Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘Experience’ Category

>Knowing What We Are, and Why

Posted in Experience on July 19, 2010| Leave a Comment »

>

“When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” – 1st Corinthians 13:11

“I’m an atheist!” said the little girl at the Russian school we were visiting in 1992.

The Berlin wall had fallen and that vast communist country opened its doors and hearts to something different. We were there sharing our home education program in their schools and offering to partner with them in teaching character.

My friend said to this little girl, “Oh? What’s an atheist?”, and after thinking a while she responded, “I don’t know.”

We are sometimes like that little Russian student, thinking we believe something without really knowing what it means or why.

As believers we need to grow up and learn what is true and how to apply it in ways that actually make a difference.

-fritz

Read Full Post »

>Members of His Body

Posted in Experience on July 18, 2010| Leave a Comment »

>

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” – 2nd Corinthians 5:17

Something happens when a person gives his or her life to Jesus; the Bible says a new “creature” is begun. The term “creature” literally means “formation”, “building”, “creation”.

This is not just a euphemism for a mental change or attitude adjustment; the biblical view is that we become joined to the risen Christ in such a way that we are bodily part of him and he is bodily part of us.

Our physical bodies are not valueless. God created them with purpose and, joined with Christ, they become an expression of Himself.

Listen to how the Apostle Paul expresses it,

“Now the body is …for the Lord; and the Lord for the body … Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. – 1st Corinthians 6:13, 15

How would your actions change if you saw your body as actually being God’s earthly representation of Christ’s body?

-fritz

Read Full Post »

>Burning Our Bridges (and Plows) Behind Us

Posted in Experience on June 29, 2010| Leave a Comment »

>Elisha, an Old Testament prophet, was plowing his field when his call to service came.1 He killed his oxen and gave a goodbye BBQ party, burning his plow for fuel and letting the neighbors keep the food.

A farmer without an ox or a plow doesn’t do much farming. In burning his plow Elisha was, in effect, burning his bridges behind him to his old life, no turning back – if this prophet stuff failed he had no backup plan.2

God wants that same abandon exhibited in us as we respond to the call to give our lives to Jesus – not holding back part of ourselves in case we change our minds or keeping our decision secret to save face; we are to follow Christ fully engaged in the process.

Years ago a presidential candidate said publically, “Jesus Christ is part of my life.” That really was the problem, Jesus was only a part.

Few are told by God to sell everything and start walking, but all His are called to be willing.

-fritz

1. – 1st Kings 19:19-21
2 – Related Post, My Voice and No Backup Plan

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »