NO LONGER…It’s an amazing thing to step back and see how you are changing. There is a percentage of people that are dedicated laggards and aren’t changing much. But for those who wake up each day looking for the leadership of Christ, more change is occurring then they probably realize.
“…your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the
flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you.”
~I Peter 4:4
One of the great way we can tell we are becoming more Christ-like is looking at what’s dropping off of us. All of us enter our lives with destructive things at work. For some it’s obvious like alcoholism or a violent temper. But for others it could be more subtle…like a stubborn will hidden beneath a sweet smile. Either one of these leads a person to destruction. And that’s only naming a couple of the hundreds of ways we wreck our lives. But the person who wakes up each day asking the Spirit of Christ to live large from within them…things start to soften…downward habits start to fall off. And those around them who aren’t finding such progress in their lives become jealous and start throwing jabs. These are actually positive symptoms of a life that’s improving. In fact, scripture instructs us to revel in this kind of persecution, because it speaks well of our alignment with Christ. Our life is not measured by how much money we are making or how much fun we’re having after work…but by how much more we are becoming like Christ. All other metrics are indelibly flawed. I have a question for you, “what’s falling off”? [not a question to ask a leper, btw]. But what destructive habits, blatant outward ones or subtle inward ones, are falling away? Take some time today to pause and notice them. If you see your growth has stalled…be done with that today. But if you see that you’re interested in some lesser things NO LONGER…Give thanks. ~verlon
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Really deep one V...I not sure of a direct answer. However as I have moved away from a previous life of" living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. "4They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you.".(1Peter)..Some of the people of my past are at best bewildered at the transformation taking place a little bit at a time in my life.
ReplyDeleteSome only see the religious institution, instead of the Christ transformations on a personal level in their observation...Causing them to rebel in an outward confusion and misjudgment ...In these two verses from 1 Peter...You see Peter Speaks of "Are You part of the problem (Above) or part of the solution (Below)...(You have gifts to which will you give? To the problems or the solutions.)
"10Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 11If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen."
I don't profess perfection. I'm not sure we ever remain anything but humanly flawed as in our nature, but there is a turning point of solution that starts in a personal surrender from the problem to the solution in Christ..On some level someday may the bewildered look past the mind of understanding, overwhelmed in their problematic world of a self created destruction, and remember the peace you have...
This Peace Speaks louder than institutional dogma in their desperation and is never condescending or self righteous in deliverance...This Peace is not ours. It's Christ's! "My peace I give you" We are in the solution and we just get to share it...God's Gift of him and no longer mere words is revealed.......