You were taught with reference to your former way of life to lay aside the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires,(Ephesians 4:22 – NET)
It is not true that there are no absolutes, no black and white, right and wrong issues and areas within our world, there surely are. But we must also realize that in many areas of our own lives, of all of our lives, we must learn to surf our way through the gray before we can get to the solid rock of understanding what is right and wrong. To deny the complexity of the problem is to deny the reality of the situation.
Sometimes there are so many chains attached to our souls that they must come off one at a time, and we must continue to be on the lookout for what may be dragging us down. As we do, we can then make our movement at a greater speed toward what God wants us to be. The transformation of a renewed mind is the development in the discipleship process. It is not an overnight thing, or a simple decision we make, but a process with progress. We have to realize what lies we have believed that have made us bound by the deceitfulness of sin.
When we encounter such people with many chains, first help them see their burden, and help them lift the load, before renouncing them for their lack of progress. We must be helpful to those who are truly trying to make it, lest they drown in despair. As they swim toward the ideal, let us cheer them on, and not be so quick to say, “Why aren’t you at the other end of the pool yet?”
8 comments:
Before we complain about others not being at the other end of the pool yet we better be sure that we ourselves are not drowning in the deep end.
Indeed, and many are treading water when they should be moving forward...
Convicting.
This is what I have been experiencing lately, that transformation that takes a while. Surely, though, looking back on where I've come from, it's given me greater mercy and forebearance with my younger siblings in Christ who have not yet gotten where I am. I have greater patience with them, while gently urging them on still upward and onward, and to be constantly growing in even the smallest of ways. Thanks again, brother.
That is the right perpective, Marcia, and truthfully, even though you are way out there in cyberspace, in another state, and we have never met before, still, through what you write on yuor site, and the personal nature of the way you describe your walk, it is abundantty evident to this pastor that you are making strides, praise His name...
Thanks, JD. Thanks for the encouragement.
By the way, I never imagined it would be this difficult or this painful.
I have been guilty of doing what this post is telling us not to do, for sure...I do hope and pray it is becoming less and less as I mature in Christ...
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