Friday, June 22, 2012
Chapter 2 - Relational Spirituality - Loving Ourselves Correctly (pgs 34 to 41): "We can be defined either by our world or by our God. To love ourselves correctly is to see ourselves as God sees us. This involves a process of exposure to the truths of Scripture with a view to understanding our new identity in Christ Jesus. This chapter contains an inventory of these truths in the form of a series of affirmations from Scripture." Take a look at the affirmations starting on page 36 and pick out the ones that speak to you. Oh, and blog your throughts here BEFORE next Thursday ;o)
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Question 1 - To what degree are you defined by the world? By the Word? How can you develop your identity more fully in the latter?
ReplyDeleteIn our culture, when we meet someone for the first time, we tend to ask questions like "where are you from?" or "what do you do?" We are defined by place and achievement. In Navajo culture, you ask "what clan are you?"--they are defined by familial linkages.
DeleteI am typical--I tend to think of myself by the various roles I fill and act in on a daily basis: husband, father, son or brother, elder, professional. As a professional, I can get caught up in the rat-race of titles, education, certifications and other recognition. But a Biblical model of identity is a whole other realm. The list of statements in this chapter transform my reference point from worldly standards to God's standards. Making that real and pervasive in my thinking and actions requires daily nurturing, memorization and medition, accountability from family and friends and being part of a community of people who share these convictions. In short, a lifestyle and a lifetime!
Is there anything more worthy of my time and effort? Is there anyone out there who shares that passion?
I agree with Scott completely. The world offers many alternative ways to define myself most of which are based on my accomplishments and feed into my pride. The Bible defines me more through what Christ has done than what I have done. I have value because I was created in God's image. I am a new creature, citizen of heaven, blameless before God, lacking in nothing, and so much more all because of what Christ did on the cross. It is not about what I did but what Christ did. The Bible's message is the antithesis of what the world says and what my pride wants to hear, so I agree with Scott that it is only through a lifestyle and lifetime that I can define myself the way God does rather than culture does. As Romans 12:1-2 says, I must present my body a living sacrifice and daily be transformed through the renewal of my mind. The world's message is powerful and the only thing that can overcome it is God's message.
DeleteQuestion 2 - What does it require to see ourself as God sees you?
ReplyDeleteI think the biggest thing that is holding me back from seeing myself the way God sees me is my pride. I want to define myself through what I have done because in the end I think I have at least a little something worthwhile to put on my resume. But God wants me to define myself by what He has done. It's not even mostly God and a little bit of me - it is all God or nothing. As long as I think I have something to add to the resume I do not truly see myself the way God sees me. When I am able to humble myself and fully embrace the truth that I am totally depraved and lost without God then I can begin to see myself as God sees me. Perhaps it is ironic that the only way to see the surpassing value that God has imputed to me is by first recognizing that I am inherently worthless on my own.
DeleteQuestion 3 - Which five from the list of biblical affirmations resonate the most with you? Which five seem the most remote to your experience? How can you make these more real in your thinking and practice?
ReplyDeleteThe is a wonderful list of truths and understanding, internalizing and living them out is a life-long pursuit--an one that is transformational. For me, there's no question that the one I have the most trouble grasping and living out is that my body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 3:16 & 6:19). I'm growing in my understanding of and reliance on the Holy Spirit, but I struggle to treat my body as I ought. I'm afraid I suffer from that ancient Greek mentality of relegating the temporal to a lower plane of importance. This continues to be my biggest "thorn in the flesh" and will require continued viligance and prayer.
DeleteThat Jesus,the Son of God, calls me "friend" never ceases to amaze and humble me. Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth, would care about me?! The other profound truth in Jn 15:15 is that Jesus claims that "all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you." The revelation of what God chooses for us to know is complete through Christ--his life and teachings. THAT is why I study and mediatate on and follow Jesus: because HE has made the Father known to me/us. There are still mysteries, but they are things I don't NEED to know now.
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