peace | Rebecca Aarup

“Righteous are you, O Lord, and your laws are right. The statutes you have laid down are righteous.” Psalm 119:137-138 NIV

Balancing Act II

As important as it is to stay balanced through our studies in the word of God, it is also important to stay balanced in our everyday life. When we are unbalanced with our nutrition we become vitamin deficient. When we have an unbalanced activity level our muscles atrophy. If we have two vehicles and we only focus on maintaining one of them, the other one will fail to work properly. If we play too much and refuse to work, the bills won’t get paid. Balance is necessary everywhere.

I wanted to get more specific with this issue of balance. I have a confession to make; I raise my hand in guilt. I become easily side-tracked, like a cat with cat-nip. Throw me a toy (said theological debate) and I chase like a cat rabid for a fix. Come back to me a few days later and I’m tired, cranky, drained, emotional, and no better off than when it started. God whispers to my heart, balance, you’ve lost your balance child.

Sigh

Yes, I’ve done it again. Next time I will keep my mouth shut, live peaceably with all people…and all that good stuff.

Oh look, is that cat-nip?! Chases toy….

We all have our hang ups, our vices, our debates or truths we hold dear and defend. God help those who get in the way! We can be ravenous about our beliefs. Give a group of believers some tricky subjects and watch the blood flow:

Tongues

Prophecies

Tribulation/End Times

Sports

Politics

Ding! Let’s get ready to rumble folks!

It’s downright ugly what we do to each other over such issues. God is righteous, or just. His word is right. Why do we act like unrighteous heathens quarreling like rabid animals over things that cause strife and divisions? Is it edifying, does it build up the church, does it draw us to love and good works? Is this how we are communicating with each other?

Balance

How easy it is to lose focus!

My Pastor said something in his sermon today that clarified the issue for me.

Just because it’s important, doesn’t mean we need to focus on it.

Think about that for a minute. Example: Should I devote my life to figuring out what day Jesus will return? Well, it is important isn’t it? Yes, but is it our focus to try to figure out the exact date? No. It’s our greater focus to live for him now, while there is still time, and live in anticipation for his return, whenever that may be.

God’s righteous word is full of important issues. All of them worthy of our attention, but are we to lose sight of the big picture and focus on one particular item alone? Who’s to say which subject is more important than the next? Isn’t that more or less up to the individual preference? One person loves all things Old Testament, another loves all things end times….both important, but neither to be weighed as more important than the other.

Is it ok to discuss these issues? Of course! Argue, fight, get hurt feelings, lose relationships, and attack people over them? No!

When engaging in discussion, we should always consider:

Does it edify the brethren?

Does it honor God?

Am I speaking truth as best as I understand it as laid out in God’s word?

Usually the best option is to agree to disagree and move on. It really is the spiritually mature choice. Our faith is best lived out, not blared out through verbal attacks.

“Run after mature righteousness-faith, love, peace -joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God. Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights. God’s servants must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a servant who keeps cool…” 2 Timothy 2:23-24 MSG

As we balance out our daily Bible study, let us also balance out our daily communication with our sisters and brothers in Christ. The next time that hot debate topic comes up, whether it is about religion or politics, food, television, books, or sports, why don’t you consider the Psalmists view of Gods character first and how you can be a reflection of that in your conversation. Are we displaying a balanced mature faith by living righteously?

We live righteously by following a righteous word.

Balance

Prayer

Thank you for your righteousness, for being a just and holy God. Thank you for being perfectly balanced, and for walking on this earth in human form, demonstrating what it means to be perfect. I know I fall so short of that standard, but I want you to continue to change my heart and make it clean. I want to be balanced in my words and actions, as well as my prayer and Bible study. Jesus, continue to purge the bad habits from my life! Before I sleep tonight, reveal to me any unbalanced ways that need healing, and restore them. Let this truth be on my heart as I sleep tonight, your statutes are righteous! I want to be righteous like you!

Glory Revealed

God’s first great glory was seen in the act of Creation; namely man in His own image:

“So God created man in His own image. In the image of God He created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27-NIV

God’s greatest glory then came through His Son in human flesh:

“[The Word became human and made His home among us.] We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 [NLT] NIV

Through His unconditional capacity to love His creation, He desired for man to reflect the glory of Himself.

“We, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

2 Corinthians 3:18-NIV

Wrap your head around this truth: you are the glory of God revealed! He created us to be a manifestation of His very likeness, and that “glory” means a lot more than merely an hour in church on Sunday morning singing songs that “glorify God”. It means that our very being is a glorification of God Himself! When He created us, it was in His own image, to glorify Him! My friends, this is a truth that will change your life, if you can grasp it! Ask Him to help you understand even a portion of what it implies for you and your life.

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18-NIV

When we see our precious Savior face to face, our glory will finally be complete! We will see it fully revealed, which implies that much of it is hidden from us at the present moment. I imagine some of the reason for this is to protect us from the downfall our pride would cause us. Certainly God only transforms us into His likeness one step at a time for a reason, otherwise we’d all be perfect upon Salvation.

No, there is definitely glory in the process. The sanctification of our hearts brings glory, and makes us a better reflection of Him. I like how the New Living Translation puts it:

“The Lord-who is the Spirit-makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image.” 2 Cor. 3:18

Go take a look in the mirror. You are no accident. You were made in God’s glorious image! Do you understand what this means? Are you beginning to grasp, even a little, just how much God cares about You, His creation? Have you ever heard the saying, “A man/woman after my own heart”? Well, that’s what we’re talking about here, only to a far greater level. More then we could ever begin to comprehend. And let me mention, none of this is based on, or has anything to do with your performance! None of it! (But that is a whole other issue!)

The next time you hear that voice of self-loathing, doubt, worthlessness, unbelief, or negativity which wants you to question your life, your purpose, your desires, and most of all-who God is, and how God feels about you, RESIST IT OUT LOUD! Declare to your enemy the truth you know; what God has revealed to your heart about how He cares for you, how He loves you, and what He created you for-His glory!

From God’s heart to yours:

“Child, you are My glory, I made you just for Me. I am working everything out around you to daily transform you into My glorious image and one day; yes, one day soon, you will know My glory fully in you. You will be restored, and you will be complete.”