Security

The economy is on a downward turn and gaining speed in the wrong direction. I don't think my generation can point to a time like this when coasting was not going to be enough...a make it or break it season. Many people are concerned.

The new president, like him or not, is facing a myriad of difficult social, economic and international challenges; nobody is "experienced" enough or smart enough to navigate the labyrinth he is in. Only the ignorant are not concerned.

A more "close to home" point has to do with my personal bank account. Our budget is a joke with a bad punchline. If my bank account were made public it would lead others to tears of joy over how well they have things settled. I am concerned.

On the opposite side, work is going great. I am in a job I love and am good at; I am getting positive feedback from all the right places. This "upward spiral" is great for me and will pay long-term dividends beyond what the economy wants to doll out.

While I know the life, death and resurrection of Christ is my eternal security, what is my security in the life I lead today...the right now, "independent of who is in office, what the economy is doing, what my finances look like and how my job is going" security? The "day to day" security is where my joy, peace and hope come from, and its my joy, peace and hope that are the aroma of Christ to me, my family and the folks I am hoping to see come to Jesus.

And when I consider my life...the good, the bad and the ugly...none of it really affects my "security." Both my eternal security and temporal security are caught up in the good news of the life and death of Christ. Christianity is not a self-improvement program; my life in Christ is not based on circumstances outside of my relationship with him.

In the end, if the economy rebounds, Obama makes all the right moves, my finances get in order...and my job fails...I am secure in Christ because through Him I have become a Son of God. And children of the Almighty have no worries except those of the Father.

My Righteousness

What am I feeling good about in my walk with God?
my quiet times?... the money we send to missionaries? ...the sin God has delivered me from (there is a lot of it)?

Is my barometer for how I am doing with God the frequency of my quiet times or Jesus' perfect life lived on my behalf.

Is my security in life determined in my heart by how much money I have in the bank or the constant intercession of Christ on my behalf at the throne of God?

Is my sharing of the gospel a reflection of

• my duty to the Great Commission,
  
• a reflection of the work of God in my life, or
  
• a response to the work of God in the life of somebody else?

The fact that I am a Son of God, adopted by Him, in close relationship to Him...regardless of my quiet time frequency, money donated to good causes, sharing of the gospel, or following of any other Law, rule, good idea or "should do" I may accomplish...is the source of Joy in my life. There is plenty of Joy at the throne of God; there is plenty of Joy to be had in Christ alone.

But, I do enjoy my time with the Lord in the morning. I do love our missionaries and am glad about my role in their ministries. Evangelism has lead to some of my most exciting glimpses of God at work in the world around me.

So, my source of Joy is the Lord alone. The means of experiencing his Joy are many.

1. "If you could see God's face looking at you right now, what would it look like?"
2. "What could you do to change the look on his face?"
   

Answer: He would look like he loves me and is pleased with me, and there is nothing I could do to change it. For when I was redeemed I was given all of Christs' righteousness, and God is pleased with the righteousness of Christ.

In the context of conflict with other believers, or believers with whom I owe forgiveness, these two questions are particularly powerful:

1. "If you could see God's face looking at ______________ right now, what would it look like?"
2. "What could you do to change the look on his face?"
   

Answer: He would look as though he loves them and is pleased with them, and there is nothing I could do to change it. For, if they are redeemed, they have been given all of Christs' righteousness, and God is pleased with the righteousness of Christ.

Pray that I would view others with the face of God.

Prayer Requests...

Prayer requests:

1. That I would personally identify with truly needing the gospel every day; and needing Christ like I need to breathe.

2. For the "recovering Pharisee" and "orphan" concepts in this study to become something I am really able to apply to the way I do life.

3. For my own "active righteousness" and tendencies to forget grace to be revealed.

"...you have a Father who is committed to transforming you, and has given you the Spirit to empower you. His dream is to bring you into His kingdom business as a son and partner."
(From the Sonship material).

Sonship is a study of Paul's letter to the Galatians. But it is not a verse-by-verse dissection of the text as much as it is a study of the heart of sanctification. Our works as Christians are the result of a GREAT WORK OF GOD in our hearts. Our "law keeping" is the result of a perfect law keeper convicting us of the truth of the gospel.

So far the metaphor that has spoken to me the most is that of the gospel being music to my soul's ears. As I hear the music I hum the tune, tap my foot, dance, and sing. I'm picturing my son Oak dancing to Barney more than Michael Jackson at this point...joyful and a bit strange but satisfying to watch...I can tell he's having a good time!

It seems cavalier to throw off all sense of my own responsibility for becoming more like Christ. Can't I do something to make myself a better Christian? Doesn't my work for Him matter? Can't I judge (discern) who is a strong Christian by looking at what they do? On a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being legalistic law keeping and 1 being hedonism, what is the responsible and accurate level of my effort? How do the passages in the Book of James connect to those here in Galatians, especially those that talk about showing my faith by my deeds?

The study I am in attempts to answer these questions from the perspective of a practitioner of the faith in the real world of temptation, loss, failure and death in which we are to shine like stars in the universe.

Sonship Prayer Requests

Two weeks ago I began a Bible study of Galatians created by World Harvest Mission that has become known by the term "Sonship." Jack Miller, the creator of the study, originally developed this series to assist in discipling pastors, missionaries, and other Christian leaders. He had discovered that few Christians really seemed to know how to live out of grace. He saw many guilt ridden approaches to ministry, an inability to confess and forsake sins with Christs help, and prayerlessness.

The lessons are made up of sermons (from various speakers), memory verses, exercises, encouraging/interesting words, prayer and interacting with others. My family (sans children) will be getting together with another family on Monday evenings for approximately and hour to discuss the material and connect on how the truths of the Gospel is impacting our lives.

This is actually my second go around with the material. Back in 2002 Sarah and I went through the study with a small group of folks from Trinity under the guidance of Tony Giles. While back then Abe was only a few months old and life circumstances were quite different I am re-reading my notes and finding many similarities in my heart condition today. The gospel is "deep music" to believers and I am glad to listen in for the next few months.