…having the eyes of your hearts enlightened…
(Ephesians 1:18 – ESV)
Our spiritual power and our practical sanctification depend on a moment-by-moment bond with God. The dynamic of that relationship that helps build that bond is to be thanking Him in all things.
God initiates and establishes our relationship with Him. We don’t seek Him; He seeks us. Like everyone else, we were rebels under the spell and the power of the enemy; Christ rescues us and brings us home. We have nothing to do with it. We only respond to Life because we have been made alive. Because of His great love for us, God makes us alive when we were dead. It’s an empowering realization.
You may say, well we received eternal life, we responded. True, we opened the door and it was our choice. Jesus was knocking on the door, and the door only has a handle on our side so it is of our own volition, our own “free will” that we open to Christ, but the truth is that we can only hear Him knock if He grants us the ability to hear. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
When we study the book of Romans we see the righteousness of God and the redemption of man. As we become more and more aware of how desperately sinful we really are, we also become more and more astounded by how righteous God really is. We begin to more fully realize, to make it real in our lives, the fact that God didn’t owe us His grace and mercy. We were dead in our sins, but God has made us alive. How often we forget that.
This “empowering realization” is the fountainhead of our giving thanks for His grace. Now then, once we’re spiritually alive by God’s power, we can act to remain plugged into His current of grace. We are getting that moment-by-moment thing going. As we thank God for His presents, we remain in His presence.
However, it needs to be said that it is easy to give thanks when things are good, according to our standards. We have also talked about adoration, and it is tied to thankfulness. It gives thanks for His character regardless of any favors received. It is the real evidence of the Holy Spirit in a person’s life. Gracious gratitude, as Jonathan Edwards called it, can grow in the midst of pain. We need to give thanks to God through Jesus Christ by our suffering, and indeed it is Jesus Christ alone who gives value to suffering, so through Him is the only way to give thanks in it. Even if you physically die, you cannot spiritually die, for Christ has made you alive.
5 comments:
Nice picture of the eagle.
My denomination's doctrinal position is open to Calvinists as well as Armenians. That makes things difficult for me because some folks can't understand why I get so excited about this. Usually, they'll say that it is not that big a deal, then they go and say something that misrepresents the sovereignty of God.
I don't want to alienate my Armenian friends, but it matters because truth matters.
I was listening to an IFB minister online today, and he is teaching through Romans. I have respected him, and I wanted to look at his exegesis (and thoughts, yes) on the first chapter, which we just finished. This would also give me a gauge on where my theology had come to and what it sounds like now, etc. (not sure if I worded that right, but I think you get the idea)...
Ugh...
"Everyone doesn't start out bad, they have enough knowledge of God to make a choice for Him", etc., etc.
Time won't permit me to go point by point, but it made me realize this wasn't exegesis at all, only a running commentary. For example, the truth is that Paul was describing the human condition as a whole, not individuals, per se, although application can be made. He never went there, though, and went to places like God saving those in special situations, etc., (don't go there on me right now, OK?), everyone can choose God. But then he talked about praying for souls to be saved...How do you pray for God to save souls when it is the persons choice alone?
He did not mention "previenient grace" as a validation for his position ...
The inconsistencies were glaring, and as I said, I really like this guy...but the Bible passages he used, the reasoning he employed, and the logical force were lacking...
Unfortunately that's where so many are today. They don't see the inconsistency of their own position. They preach a sermon about how we need to be prayer warriors for the salvation of our family, friends, neighbors, then in the invitation say that it's up to you to come - God will not force you to come.
But since I'm no better, I wonder what my blind spots are?
But since I'm no better, I wonder what my blind spots are?
Yeah, me too, that is why I pray Psalm 19:12-14 / Psalm 139:23-24 - be prepard for him to reveal it through others...
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