Ponderings
My mind [and life] is working through a dilemma… And while it isn’t something often discussed, I’m sure other Christians deal with the same problem.
I’m talking about the consistent disconnect between what my heart and mind desires as a Christian and what I actually do as I go about life.
In a sense, it is the “Romans 7” scenario where “what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.” (Romans 7:15b) Except in a more specific situation. I keep thinking about about how rarely things—GOOD things—spill over from my heart and mind into my interaction with people in my every day life.
I want to encourage other people in their Christian walk. I want to discuss how God has been working in my life. I want to share my faith with my unbelieving coworkers. I want to be a student of the Word.
It just doesn’t really seem to ever happen. It seems oh, so hard to turn that want to into actions. You know the feeling? This is the struggle. Maybe it is also yours.
How do I learn to turn trivial conversations with other believers into times of spiritual encouragement and edification? How do I take advantage of the opportunity to witness when someone makes a comment that seems to indicate a belief in something other than the Truth of God’s Word? How do I make the study of God’s Word something that impacts me on a personal level? How do I go about life with such an intentionality that the Christian walk is seen as something real and not merely a spiritual front?
And as I write this, I feel like there’s a disconnect even now between writing about this and talking about it with someone because it is so much easier to write about than to actually talk about it and do it.
WHY?!?
I’ve been thinking about it: this struggle serves to keep me dependent on the Lord to accomplish His work in me. If I had the spiritual life all figured out, why would I need Him? If the transforming and sanctifying power of the Gospel was simply a once-for-all event, what about the rest of my life? Where would “being conformed to His image” fit into the picture?
It all points back to Christ, His Work, and God’s glory.
And so I take comfort—not in glorying in my failures—but in the confident hope of His promise to complete the good work that He has begun in me. (Philippians 1:6) My part is to walk with Him day-by-day, yield my body as instruments of righteousness, and obey Him, being a doer and not just a hearer of the Word.
I’m talking about the consistent disconnect between what my heart and mind desires as a Christian and what I actually do as I go about life.
In a sense, it is the “Romans 7” scenario where “what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.” (Romans 7:15b) Except in a more specific situation. I keep thinking about about how rarely things—GOOD things—spill over from my heart and mind into my interaction with people in my every day life.
I want to encourage other people in their Christian walk. I want to discuss how God has been working in my life. I want to share my faith with my unbelieving coworkers. I want to be a student of the Word.
It just doesn’t really seem to ever happen. It seems oh, so hard to turn that want to into actions. You know the feeling? This is the struggle. Maybe it is also yours.
How do I learn to turn trivial conversations with other believers into times of spiritual encouragement and edification? How do I take advantage of the opportunity to witness when someone makes a comment that seems to indicate a belief in something other than the Truth of God’s Word? How do I make the study of God’s Word something that impacts me on a personal level? How do I go about life with such an intentionality that the Christian walk is seen as something real and not merely a spiritual front?
And as I write this, I feel like there’s a disconnect even now between writing about this and talking about it with someone because it is so much easier to write about than to actually talk about it and do it.
WHY?!?
I’ve been thinking about it: this struggle serves to keep me dependent on the Lord to accomplish His work in me. If I had the spiritual life all figured out, why would I need Him? If the transforming and sanctifying power of the Gospel was simply a once-for-all event, what about the rest of my life? Where would “being conformed to His image” fit into the picture?
It all points back to Christ, His Work, and God’s glory.
And so I take comfort—not in glorying in my failures—but in the confident hope of His promise to complete the good work that He has begun in me. (Philippians 1:6) My part is to walk with Him day-by-day, yield my body as instruments of righteousness, and obey Him, being a doer and not just a hearer of the Word.
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