gill writes:

. . . to be fashioned (conformed) to the lusts of it is to indulge them, to make provision for them, to obey them, to live and walk in them; which should not be done by the children of God, . . .

So we have a “don’t” here in 1^st Peter and a clearer “but” that fits with it in Romans.  The “but” here in 1^st Peter, at least for me, is overwhelming.

Now I’ve heard and read a lot of things that dance around this and try to weaken it, but it says what it says!  “Be holy as He is holy.”

OK – REMEMBER >

Gal 3:11  Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The righteous shall live by faith."

Rom 4:5  And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,

Rom 10:4  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Eph 4:24  and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Peter has been laying the foundation for your assurance in Christ – I think the Spirit did this because this verse is a whopper.  For me it highlights my sinfulness and unless I see my sinfulness through the blood of the Savior, I will have no hope.

Faith – no matter how weak is sufficient to be His. 

Eph 2:8  For by grace you have been saved through faith.

And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

Peter calls us to “holy conduct.”  That means in your mode of living. 

I’ll do one more on this passage - 

Puritan Prayers - recommended

Give me a deeper trust, that I may lose myself to find myself in Thee, the ground of my rest, the spring of my being. Give me a deeper knowledge of Thyself as saviour, master, lord, and king. Give me deeper power in private prayer, more sweetness in Thy Word, more steadfast grip on its truth. Give me deeper holiness in speech, thought, action, and let me not seek moral virtue apart from Thee.  Anonymous (2010-07-01). Puritan Prayers (Kindle Locations 37-39).  . Kindle Edition.

How blessed we are to have recorded for our benefit the honest searching prayers of those who have walked with Him before us!  How clear and deep are these pools of grace.  How sweet the waters held within.  How simple and yet mighty are these petitions.

If we but borrow these might not our prayers be altered, made higher from a lower place?  Might we not find in them that for which our hearts yearn to express?  Might we not more readily seek the Holy Spirit of God with a greater hunder and yearning?  Might we not be blessed beyond measure?

I believe these prayers are ours not by divine inspiration but by His providential preservation.  From Him to them and down to us they come to raise us up and join us to the saints now in His presence.  In them we are joined with the hearts of our forefathers in the faith and in them we find the depth of our need expressed.

They need to be prayed not merely read.  They might be prayed slowly, reflectively seeking how they might call from our hidden or murky needs. 

Who knows from what specific circumstance they were prayered?  And yet, who cares?  I do not need to know the writers need but rather to find his expressed need my own.

What assurance we find here:  that we are not alone in our struggles; we are not alone in our need.  That we are not alone and never have been in seeking to be more faithful servants, submitted to the King.  Indeed there is nothing new under the sun, not even our weakenesses and fears as His servants. 

We are told to be bold and of good courage and yet we shrink and cower.  It is in prayers like these that we see the remedy for this.  We see that we need only seek Him, to pound upon the door insistently while we await His providence.   He will find us, He will answer the pounding for so He has promised.

Borrowed prayers are not some spiritual form of plagiarism.  Not when we ask Him to make them our own.  Not when we ask Him to use them to dig deeply into our hearts and minds and where we find a lack of one thing asked for we cry out louder for its provision.

Often I do not know the “what” or “how “of my prayers.  I am confounded by the cacophony of the flesh.  Yet in borrowing these prayers I find the cacophony stilled and silent and I hear my need expressed. 

I recommend this little book to you all.  To keep by your bedside or bettr yet to keep with you at all times.  Some of the prayers will instantly lift your spirit and heal your wounds, while others at first may not touch your heart, they will as He makes you ready. 

Puritan Prayers