I’m often impressed and content when I see all the pictures of my photo album assembled perfectly to a color background, or on motif paper. The enhancement on the scrapbook makes them stand out beautifully. The right pieces: paper, colors or patterns on each design only perfects the projection of a message on each picture.
In many ways, like the scrapbook pieces, God has given us many parts with which we reflect ourselves to others. For instance, we have the hands to eat with, our ears to listen to, and feet to walk with. Each member has its own function and they enhance our personality; but they are all part of one body or one picture, that is, self. Much like the scrapbook we try to beautify each part so that the whole body may be appealing to those who see it. In some ways we scrap our body by using modern techniques, for example, some may use surgery to get rid of excess fat in the body, facial reconstruction, creams, exercise, diets, etc. There are many methods used in the world to make people look and feel beautiful, so that the picture of self will be more appealing, or healthier in our scrapbook-life. What about the heart? Jesus said:
“What comes out of a man is what makes him unclean. For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man unclean.” Mark 7:20-23 NIV
“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”1 Samuel 16:7 NIV
When we look in a mirror we see a poor reflection of ourselves, because we don’t see the whole picture of who we are. And even if the appearance of a person is improved with things the world offers, the whole picture is not yet revealed. On Judgment Day we will see face to face and “…know fully even as I am fully known.” (1 Corinthians. 13:12 NIV) Let us begin to be known by the acting in accordance to the fruit of the Spirit, which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22 NIV) May the picture we project to the world be always enhanced by the beauty that is within our hearts and not by what others think of us; so that the pages of our scrapbook (life) be portrayed with a message of love and not worldliness.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
CHOICES
God has the freedom to make choices and he always makes the right choices for us. There are times when we think that our choices are better and disregard our heavenly Father to give us guidance. The Old and New Testaments provide us with examples of those who engaged in bad choices that led to dire consequence and some even to death as a result of sin. For example: Adam and Eve (Gen. 3: 1-20); King David (2 Samuel 11:1-4); Ananias and Saphira (Acts 5: 1-10); and even the apostle Peter when he denied our Lord Jesus (Matt.26: 69-75) Just like them, we are not immune to making bad choices in our sinful nature. It wants us to always go the opposite direction of what God wants for us. It is a battle we fight on a daily basis, but we can have victory when we accept Christ into our lives. Then, but only then will our minds be transformed. Our mindset becomes one with Christ as we allow him to take charge of our life. It says in Romans 8:1 that “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” We are powerless to do anything right, because of our sinful nature. The Bible says that “those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit (of God) desires.” (Romans 8:5) Clearly, then, the answer to making right choices is found in our relationship with our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. His Spirit will live in us once we accept Him to be our righteousness, empowering us with his Spirit to help us fight wrongful choices hurtful to us.
Application
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12: 2)
God has the freedom to make choices and he always makes the right choices for us. There are times when we think that our choices are better and disregard our heavenly Father to give us guidance. The Old and New Testaments provide us with examples of those who engaged in bad choices that led to dire consequence and some even to death as a result of sin. For example: Adam and Eve (Gen. 3: 1-20); King David (2 Samuel 11:1-4); Ananias and Saphira (Acts 5: 1-10); and even the apostle Peter when he denied our Lord Jesus (Matt.26: 69-75) Just like them, we are not immune to making bad choices in our sinful nature. It wants us to always go the opposite direction of what God wants for us. It is a battle we fight on a daily basis, but we can have victory when we accept Christ into our lives. Then, but only then will our minds be transformed. Our mindset becomes one with Christ as we allow him to take charge of our life. It says in Romans 8:1 that “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” We are powerless to do anything right, because of our sinful nature. The Bible says that “those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit (of God) desires.” (Romans 8:5) Clearly, then, the answer to making right choices is found in our relationship with our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. His Spirit will live in us once we accept Him to be our righteousness, empowering us with his Spirit to help us fight wrongful choices hurtful to us.
Application
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12: 2)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
