Tag: Christian

Romans 8:5

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

Procrastination and distraction made me take a good dozen hours longer to finish and assignment than what was required. The easy appeal of watching a movie, reading a book, playing a game or anything that required less brain power than researching and writing down words into the report. I’ve seen studies that show genetic influences on the propensity to procrastinate, so I could just blame my ancestors. But whether genetics plays a part or not, I know I am highly prone to distractions.

The reason I haven’t written a blog article in over a month is because of distraction. The reason I haven’t done any solid bible reading or meditating in God’s word it because of distraction. I can assure you that I have been praying; not as regularly and only for my own salvation with just a peppering of prayers for others. Everyday I am aware of my distraction when I dismiss the ‘Bible Study’ reminder in my calendar.

I just wrote and deleted ‘My distraction was a genuine distraction’, but that possibly shows how far I’ve gone from knowing that nothing is a worthy distraction from God. Being in constant contact with God through bible reading, prayer and loving others is not just good to do because God alone is worthy of our time and energy, but it is also good for us. Focusing on God will help us when we are faced with tough decisions; God can bring us everlasting comfort when those tough decision and/or circumstances around us cause us distress.

Romans 8:5 is an oft mentioned verse, probably because it is so readily applicable to our fleshy, human minds. The context is Paul is trying to teach the Jews in Rome that just walking and living according to the old laws isn’t going to be helpful anymore for their salvation; they need to ‘walk not according to the flesh but according to the spirit’ (Rom. 8:4). I feel, as a Christian, I often times see salvation as a law, not a personal relationship; ‘I’ve been saved. I’m all good now. I can focus on my worldly things, and I’ll get back to God when it’s convenient to me’. And being saved does mean I’m ‘all good now’. I know I’m saved no matter what I do, but the whole point of being saved is to be in a relationship with God.

ASK YOURSELF: What are your distractions? What’s keeping you from relaxing into the knowledge that you are a child of God? What can you do to your day’s schedule to allow you to have time along in the scripture and in prayer.

Dear God, please give me strength. Give me a soft heart and open eyes to see where my life is pursuing worldly comforts and achievements rather than looking to serve you through loving others. You are a gracious God.

Galatians 1:10

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

So much of what we do in life is a quest for validation from others or ourselves. We play sport so that we can have our sport skills validated. We try for promotions, or even just a job, to have our work skills validated. We undergo creative endeavors to have our creativity validated. For everything in my life where I don’t think I’m doing it for validation, there is something else for which I am.  In his letter to the Galatians, Paul writes  ‘If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ’. The context of this is Paul is disputing that he is like the false teachers, trying to please man. Instead he is being faithful in his God given commission to preach to the Gentiles and say what needs to be said through love. Even Paul, a great man of God, was being accused by his opponents that his messages were an attempt to please men. How much easier it is for our own opponents of Christianity to look at our lives and where we seek validation and accuse us of not pleasing God but attempting to please man.

I personally experience how difficult it is to find my validation in God alone, not in others. Even this blog, in some ways, is seeking the validation in myself that I can communicate the Gospel to others, and I have a firm grasp on some difficult theological ideas.

Psalm 37:5-6

Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
    your vindication like the noonday sun.

ASK YOURSELF: What am I doing for the validation of others, not for the glory of God? Who is seeing me pursuit earthly validation?