Examine me, O God, and know my mind; test me, and discover my thoughts. Find out if there is any evil in me and guide me in the everlasting way.
Psalm 139:23-24 (GNB)
Hello everyone!
Last time I looked at what it meant to live in the everlasting way and came to the conclusion that I'm sure we can all agree on; that we cannot run our lives ourselves because we don't live our lives mistake-free.
This time, I want to bring my emphasis back onto the verses I've chosen for this series of posts, Psalm 139:23-24...
To Raise a Higher Standard
In making our mistakes, we acknowledge our humanity but then realise that regret, shame and disgust often like to follow us around reminding us of the times when we got it wrong and made some foolish comment or action that chases us down and won't let us forget it.
This is where we need God.
You might think "pah, I don't need God, I'm doing fine on my own" and if you do, then please, at least be open enough to see why I am saying this. As we allow God to examine our lifestyle, the more that He will begin to test us. This happens, I believe, in order to allow us to discover our thoughts, actions and habits for ourselves so that we can see the ways that make us tick.
"Yeah, but again, I don't need God, I've got meditation to bring me closer to the divine" can be your protest and, whatever the divine looks like in your life, when you make God your focus of the divine, you will begin to see, think and behave in a manner that is unlike anything you've ever witnessed before.
Around my way, I am known for the fact that I don't drink much, I don't smoke and I try to keep my language as clean as possible. I have my reasons for why I don't do the first two, but it's the last one that's a slip-up for me.
I swear.
Not like the client does in the courts by swearing on the Bible, I mean, more than I would care to. A lot more. Usually when I'm by myself.
This is, I believe, my unregenerate mind that is slowly being transformed by the way everlasting the more that I align myself up to it. In experiencing the divine the way that I do, my behaviour has changed to the extent where people have noticed.
They know I am a Christian, even if I don't go to church anymore. My conduct is slowly being changed to represent the Kingdom of God in an, hopefully, unbiased manner to the extent where it gets me noticed.
At this point, I can try to keep the glory for myself, but I believe that's fruitless because there's no proof that it's me that's causing this change in behaviour.
It's all down to God.
To Soak in His Presence
As I read His word and begin to soak in its goodness every single day, I am slowly beginning to realise more and more that it is precisely because of my brokenness that God shines through all the more.
Each and every day I read my Bible, I'm not ashamed of that.
I have complete confidence in the gospel; it is God's power to save all who believe, first the Jews and also the Gentiles.
Do you see that?
"God's power to save all who believe" - this is where it starts to become clear that the way everlasting is not a standard I can produce.
If it's not a standard that I can produce then what is it?
It's a standard of Christ in me, the hope of glory just like Paul says in Colossians 1:24-27: -
Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
This is precisely what the Apostle Paul realised when he had his conversion encounter with the way everlasting; that what appears a mystery to us by our own efforts comes naturally to God as we allow Him to shine through us!
Final Thought
Am I giving you food for thought yet?
Am I causing you to raise questions about the doubts over Christianity that you have?
Are you willing to consider that maybe, just maybe, the way that you have been living needs to change in order for the results to?
Then why not turn to Jesus today and see what happens?
You never know, it just might turn out to be the best decision you have ever made!
Until next time...
===TLP===
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