Know God
John says in 1 John 4:7-13,
For many years, as I have read this, even though I am taught differently, somewhere in my heart I often think John is telling me to work hard at loving others because if I love others well, I will know God and be filled with Him. The better job I can do at loving others, the more of God I can have in my life. However, it is the reverse that John is speaking. As commentary notes God is love and He is the one the empowers us to love with unconditional (agape) love. His love is known or made complete when it is received and extended to others.1
Paul prays in Colossians 1:9-10:
Filled, according to one source, is “to be saturated, dominated, totally under the control of.”2 This source notes, “They will walk in such a way as to be pleasing to God because the knowledge of God's will fills them and controls them.” Another source notes the repetition of words dealing with knowledge and suggests that “knowledge of His will” is referring to Scriptures and “knowledge of God” refers to to Christian living or obedient service.3
Dallas Willard in “Renovation of the Heart In Daily Practice” writes that the outflow of our lives is the result of what we have became in the depths of our being or heart. He says, “To the degree in which spiritual formation in Christ is successful, the outer life of the individual becomes a natural outflow of the character and teachings of Jesus.” He notes that when we are renovated on the inside, we won't have to try to love; unloving thoughts and actions will be replaced with loving ones.
When our hearts are renovated, they will bring forth peace and righteousness.4 As Dallas Willard notes, our hearts interact with our thoughts, feelings, choices, body, social context and soul. Therefore, wrong thoughts, feelings, etc. are due to a lack of transformation in the heart.
What needs to be renovated is not my actions but my heart. Lately I feel so discouraged with myself. In so many situations it has been clear that I lack love. It seems obvious I need much renovation in my heart.
“He's pleased with your heart. You're not a disappointment to God. Oh, so don't give up, keep on believing, keep on standing, keep on fighting, keeping on praying...” sings in the background.
The good news is as Dallas Willard writes, “Christlikeness in the inner being is not a human attainment.” He who began a good work in me is faithful to complete it (Phil l:6). So how can I cooperate with God in my spiritual formation?
Beholding and Becoming
“This is what I desire, let me gaze on You” sings in the background. We become what we behold. Mike Bickle, in his book, “After God's Own Heart, writes that too many believers that are serious about having their hearts renewed, pursue more information about God. He writes, They focus on becoming instead of beholding.” As he goes on to write, “Exhortations to 'love harder' never awaken love in your heart... If you want passion or love for God, then fill your time and your mind with the revelation of God's passion and love for you.” It is in gazing on God in all His beauty that we are captivated and transformed more into His likeness.
Nancy Leigh DeMoss in her article “Transformation: How does it Happen?” writes, “As I read the Scripture and gaze on the Lord Jesus, I long to be like Him - humble, holy, compassionate, surrendered to the will of God, sensitive to the promptings of the Spirit. When our desire to be holy is greater than our willingness to stay where we are, we have taken a big step toward spiritual transformation.”5
Spiritual Disciplines
Nancy Leigh DeMoss writes “Praying and hoping for spiritual change is futile if we sit glued to a television set or neglect the means that God has provided for our growth in grace. Bible study, meditation, worship, prayer, fasting, accountability and obedience are disciplines that produce a harvest of righteousness in our lives.”
She goes on to say, “Discipline for the purpose of godliness is not the same as self-effort. Rather, it means consciously cooperating with the Holy Spirit - yielding to Him so that He can conform us to the image of Christ.” Cooperating with the Holy Spirit speaks of following His promptings for incorporating the disciplines rather than ones own schedule. Having disciplines in one's life does not necessarily make one more godly. As a friend noted yesterday, disciplines become legalistic self effort when they become the “end” versus the “means” to draw near to God.
“Make me to know your ways, oh teach me your paths” sings. John writes, “...whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” (1 John 2:6) Dallas Willard suggests that one way to grow spiritually through the practice of spiritual disciplines is with the intention of exploring the way God loves in the midst of them. He suggests reading through the gospel and reflecting on the loving acts of Jesus, spend time with the most loving person you know, do some small act of service for someone you love, meditate on a specific loving act of Jesus and place yourself in the moment are ways we can practice the disciplines and grow more like Christ.
Putting Your Hand to What Your Heart Prompts 6
Dallas Willard writes, “The ideal is for the whole person to do only what the heart directs. Spiritual formation in Christ is the process leading to that ideal.” As we put our hands to what our heart prompts, we grow more into the likeness of Christ.
Nancy Leigh DeMoss writes, “Spiritual change is brought about by the Holy Spirit, as we exercise faith and obedience. So which is it? Does God do the work, or do we? According to Scripture, the answer is "yes"; "Work out your salvation, . . . for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose" (Philippians 2:12-13). True spiritual change is initiated and enabled by the indwelling Spirit of God; it is all of grace, which we receive as we persevere in humility, obedience and faith.”
1 John 2:4 says, “Whoever says, 'I know him' but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected.”
Embracing Humility and Dependance Upon God
As I wrote some weeks ago, Andrew Murray writes in his book “Humility,” the true test of Christlikenes is whether it produces increasing humility in us.” Paul says in Philippians 2:3 (NET), “Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself.
As Andrew Murray notes, touchiness, haste, impatience, self-defense, and self-assertion in sharp judgments or unkind words are all rooted in pride. “It is in our relationships to one another, in our treatment of one another, that the true lowliness of mind and the humility of heart are to be seen” according to Andrew Murray.
In Mark 10:45, Jesus says, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. “ Having lowliness of mind, one counts himself the servant of others and shows forth Jesus to others.6
And as I wrote in another journal some weeks ago, it is only when we depend on God that we have the power and capacity through the Holy Spirit, in our weakness, to not carry out the desires of our flesh and instead, reflect Jesus to others. Dependence and humility go together. Humility implies an understanding of ones lack of ability in self and one's needs, resulting in dependence upon God.
In the leadership class I was at during that week, some of my pastors noted that we naturally bear fruit as we are grafted to the Vine and are depending upon Him. It is not from our ability or skill that we bear the fruit of love but by His power filling us in our emptiness.
Lord, I seem to forget more then I remember. So quickly I run to self-effort. Please form me more in your image. I long to look like you. I long to love like you. I long to share your heart for others.
1.http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/1John/Let-Us-Love-One-Another
2.http://www.gty.org/Resources/Sermons/2132#
3.MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Col 1:10). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
4.Willard, Dallas and Johnson, Jan. Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice. NavPress. 2006
5. http://christianwomentoday.com/growth/transformation.html
6. Language used by my pastor David Johnson at the Church of the Open Door
7.Murray, Andrew. Humility. Whitaker House. New Kensington, PA. 1982.
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
For many years, as I have read this, even though I am taught differently, somewhere in my heart I often think John is telling me to work hard at loving others because if I love others well, I will know God and be filled with Him. The better job I can do at loving others, the more of God I can have in my life. However, it is the reverse that John is speaking. As commentary notes God is love and He is the one the empowers us to love with unconditional (agape) love. His love is known or made complete when it is received and extended to others.1
Paul prays in Colossians 1:9-10:
For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Filled, according to one source, is “to be saturated, dominated, totally under the control of.”2 This source notes, “They will walk in such a way as to be pleasing to God because the knowledge of God's will fills them and controls them.” Another source notes the repetition of words dealing with knowledge and suggests that “knowledge of His will” is referring to Scriptures and “knowledge of God” refers to to Christian living or obedient service.3
Dallas Willard in “Renovation of the Heart In Daily Practice” writes that the outflow of our lives is the result of what we have became in the depths of our being or heart. He says, “To the degree in which spiritual formation in Christ is successful, the outer life of the individual becomes a natural outflow of the character and teachings of Jesus.” He notes that when we are renovated on the inside, we won't have to try to love; unloving thoughts and actions will be replaced with loving ones.
When our hearts are renovated, they will bring forth peace and righteousness.4 As Dallas Willard notes, our hearts interact with our thoughts, feelings, choices, body, social context and soul. Therefore, wrong thoughts, feelings, etc. are due to a lack of transformation in the heart.
What needs to be renovated is not my actions but my heart. Lately I feel so discouraged with myself. In so many situations it has been clear that I lack love. It seems obvious I need much renovation in my heart.
“He's pleased with your heart. You're not a disappointment to God. Oh, so don't give up, keep on believing, keep on standing, keep on fighting, keeping on praying...” sings in the background.
The good news is as Dallas Willard writes, “Christlikeness in the inner being is not a human attainment.” He who began a good work in me is faithful to complete it (Phil l:6). So how can I cooperate with God in my spiritual formation?
Beholding and Becoming
“This is what I desire, let me gaze on You” sings in the background. We become what we behold. Mike Bickle, in his book, “After God's Own Heart, writes that too many believers that are serious about having their hearts renewed, pursue more information about God. He writes, They focus on becoming instead of beholding.” As he goes on to write, “Exhortations to 'love harder' never awaken love in your heart... If you want passion or love for God, then fill your time and your mind with the revelation of God's passion and love for you.” It is in gazing on God in all His beauty that we are captivated and transformed more into His likeness.
Nancy Leigh DeMoss in her article “Transformation: How does it Happen?” writes, “As I read the Scripture and gaze on the Lord Jesus, I long to be like Him - humble, holy, compassionate, surrendered to the will of God, sensitive to the promptings of the Spirit. When our desire to be holy is greater than our willingness to stay where we are, we have taken a big step toward spiritual transformation.”5
Spiritual Disciplines
Nancy Leigh DeMoss writes “Praying and hoping for spiritual change is futile if we sit glued to a television set or neglect the means that God has provided for our growth in grace. Bible study, meditation, worship, prayer, fasting, accountability and obedience are disciplines that produce a harvest of righteousness in our lives.”
She goes on to say, “Discipline for the purpose of godliness is not the same as self-effort. Rather, it means consciously cooperating with the Holy Spirit - yielding to Him so that He can conform us to the image of Christ.” Cooperating with the Holy Spirit speaks of following His promptings for incorporating the disciplines rather than ones own schedule. Having disciplines in one's life does not necessarily make one more godly. As a friend noted yesterday, disciplines become legalistic self effort when they become the “end” versus the “means” to draw near to God.
“Make me to know your ways, oh teach me your paths” sings. John writes, “...whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” (1 John 2:6) Dallas Willard suggests that one way to grow spiritually through the practice of spiritual disciplines is with the intention of exploring the way God loves in the midst of them. He suggests reading through the gospel and reflecting on the loving acts of Jesus, spend time with the most loving person you know, do some small act of service for someone you love, meditate on a specific loving act of Jesus and place yourself in the moment are ways we can practice the disciplines and grow more like Christ.
Putting Your Hand to What Your Heart Prompts 6
Dallas Willard writes, “The ideal is for the whole person to do only what the heart directs. Spiritual formation in Christ is the process leading to that ideal.” As we put our hands to what our heart prompts, we grow more into the likeness of Christ.
Nancy Leigh DeMoss writes, “Spiritual change is brought about by the Holy Spirit, as we exercise faith and obedience. So which is it? Does God do the work, or do we? According to Scripture, the answer is "yes"; "Work out your salvation, . . . for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose" (Philippians 2:12-13). True spiritual change is initiated and enabled by the indwelling Spirit of God; it is all of grace, which we receive as we persevere in humility, obedience and faith.”
1 John 2:4 says, “Whoever says, 'I know him' but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected.”
Embracing Humility and Dependance Upon God
As I wrote some weeks ago, Andrew Murray writes in his book “Humility,” the true test of Christlikenes is whether it produces increasing humility in us.” Paul says in Philippians 2:3 (NET), “Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself.
As Andrew Murray notes, touchiness, haste, impatience, self-defense, and self-assertion in sharp judgments or unkind words are all rooted in pride. “It is in our relationships to one another, in our treatment of one another, that the true lowliness of mind and the humility of heart are to be seen” according to Andrew Murray.
In Mark 10:45, Jesus says, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. “ Having lowliness of mind, one counts himself the servant of others and shows forth Jesus to others.6
And as I wrote in another journal some weeks ago, it is only when we depend on God that we have the power and capacity through the Holy Spirit, in our weakness, to not carry out the desires of our flesh and instead, reflect Jesus to others. Dependence and humility go together. Humility implies an understanding of ones lack of ability in self and one's needs, resulting in dependence upon God.
In the leadership class I was at during that week, some of my pastors noted that we naturally bear fruit as we are grafted to the Vine and are depending upon Him. It is not from our ability or skill that we bear the fruit of love but by His power filling us in our emptiness.
Lord, I seem to forget more then I remember. So quickly I run to self-effort. Please form me more in your image. I long to look like you. I long to love like you. I long to share your heart for others.
1.http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/1John/Let-Us-Love-One-Another
2.http://www.gty.org/Resources/Sermons/2132#
3.MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Col 1:10). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
4.Willard, Dallas and Johnson, Jan. Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice. NavPress. 2006
5. http://christianwomentoday.com/growth/transformation.html
6. Language used by my pastor David Johnson at the Church of the Open Door
7.Murray, Andrew. Humility. Whitaker House. New Kensington, PA. 1982.
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