- Knowledge of what?
- How would you describe this sort of love?
He goes on, "so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God."
- Being pure and blameless, seems like a tall order. What's your initial reaction to this expectation?
CS Lewis describes God's interest in making us perfect like this: "Our Lord is like the dentists...Dozens of people go to Him to be cured of some one particular sin... Well, He will cure it all right: but He will not stop there. That may be all you asked; but if once you call Him in, He will give you the full treatment." (Mere Christianity)
Oswald Chambers puts it like this: "Many of us prefer to stay at the threshold of the Christian life instead of going on to construct a soul in accordance with the new life God has put within." (My Utmost for His Highest)
So, as Christ followers, we must expect to follow Christ! This isn't lofty thinking, it is the practical way of living life - with God's help - to begin looking, thinking, acting more and more like Jesus.
And, "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6b Is that a verse you'd like to memorize?
I love Oswald Chamber's comment. I know I certainly reach "plateaus" in my relationship with Christ when I want to rest there for a while (or indefinitely) instead of continuing to climb past the "threshold." Life with Christ is definitely not about being comfortable, it's a challenge. However we are comforted more and more through life's trials when we draw close to Christ and continue to climb past the threshold of the Christian life.
ReplyDeleteGreat words to remember!
My initial reaction to living a pure and blameless life is that it's impossible. CS Lewis' example is perfect though. As we walk with Christ, he doesn't stop at fixing what we think we need or want fixed. He continues to work on us.
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