Friday, May 7, 2010

Getting In God's Way

Biblical Christianity does not involve the annihilation or removal of ourselves from God's working, but rather the redemption and incorporation of ourselves into His purposes.

Many believers, including myself, have said to our Lord in one form or another, "Heavenly Father, get me out of the way so You can work unhindered by the liability I am to You." There is truth in this sentiment because we can doubtless be an impediment to God's working. However, our Lord's primary purpose involves getting us "in the way" so that He can use our particular personalities, histories, and gifts to reveal unique facets of Himself to our world. "The Word... made flesh" began in the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ, and continues as His Spirit lives walks in us along the paths of our particular lives and venues (John 1:14).

God's redemption of our humanity involves every aspect of our being. "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Thessalonians 5:23). As we trust the Lord Jesus, and submit ourselves unto His work in us, our human faculties and components are redeemed for the purpose of the Holy Spirit's exaltation of the Lord Jesus. We are as the moon to God's sun, shining forth in different phases and glories as He positions us in the night sky according to His will. Rather than impede His light, we beautifully reflect it as our Lord gets us His way rather than out of it.

"But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet (useful) for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work" (II Timothy 2:20-21).

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