It has been several weeks, months even, where I have had the time to think or process anything but what my life is caught up in lately.
The other day I was inspired to write a blog after listening to a conversation that my husband was having with a friend about purpose. I frequently question my purpose. I think it’s necessary to explore the meanings behind things in order to understand what God is doing. It makes sense to me when I have such a dialogue with Father about the “big picture”, and rarely will the details make sense once I get a glimpse of the purpose, but I think that is just part of the process.
I believe that this life isn’t just about our final destination, but how we live this journey out, and through that finding purpose, and satisfaction in and through this thing we call life! Sometimes I wonder why so many people settle for so little! The predictability of this life and the way many justify their life by measuring it to success, or stability/wealth, safety, or certainty. Nothing is out of control because we think we have it under control. Situations happen, but it doesn’t take long for people to get control again. These are things I think I am beginning to understand and even learn to live without. It’s not like I or anyone has to live without these things, but it’s just a personal choice in hopes to grow and learn more outside of a predictable and stable life.
This is related to why I also think that many live by written principles and biblical restrictions only. Principles and written rules and to do lists are predictable, and easy to correlate ones life around. Think about it, relying on the Holy Spirit is tough, because I don’t see God as being predictable, or easy to read necessarily. Being in tune with His Spirit takes us out of our comfort zones because following Him in this way is not as cut and dry or easy. Rather, it teaches us to relinquish control of how we live or think we ‘should’ live based on certain principles or biblical guidelines, and even challenges us to stop relying strictly on man and principles.
Just some thoughts I have gathered. Please feel free to add any thought you may have about this! I would love to have more dialogue about this!
Posts
15 comments:
So what role do you think Biblical principles play in our lives, in our walk with the Father?
To be honest, in my life, they harldy hold any weight. But, to each their own. If they make you happy then GREAT! I think the Father is enough for me!
"It is not God's purpose that our lives be built on a system of values. It is His desire that they be built on the person of His Son."
This quote sums it up for me!
I think it does sum it up that you use a quote from a book other than the Bible to sum up your values. Very telling.
That wasn't meant to be harsh, by the way. It just really is a good summation of how you feel.
Great post, Nic! Indeed, the Bible doesn't point to "itself" as our life, but to the Person of Jesus (and Father and Spirit) as our very life! "Biblical principles" aren't our life. The things the writers wrote can and do certainly work together with the life that we live in union with Christ, but our vast, abundant lives in Him are in no way limited to those limited amounts of words that were written in epistles.
Our focus is Christ, the Person, not principles or values or virtues. The wind blows where it will. You don't know where it's coming from or where it will go. So it is with those who are born of the Spirit. Life in the Spirit it truly not predictable, as you say in this post!
Can we speak words to one another, as the Spirit leads, that come directly from the Bible, or from books, or from poems, or from songs, or from our hearts, or wherever, that may act as a 'principle' in a current situation? I think so. But again, it's not the principle that we're living by. The principles are not our life. Christ is our life.
Susan,
I obviously don't subject myself to just the bible! But, again, I don't see the problem...
Hey Joel!
Great stuff! What you pointed out resonates with me completely! I think once I realized that living by the Spirit, and not strictly by the bible has opened up more dependence on God, and has opened my life up to more excitement and pleasure and LIFE! This kind of living really changes a lot about how we communicate to Father I think. Love this!
Why do we have to choose between Jesus and the Bible? That doesn't even make sense. If I want to know Jesus more why wouldn't I read what he said? If I believe He is my God why wouldn't I do what he said? This, of course, is not to exclude talking to Him and being led by the Holy Spirit, but the Bible and the Spirit will not contradict one another. If they seem to, we are interpreting one or the other (or both) wrong.
I have to disagree with you in regards to the bible and God being the same thing. I understand the arguement that would come up that would say, that God wrote the bible and so there is no difference between God and the bible, but, to me, there is a vast difference! My friend Joel said, ""Biblical principles" aren't our life. The things the writers wrote can and do certainly work together with the life that we live in union with Christ, but our vast, abundant lives in Him are in no way limited to those limited amounts of words that were written in epistles."
I'm not talking about never reading the bible or using it to help me through life, but, to me its sad how it seems that many people strictly live by biblical principles only and have not a clue how to depend on the Spirit or even relate to God on a personal level because they live on a level of pawn moves, easy moves that are written down for us to follow. Rather then finding purpose in following blindedly with many uncertainties. That gives us the chance to rely and trust on God.
One thing that I have been thinking about lately is destinguishing between the voice of the Holy Spirit, and the demanding,controlling and condemning voices that are driven by religious obilgation and expectancy. I find that the Spirit never draws me to him by force or strict regulations to follow. He wants to teach me and help me grow by his voice that pours out grace and He always makes room for mistakes.
At least this has been my experience...
I like this conversation, Nicole, forgive me for being so late to it.
I think there is one simple argument about the bible. If I wrote a book about myself, that book is not the same thing as me, myself. Someone could read it and think they knew me, but if they didn't really get to know me, preferring the book over the person, they wouldn't really know me at all. As well, if a person were to have to choose which was more important to them, it would be very telling if they chose possessing the book over knowing the actual person.
There is a place for the book, but it is not equal to, nor does it replace, the person.
Well said Erin!
That makes complete sense to me. I imagine that purhaps Father thinks about this is the same way! God had the bible created not to replace Himself, but to have something for man to have simply as a tool to help in life, not to control and guide them to their destinies! God alone is capable of that.
The way I see it, it's a blessing to have the bible to use when we need it, but, I can be absolutely certain that Father could guide me without it...
Great thoughts!
In Freedom, Nicole!
Nicki, the Bible is a compiling of what God spoke to other people in another time. What I want to know is, what is God speaking to me today? Will what God is speaking to me today ever contradict the Bible? Well, yes, I believe it might since we can’t always take what was directly spoken to those people in that day and time and make it apply to us today.
I have come to the conclusion that my purpose is to be loved by the Father...lavished in His affection. Any other purpose will fall into place through this.
I love the discussion that is taking place about the Bible. And I have to say, that I love the Bible, I love reading it, I love how God reveals Himself to me through the pages and the stories and shadows of Jesus.
However, at one time the Bible was bondage to me, because I was reading it as if it were an encyclopedia, looking for answers or what I was "commanded" to do, instead of revelation of a person...Jesus.
Now, Yes, I read the Bible, but I am fully lead by the Spirit if something in Bible does not line up with the Spirit in my life I do not try and make the Spirit line up with what I read, I ask the Spirit to show me how what I read lines up with Him and what He is showing me. (does that make sense?)
I agree that it is never about principals or rules, those things keep us in bondage. Not to mention that it is very hard to dispute the fact that we all interpret the Bible according to how we see God.
Great Post!!
Great thoughts Aida and Daveda.
I am glad you all shared your hearts here!
Loved by the Father indeed! That is the purpose that I seek as well!
:)
The very spirit of the Word (our Father) resides in us as us, as this becomes our reality, is it any wonder the scriptures suddenly take on such depth and wonder to us?
As Erin said, a book would not capture who she IS, but if her spirit was in us as us, then that would open up a whole new world to us.
birkin bag, north face outlet, p90x, nfl jerseys, valentino shoes, canada goose uk, lululemon outlet, vans shoes, ugg pas cher, mac cosmetics, canada goose, bottega veneta, herve leger, soccer jerseys, soccer shoes, abercrombie and fitch, insanity workout, celine handbags, canada goose, canada goose outlet, nike roshe run, mont blanc, marc jacobs, ugg boots clearance, instyler, ugg australia, moncler outlet, chi flat iron, uggs outlet, beats by dre, ugg boots, canada goose jackets, new balance shoes, ghd, canada goose, uggs, reebok outlet, mcm handbags, asics running shoes, ugg, hollister, north face jackets, ugg boots, ferragamo shoes, moncler, giuseppe zanotti, wedding dresses, babyliss pro, jimmy choo outlet, rolex watches
Post a Comment