Memory – 2 Peter 1.3-4 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through our knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
Everyone makes decisions about how they will live their life whether having given purpose thought to that action or simply deciding to “go with the flow.” In the apostle’s letter he writes: See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. the reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure (1 John 3.1-3). If God is our heavenly Father, then it is reasonable to assume that we ought to behave as his children. By way of analogy, when our girls were very young, they would, at times, complain that we did not permit them to watch some things on TV or stay out past a given hour or engage in a host of other activities that their friend’s parents permitted them to do. My response was simple – they are not members of our household; they are not our children. God has the right of moral expectation. That is, he expects us to behave as his children, and he gives us the wherewithal (the Holy Spirit) to make that happen.
So, what does the Christian child of God believe and do that marks his or her behavior as distinct from those influenced by popular secularism. The apostle Peter gives us a framework for living that outlines such a life. Most people desire to live a purposeful and meaningful life; yet much of what we observe in our society reflects a philosophy of living for the moment. That little thought is given to what is true is a paradox of contemporary western culture. Sinners focus on living life to its fullest and die spiritually impoverished; Christians take up the cross, die to themselves and find they are more alive than they imagined possible (cf. John 10.10; 11.26-27). That is not to say Christians will not die. Indeed, Jesus does not deny the impending physical death of His disciples; to the contrary, He acknowledges it (John 15.20 & 21.20-23). However, there is more to life than readily meets the eye (2 Corinthians 4.16-18).
Christ calls individuals to follow him (Luke 14.26). He does not rally them around an idea or a philosophy. Christianity is relational. A life of faith is contingent upon being in fellowship with Jesus. It is not enough to admire or respect or esteem the things Jesus stands for, you must love him and this you cannot do without the Holy Spirit who sheds the love of God abroad in your heart (Romans 5.1-5). Oswald Chambers writes, in his devotional classic, My Utmost for His Highest: “Whenever the Holy Ghost sees a chance of glorifying Jesus, He will take your heart, your nerves, your whole personality, and simply make you blaze and glow with devotion to Jesus Christ.” The love for the Lord Jesus Christ is such that by comparison love for family begins to pale (cp. Matthew 10.34-39).
Ultimately, your significance is rooted in your relationship with God through Jesus. If you miss this, you miss everything. Sadly, little thought, and even less action, is given to what is virtuous about mankind. I am not, of course, referring to intrinsic cultural virtues, but that virtue which is the product of being created in the image of God. St. John Chrysostom a 4th century theologian wrote an essay: “None Can Harm Him Who Does Not Injure Himself.” He observes the horse’s virtue is not in its gold studded bridle but, in its strength, speed and courage in battle. So, too, for man. His virtue is not in riches so that he is immune to poverty, nor health that he should have no fear of sickness, neither the popular opinion of the public, nor many of the other lesser things which men have come to value: but “carefulness in holding true doctrine, and rectitude in life.” One who possesses such things can never be dispossessed of his treasure (read Proverbs 4 – pay attention to 4.23 Keep your heart with all vigilance for from it flows the springs of life). “All true needs such as food, drink, and companionship are satiable. Illegitimate wants, pride, greed, envy, are insatiable” (cp. Herbert Schossberg, Idols for Destruction).
True religion has its origin in God, not in man. That is why it is theocentric, not anthropocentric. It is God who tells you what to do and what not to do. If God glorifies the Son who makes Himself to be nothing (Philippians 2.3-11), then how can a true disciple elevate himself? How can he fail to honor Him whom God has exalted? True religion is a union of the soul with God and involves a real participation with His Divine nature (2 Peter 1.3). It is the image of God etched upon the soul, as in the apostle’s phrase, it is Christ formed within you (Galatians 4.19). Recall Henry Scougal’s observation from The Life of God in the Soul of Man: “The worth and excellency of the soul is measured by the object of its love.” As you continue in fellowship with God you will experience the framework of your life being transformed.
So, what does the Christian child of God believe and do that marks his or her behavior as distinct from those influenced by popular secularism. The apostle Peter gives us a framework for living that outlines such a life. Most people desire to live a purposeful and meaningful life; yet much of what we observe in our society reflects a philosophy of living for the moment. That little thought is given to what is true is a paradox of contemporary western culture. Sinners focus on living life to its fullest and die spiritually impoverished; Christians take up the cross, die to themselves and find they are more alive than they imagined possible (cf. John 10.10; 11.26-27). That is not to say Christians will not die. Indeed, Jesus does not deny the impending physical death of His disciples; to the contrary, He acknowledges it (John 15.20 & 21.20-23). However, there is more to life than readily meets the eye (2 Corinthians 4.16-18).
Christ calls individuals to follow him (Luke 14.26). He does not rally them around an idea or a philosophy. Christianity is relational. A life of faith is contingent upon being in fellowship with Jesus. It is not enough to admire or respect or esteem the things Jesus stands for, you must love him and this you cannot do without the Holy Spirit who sheds the love of God abroad in your heart (Romans 5.1-5). Oswald Chambers writes, in his devotional classic, My Utmost for His Highest: “Whenever the Holy Ghost sees a chance of glorifying Jesus, He will take your heart, your nerves, your whole personality, and simply make you blaze and glow with devotion to Jesus Christ.” The love for the Lord Jesus Christ is such that by comparison love for family begins to pale (cp. Matthew 10.34-39).
Ultimately, your significance is rooted in your relationship with God through Jesus. If you miss this, you miss everything. Sadly, little thought, and even less action, is given to what is virtuous about mankind. I am not, of course, referring to intrinsic cultural virtues, but that virtue which is the product of being created in the image of God. St. John Chrysostom a 4th century theologian wrote an essay: “None Can Harm Him Who Does Not Injure Himself.” He observes the horse’s virtue is not in its gold studded bridle but, in its strength, speed and courage in battle. So, too, for man. His virtue is not in riches so that he is immune to poverty, nor health that he should have no fear of sickness, neither the popular opinion of the public, nor many of the other lesser things which men have come to value: but “carefulness in holding true doctrine, and rectitude in life.” One who possesses such things can never be dispossessed of his treasure (read Proverbs 4 – pay attention to 4.23 Keep your heart with all vigilance for from it flows the springs of life). “All true needs such as food, drink, and companionship are satiable. Illegitimate wants, pride, greed, envy, are insatiable” (cp. Herbert Schossberg, Idols for Destruction).
True religion has its origin in God, not in man. That is why it is theocentric, not anthropocentric. It is God who tells you what to do and what not to do. If God glorifies the Son who makes Himself to be nothing (Philippians 2.3-11), then how can a true disciple elevate himself? How can he fail to honor Him whom God has exalted? True religion is a union of the soul with God and involves a real participation with His Divine nature (2 Peter 1.3). It is the image of God etched upon the soul, as in the apostle’s phrase, it is Christ formed within you (Galatians 4.19). Recall Henry Scougal’s observation from The Life of God in the Soul of Man: “The worth and excellency of the soul is measured by the object of its love.” As you continue in fellowship with God you will experience the framework of your life being transformed.
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