djmclaren

a) Having been married for almost 25 years now, I have come to the startling conclusion that women are incomprehensible. My wife is sometimes exasperated that after all this time I still don't get it. I confess, I don't get it. However, I say that to make the point that God made us this way. I found out that its not just me, it seems all men are like that , women are a mystery, illogical, emotional, mushy and complex (in my humble opinion). My wife complements me, she makes me whole. When God formed Adam he was complete, but God took a part of him and formed woman who when joined back with Adam, would create one entirety again. As I give myself to her and focus upon her I am becoming more sensitive, empathetic and outward focused. Therefore as I relate to my wife with wisdom and knowledge I grow and we grow and become the one entity that God intended us to be. I understand some thing through God's Word in regard to my responsibilities as a husband and I try to walk in that. I attempt to treat my wife who also is God 's precious child in accordance with the pattern laid out in the Word. I have found that every day, every year our love grows and deepens and matures. The Bible states Ephesians 5:25 "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it" When I lay down my own life for my wife to understand her to draw her in, to deny myself so that she might be built up I believe I am walking the way Jesus would want me. John 15:13 "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." c)I suppose this demonstrates self-interest in that a happy wife make a happy husband. Besides our Father thinks she's pretty special and wants me to watch out how I treat her. d) I'm sure ther's a whole list of reasons why a man would try to dominate his wife and vise-versa. It's sad that they are missing out on what they could have in a mutually sacrificial relationship. Giving one's self to another is not an easy thing to do but the rewards are bountiful. Fear, wounds, distrust, but ultimately it is selfishness that keeps us holding on to ourselves and our interests. We know what to do, if we can't do it for some reason , pray, and pray with your spouse until victory comes, and it will. It is a perversion of God's perfect order in the marriage for one to dominate. The Spirit aligns us in the proper order as we keep our focus on God. We are to serve, not lord it over one another. Matthew 20:25 "...Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them :26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister :28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." It is foolishness to the world to lay down your life, to humble yourself, to take the lower seat and prefer another before yourself. We can't bring that thinking into the Body let alone a marriage. e)The harm caused by the domination of another breaks trust between them and hence fellowship. When one person perceives that they are being manipulated by another for the other's selfish ends, barriers are formed to be on one's guard. If the other will do this in one area, how can we trust them in any area? Especially in important matters of the heart. This will damage a marriage and cut off communication. If one person simply goes along with the other then they are doing the will of that other and not the will of God. God will not be party to the willful manipulation of one over another. In any case the movement of God's Spirit is hindered in that relationship and it is centred in the flesh. f)I think I touched on how the domination of one over another is contrary to God's nature. Philippians 2:7 "... made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men" Jesus is meek and lowly of heart, not domineering and demanding.

a)The Bible says that in the natural Jesus wasn't much to look at Isaiah 53:2 "... he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, [there is] no beauty that we should desire him." That, however does not stop the Bible from talking about His beauty Psalms 27:4 "... to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple." or stop us singing countless songs about our beautiful Saviour. 1Jn 3:2, 2Cor 3:18, and others talks about us becoming more like the Lord as be behold Him and walk with Him, spending time in His Word and in prayer. Psalms 149:4 "For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation." The meek are of course the teachable ones. b)One gains character through the fire as we walk in integrity with God. It is a walk of mortifying all that keeps us from a deeper walk with Him and allowing the Holy Spirit control in our lives. This quality does not come without a price. We learn obedience through the things we suffer and the Scripture is replete with allusions to trials, temptations and tests purifying, perfecting, making entire and content. c)True character is so important and precious to God because it is something that has been gained through obedience. It is progress and growth. He is seeing Jesus in us the Son of His love and He is satisfied and pleased as we allow the transformation in our lives. d)I'm not sure I understand the context of this question. If it refers to a believing woman winning her unsaved husband to Christ then he will see in her an beauty that will win his heart. God's beauty is universally beautiful to all His creation and delights the soul. If what is meant by "hang on to" her husband once won to Christ, will continue in the faith then it is because real character is a sign of spiritual maturity. It is a sign that this one knows God and is able to walk with Him in obedience providing good ground for the seed to grow in her husband. If my wife is in such and insecure place that she has to win and hang on to me then there is something seriously wrong with me and I need to make some deep evaluations of my walk in God. Just as a man's heart safely trusts in the righteous woman, so a woman who has a righteous husband will be at peace and contented. The husband will provide leadership, protection, love and security for his wife and family. She will complete him and love him providing nurture and substance to her house and family. She will be a well of wisdom and joy to her husband who in turn will be captivated by her and he will praise her in the gate. How marvellous God put us together. If the man will follow God and be faithful in his responsibility as a husband, the woman will come in line to fulfill her place as a wife.

a)First I believe that what I say here applies equally to men and women. Being a man and somewhat conservative at that I suppose the question that pops up is for whom the woman is trying to look their best. Males, (and I speak from some considerable experience) are sight stimulated. The Bible does not say anything about looking your best for human consumption. It talks about looking your best for God. Keep our eyes fixed upon His face to be pleasing in His sight. I suppose this could fall into the same category of seek first His kingdom and righteousness and this other stuff will be added unto you. I personally think (to my own peril) that the simple dress of the Amish for example is not too far off. Although some cultures take it way too far, we see that they understood (even as our own progenitors did) that it does not take much to encourage sexual **** in men. Today that notion is chauvenistic and archaic. Why is it that hundreds of years of culture and experience can so casually be cast aside? I think out of respect and love toward their male brothers (not to mention respect for themselves and God) women should dress and adorn themselves so as not to be a stumbling block. b)The Bible tells us that we all walk in a vain show. Everything we do is to impress people, to get them to like us, to attract attention. I personally am fascinated by what God has made. I love my wife so dearly and marvel at God's creation. I truly am humbled.She is perfect and beautiful and I am captured by her love and beauty. She doesn't have to do anything to make me love her or attract me. However seeing her dress in nice clothes and maintain herself gives me joy because it tells me 1. she cares about herself and how she appears to others 2. she is loved and that inner beauty is enhanced by the way she looks after the outside. I really think that there is a direct relationship between how we look outwardly to how we look at (and after) ourselves inwardly. There is a lot of pressure in this society especially on women about outward appearance. I have a teen-aged daughter. It is all directed toward the outside. Somehow we need to break with the world's expectations for us and dress and look the way that is pleasing to God.

a) I think that it is difficult for humans to submit because 1) Pride: whereas humans desire to be recognized and receive glory. This was the same problem the devil fell into when he did not want to submit to God but desired the glory for himself. In submitting to another, pride does not get the glory it thinks it deserves or it has to share it. To submit voluntarily requires a dying to self or at least means putting self under subjection. Self resists submission because its very life depends on it doing what it wants and being in control. 2) Submitting voluntarily involves trust and faith. Allowing someone control of what we feel we can do for ourselves means we have to trust them that they will not take advantage of us or the situation. Not only does it involve trusting others, it involves trusting God. As Paul stated 2 Corinthians 8:5 "And [this they did], not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God." refering to the churches in Macedonia. This is the proper order of things and so it first involves trusting God, realizing that He has placed one in a position over you in a particular function and then trusting that person whom God has called. 3)Self-will will not allow someone else to control it. Much like pride, it must be the one at the front of the line controlling and being heard. Again quoting 2Cor 8:5 our submission to God takes precedence. The Apostles declared Acts 4:19"... Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye." Therefore if it comes down to obeying God or man the choice is clear. If it be a matter of opinion we must submit to the judgment of the other which is the very meaning of the word submit. 1.To leave or commit to the discretion of judgment of another. 2. To yield, resign or surrender to power, will or authority. Our questioning thus must not cross the line from inquiry, clarification, to gainsaying. Look at Mary and Zacharias for examples of contrast. c) It is wrong to submit when we are asked to do something or be in a situation that is sinful. It is wrong to submit when obeying those in position of authority would be desobeying God's command.

This is a huge topic. We could have a complete study on this very issue. In the Old Testament, of which Jesus is the substance, we see that God brought Israel through the Red Sea and into the promised land. Being delivered from their captivity and bondage in Egypt they were now told to subdue and settle in Canaan. God told them that He would not drive the inhabitants our all at once Exodus 23:30 By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land. Basically He told them that if He drove them out all at once they couldn't handle it they needed something to push against. Israel did not drive all the nations out that they were supposed to (Deuteronomy 7:16 And thou shalt consume all the people which the LORD thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity upon them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that [will be] a snare unto thee.) and they were snares unto them to draw them away from the Lord. We too have been delivered from sin and given everything we need to be overcomers and conquerors. We also are entering in and subduing the land before us and dwellin therein. These nations before us do not just roll over but will fight to maintain their ground. After all they were there before we received Jesus. One thing we are certain of is victory if we will continue. If we do not they will become thorns to us and grounds by which we will be drawn away from God and unable to experience the good things of this new land. Some of these metaphorical nations are a people of giants, with chariots of iron. We have dwelt with our sin for so long and been in bondage to it for so long that the forces are strong and the roots run deep. We do not know how to be any other way, we are afraid to fight. If the truth be known there may even be a degree of love for our sin. We are familiar with it and it is what we know. Israel did not initially enter into the promised land because of unbelief. Although God had done such miraculous things for them they still had a preconceived notion of themselves and their situation. In unbelief they believed this instead of stepping out toward what God had told them. Numbers 13:33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, [which come] of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight. So they refused to go in. We can be sure of one thing though, God will bring us back, to the same place to challenge the sin in our land. We will not enter into this rest until we do. Hebrews 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. We also do not have victory over our sin because we are ignorant of who we are and what we have in Christ. We must reckon ourselves dead unto sin and alive unto God, walking in the newness of life. This word reckon carries with it the meaning that we have settled it in our mind, we have decided that this is fact. We are not playing self-deluding mental games. We are in fact dead unto sin and as such sin will not have dominion over us. The only power it has is what we cede. It is through the knowledge of Him I.E. what Jesus did for us on the cross and our status that we are partakers of the divine nature. He has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness and blessed us with all spiritual blessing in heavenly places. We are alienated from this life of God through the ignorance in us . The devil is able to deceive those who are not able to discern between good and evil. The Word tells us that God's people are destroyed and wander aimlessly for lack of knowledge. It is necessary therefore to hide the Word of God in our hearts sot that we can weigh every thought against that sharp sword of the spirit and bring every thought into obedience to Christ, Who is the incarnate Word of God. We must hate our sin. First we must recognize it as sin and confess it and then with all malice turn away from it, standing against it believing instead what God says to us about it. There are things in our lives that we believe about ourselves and about God that are wrong and are sin, no matter how long we have been Christians. We must be willing to be honest and confront our sin, calling it what it is. We do not have to behave or think a certain way I.E. worry, anxiety, resentment, anger.......just because that's the way that I am. It is sin. Get rid of it. In practical terms, when we have recognized that certain thought and/or behaviour problems are sin, or are not in agreement with what God has revealed to us, we must act. We must watch and be on alert. When we perceive the pattern arising in our mind we counter it with Scripture. We have to steadfastly cling to what we know to be true despite our screaming feelings, the crush of peer, family and worldly pressure in our environment. Regardless of how true the lies that come to mind seem and how accurately the seem to describe us or our situation what will we believe? God's promises are all that is true in the darkness and confusion. Its too late to keep this short (sorry). To live for righteousness means to me to desire the things of God and the ways that are pleasing to Him above all else. Compared to Him all else is dung. Phil 3:8 "Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ" It means to hunger and thirst after His righteousness, His virtue and right living as newborn babes.

To me the significance of this is that there is now a personal and intimate fellowship with Him. Because of this He Himself has become unto me wisdom, righteousness, peace, redemption and deliverance. This is because it was He that actually, personally entered into the Holy of Holies, the highest place in heaven at the right hand of God. I now can have a living hope. It is because of this that I can enter into Christ not just metaphorically but in actuality. It is in Him now that I have continual cleansing from sin and unrighteousness. In Him I am justified and declared righteous becoming more that a conqueror as I march in His triumphal procession. To me, in that He bore my sins in His own body on the cross, He intimately knows the struggles I have. I do not have to explain to Him what a waste of skin I am, He knows this already and still willingly and with forethought died for me and bore my sin. He called me (none of us would have come to Him except the Father drew us) there must be hope, there must be victory. He must have a plan and a purpose for me. He became personally involved with me and expressed that He loves me, personally. I receive this.

The pattern of the Old Covenant was a shadow of what was to come. Col 2:17; Heb 8:5, 10:1 Sacrifices were made of spotless animals as an act of faith pointing to the offering of the spotless Lamb of God. Heb 9:14. These sacrifices could not take away sins Heb 10:4 and had to be offered continually. Even the priest had to offer sacrifice for his sin. The sinlessness of Christ is crucial in understanding my salvation because this sacrifice was once and for all. There is no need for Jesus to be crucified over and over for me. The atonement is complete and finished, there is nothing left to be done. When I come to Christ all my sin past present and future are forgiven. There is no more conscience of sin as He has entered into the Holy of Holies to offer His own blood as a perfect atonement. He now ever lives to make intercession for me. Hebrews 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Therefore as this propitiation is perfect and complete I can rest from my own works as I have now entered into the Sabbath of God. Hebrews 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God [did] from his. We have all seen and experienced the pain and suffering and sorrow that our sin has inflicted on us and what it has done in others. What person among us has not wept when we behold the unimaginable grief that sin has caused in this world? Sometimes my own sin causes me such agony and pain I don't know if I can bear it. Have we not heard of those who could not bear it and took their own lives? How can I imagine Jesus having my sin poured into His righteous soul? I don't want to think of Him bearing all the grief and sorrow I have tasted. Now imagine the sin of all mankind being poured into that soul? No wonder He cried Matthew 26:38... My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. No wonder an angel had to come and strengthen Him. One of the most remarkable experiences of my life was when I became a father. It's been quite a few years now, but the memories are still fresh. The love that enveloped me was intoxicating. There is nothing I would not do for my children, nothing I would not endure. I'm sure we have all heard stories of parents who literally went through fire for their children. You ask how a sinless man could stand this kind of corruption, I think love. Love that beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 1Cor 13:7 He could see down the aeons of time Isaiah 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, [and] shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. The sufferings of this present time were to Him not worthy to be compared with the glories that would be revealed.

According to 2:21 Jesus suffered as a prototype for me. He is the original, He is the pattern to which we look to conform ourselves and to allow ourselves to be conformed. He resisted unto blood striving against sin Heb 12:4 and never wavered. He set the example for me in that altough He was in the form of God, He humbled and emptied Himself to fulfill the will of God, not His own will. Philippians 2:5-8 "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." He suffered for me setting the paradigm of faith in God, proving that God is faithful to His Word even in death. I can trust Him to the uttermost. 2 Corinthians 1:9 "But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:" He suffered for me in that He showed unconditional love for me. It was not just the Jews and Romans hurling insults at Him and driving the spikes into His body. Iwas there consenting to it. I was driving the spikes into Him and sneering at Him. The only thing I brought into this relationship was my sin. Paul summed it up saying in Romans 5:6-10 that even when we were enemies to God He died for us. What love! In this His example shows me that it is not about me, but about the lost souls heading for an eternity apart from God. It is about obedience to the will of God whatever the cost. I could not begin to explain to you what a worthless worm I am. How true Jeremiah spoke that the heart is desperately wicked. If a man such as John the Baptist was not worthy to unlatch one of His sandals or a man such as Job despised himself and repented in sackcloth and ashes where does that leave someone like me? How did He suffer for me personally? Are there enough words to express my praise for Him? By this very act He said to me "to Me you are worthy , you have much value to Me, let Me show you" How could I ever again turn a sinner away or bear unforgiveness, or harbour resentment?

Verse 21 starts "To this were you called..." The Bible is very definite about one thing that we will have trials, sufferings and persecutions. Our task is not to try to find ways out of them or how to avoid them, but to submit to them and allow them to have their perfect work in and through us so that God may be glorified. Even Jesus learned obedience through the things that He suffered even though He was the Son. David stated Psalms 119:67 "Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word." It was the unique sufferings Jesus endured that brought salvation to all mankind. God has a purpose for our sufferings, and what will that be? Oh the joy and expectancy when we enter into these times of trial and suffering, knowing that we are fulfilling God's purpose in our lives and furthering the kingdom of God. Hebrews 12:2 "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Jesus exemplified complete trust in God's providence Isaiah 53:7 "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth." From what I see in Jesus' character, when I enter into trials, I will look beyond the pain, grief, sorrow, injustice and see Jesus seated at the right hand of power. Oh God do not let me draw back. Jesus willingly endured grief for the glory that lay ahead.Isaiah 50:6 "I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting." I pray that God would help me to have such an attitude.

There are two considerations to look at when we consider this question. 1) if the injustice is directed toward us and 2) if the injustice is directed toward others. In the first place, we are admonished to bear the injustice and commit our cause to God. Romans 12:19 "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but [rather] give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." If we are to avenge ourselves we hinder God from working in our situation. Instead we are instructed not to resist evil Matthew 5:39 "But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also." and to pray for and forgive those who do us dirt. In so doing we release the hand of God. As others see your comportment under provocation they will soon realize that you are not fighting back, but that they are fighting against God, who is froward toward those who are froward. It's not about winning here, it's about the souls of men. Our submission to God in this is to them an evident token of their perdition and will serve to bring glory to God. If the injustice is directed toward others it is important that we remain steadfast in righteousness and not be carried away with the mob. There may be consequences for us in standing resolutely for the right which we should be prepared to bear. We can't be running into every conflict and addressing every injustice, but whatever comes within the sphere of our mandate, we cannot turn a blind eye. The phrasing of the question lends itself to a negative slant, sort of like saying is it OK for a Christian to be a whiner? Obviously not. The habitual complainer is unhappy about a lot more than just his job and the injustices he perceives. Phil. 4:11-13 , 19 tells us that our contentment and source of wellbeing is not what we possess or our circumstances, its Jesus. We should ask God why we are unhappy and repent, allowing HIm to meet our needs. Psalm 42:5 Perhaps we should realize that nothing comes into our lives but that God will use it for the good of those who are the called according to His purpose. Really, we're kind of missionaries at our jobs and need to act the part. We don't have to be door-mats, situations can be addressed with a soft answer and in wisdom which God gives to those who ask. The question how I personally react to prolonged unfair treatment at work. I am slowly learning to cast my cares upon Him, not to fight back vindicating myself or defending myself. I am learning that whatever is happening to me at this time serves only to benefit and strengthen me even though the trial may be grievious. I am also learning that I'm not the only one. It seems that God has each one of us exactly where He wants us for a reason. We are in the crucible and He is working the image of Jesus in us. As the heat turns up the dross bubbles to the top. I realize that I can't jump ship when the waters get rough, He's there with me and the joy I receive when I get to the other side more than compensates for the grief endured.

The kingdom of God, all the spiritual realm, and all of God's creation is orderly. There is much mention of an hierarchy of power in the heavenlies. Jesus commends the centurion of Mt. 8:5-10 that he understands and submits to the authority structure. When we are submitted in our proper place with the appropriate attitude toward those whom honour is due we keep ourselves under God's protection and give no place to the devil to bring accusation. Romans 13:7

The only Jesus that those around us may see is what they see in us. What do we portray to those without? I can only hope it is not me, my thoughts, my conception of Jesus, my attitudes, anything of self. My main concern should be to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ, Who is the incarnate Word of God. Without submission there is a blockage in the channel through which God can flow. I pollute the Word of God, I corrupt the image of Christ. Self is detestable, it cannot be sanctified, nor reformed. It must be put to death without mercy. Colossians 3:5 "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth..." Romans 8:13 "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." If we only try to shove these carnal desires I.E. the lusts of our flesh and mind we will be misereable we will be saddled with a burden we cannot hope to bear. We must give it up to Him, falling upon the Rock. The pain of dying, the agony of letting go of self (after all we seem to think we cannot be all that bad) cannot be compared to the glory that will be revealed in us. This is what we want the lost to see. I can't figure all these things out, it's too much for me. All I can do is bury myself in Him and trust that He will look after all that needs be. I just go about attempting to be a pleasing child to my Father and obedient to Him in all things. He'll do the rest. Fall in love with Jesus until He is all that matters. Get rid of all that gets in the way to this. Strive to please Him, seek His smile. The world cannot understand all this but you can be sure they see something different. You are at peace, you are happy, your attitude is pleasant and you are compliant. You are even at peace with your enemies. You love everyone. In the light of all this, it hurts God when we are rebellious. I recently felt the Lord speak to me that it hurt Him when His children (me) believed the lies the devil fed them. "You're a failure" "God doesn't really love you He only tolerates you" the list goes on (we could all put in a lie or two he feeds us). It hurts Him because of the love He has for us and how it keeps us from having all He wants to give us. I felt Him impress upon me "What must I do to prove to you that I love you? What must I say to convince you of My love for you? Tell Me and I will do it." Exactly! What more could He do? Yet why do we still walk in disbelief? Why would we rather believe the one who hates our soul over the One Who loves us so much? Yes our rebellion hurts the tender heart of God.

Three things spring to mind here in relation to this verse. 1) The fact that God gets the glory and not us indicates that this is God working through us and not an act of our own righteousness. It speaks of one who is obedient and walks in that obedience. Galatians 5:16 "[This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit..." The verse actually indicates that we walk step by step in the Spirit. So what people see is Jesus and not us. The natural response of a man in the presence of God is praise. 2) The verse speaks to me that the work of God in the life of the believer is real. It is not burdensome to do good works as though it was something we have to do to keep in the club. It is natural "conversation" for the Christian. We don't put on with affectation piety, good works, love etc.. It is a part of our being it is woven right into us by God. That's why it's so easy to walk with Jesus, we just have to be what we are, no pretense, no pain, no strain. Matthew 11:30 For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light. What people see in us is real, it's solid, it's Jesus. 3) The third thing this passage brings to mind is the fact that we are in a spiritual conflict, continually. Ephesians 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly [places] might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 1 Peter 1:12 ... which things the angels desire to look into. When a believer walks into a room, the people there may not know who they are, but you can be sure that all spiritual entities present know which side you are on. Those in whom the prince of the power of the air is working in have no problem demonstrating who they serve and have dwelling in them by their speech, actions and attitudes. It is a powerful weapon to walk humbly before your God in the presence of your enemies even though every fibre in your being screams for you to act out in like spirit. Blending in, bleech! I hate even the sound of it. Matthew 5:13

I think about the passage in Rom.12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. The world has continual pressure upon people to think and act in a certain manner. This word "conform" causes me to think of metal that is put into a die and forced into that shape. We can, however, only be forced into this shape through our ignorance of God's Word or us voluntarily acquiescing. To be conformed is to take something as it is and form it into another shape. To be transformed is to take something as it is and make it something else, different from the original. Peter tells us that we are not of this world and so it is unnatural for us to be like it. There would never be peace. We have been bought with a price and have the Holy Spirit resident within us. We are unable to serve two masters. Many places in the Bible we are told that our minds need to be renewed, transformed, washed. Hosea 4:6 "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge..." It is critical that we have the foundation of the Word of God dwelling richly in us. It is through this knowledge that we have access into all things that pertain unto life and godliness.(2Pet 1:3) Ephesians 4:17 "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, :18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:" Yes it is possible for a child of God to be alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance. We then become targets for the "roaring lion" who seeks to devour them who are unprepared. Anyway, there is abundance of Scripture that we cannot ignore, and I diverge from the question. The reminder that we are strangers and pilgrims helps us in that Psalms 1:1 " Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful." We obtain our direction from a different source than the world and realize that often our position will be in opposition to the world. Psalms 1:2 But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Reckoning ourselves part of God's own people should produce in us the awareness that we are in this world but not part of it. Our citizenship is in Heaven which is our place of birth. We are aliens and strangers here 1 Peter 2:11 "Dearly beloved, I beseech [you] as strangers and pilgrims..." It then follows that we do not pattern ourselves after the ways of this world but that we strive to exemplify the ways of the Kingdom of God. Knowing that the things that are seen are but temporal and the things unseen eternal we must understand that those that are not born again cannot see the kingdom of God. They can only see what we show them. This should inspire us to live our lives before them such that they will see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. I think that this taste of the heavenly should inspire us to desire to grow (as newborn babes) and become clearer in our perception of the things of the Kingdom of God, and to know Him better. As we do this we can see the desparate need of the soul without Christ and the train wreck that is fast approaching. This inspires us to reach out with every means, becoming all things to all men, spending ourselves to rescue the perishing. To me, the realization that I am part of God's own people is almost too much for me to bear. 1 Samuel 2:8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, [and] lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set [them] among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth [are] the LORD

I'm not really sure that I totally understand the question but it evokes some thoughts. 1 Peter teaches us that we are a holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus. I think of the priests in the Old Covenant who offered up the fat of the sacrifices, laying everything in perfect order before the Lord. They gave their best and they did it with understanding and honour. It makes me think that our sacrifices are to be our best. They are to be done in obedience to Jesus. We are not offering up our own works and efforts, but we offer to Him all that Jesus has done through us, all that He is doing in us. We offer the best and hold back nothing for ourselves. It is not about us it is all about Him. We have done nothing and indeed can do nothing outside of Him. All praise and honour and glory majesty power and dominion belong to Him. There simply are not enough words to honour Him appropriately.

As infants all focus is upon its own needs of the moment, a self-centred life. Parents of course do not resent meeting the needs of their children and with joy feed and tend to every need, perceived and real, of their child whom they love. However as that little bundle of joy grows, it is required and expected that he would take the responsibility of more of its own care. The defining trait of maturity is being able to reach out beyond ones self to meet the needs of another. The parallel holds true in the spiritual as well. When we are born anew into the kingdom of God we are exactly as babes. We cry out to our loving Father to comfort us, to deliver us, to make us happy, to provide the things that we think we should have. Our focus is squarely upon ourselves and what God can give. Often He obliges, loving patient and kind that He is. However there is a time to grow beyond the milk and self-centredness and begin to walk in the purpose that God has for each of our lives. Growing up can be so painful! Just what might this be? 1 Peter tells us that we are to be priests unto our God. Hebrews 5:1 "For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things [pertaining] to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: :2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. :3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins." We may be the only Jesus this hurtin' world may ever see. We are His hand extended 2 Corinthians 5:20 "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ

I have indeed felt worthless and of no value. However from 1 Peter 1:18-19 I learn that I have great worth and value to God in-so-much-that He would come and die in my stead. He would bear the punishment of my sin. What value could we put upon the life of a man? But yet God Himself shed His blood for me, what infinite love! This is why our praise and worship (worth-ship) will go on for eternity, we will never tire of worshipping our loving Father. This certainly makes our assets in this world seem corrupt and contemptible. Who cares about these things in the light of what we have in Christ. They serve only as an means to serve Him more, to bring glory to His name. My true longterm investments are those things which are eternal, they are not seen 2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen [are] temporal; but the things which are not seen [are] eternal. Since the value of a soul is so valuable to God, should it not be so with me? Christ's investment in the souls of men earned Him a name above every name. My investment in the souls or men is of great value to God. Ultimately that is what all our investment of time and energy in the kingdom of God is for, bringing souls into the kingdom of God, rescuing them from death.

There seems to be a moral relativism that pervades the thought of our society today (yes it is just as bad here in Canada and most probably worse). It is believed that there is no absolute, no moral paradigm that all men must be weighed against. To think one is being judged by another would lend one to believe they are wrong about something. However in a relativistic society one's beliefs, views and practices are no better or worse that another. This in itself is true. For example if we as believers are asked if we think homosexuality is wrong behaviour we will answer yes. We do this because we believe in an absolute separate from ourselves to which all men must answer. God's moral law. It is therefore not the believer who judges but the Word of God. It is not, however, my place or mandate to judge IE to be af a critical and condemnatory temperament. My mandate is to hold forth the love of Jesus for sinners, the healing, forgiveness, deliverance and acceptance for all men. In a society where there is no fear of God, man will go from bad to worse and will not depart from evil. Where there is no fear of God people become very cynical and scornful Proverbs 9:8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. God so loved the world that He gave His Son Jesus so that no man would perish. God does not want any to perish but to come to a saving faith in Jesus. Jesus died for the sins of the whole world past, present and future and bore them to the cross. He does not need to do it again, all the sins of the world have already been atoned for. All that is necessary is that people would receive this abundance of mercy. However they will not but rather will cling to their sin, and identify with it rejecting God's free gift. John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. It can never be said that God did not go to infinite lengths to express and extend His love. Men perish because they love darkness rather than light. Final judgment must be at the core of the gospel because if men fear not God they will not depart from evil Proverbs 14:27 The fear of the LORD [is] a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. If there is no fear of accountability then there is no need to change Psalms 55:19 "...Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God." Jesus died for my sins, but if there is no accounting then it is meaningless. Judgment implies just that, we will have to answer for our deeds done in this life. The Gospel is not just something to make us feel good, some sort of panacea to help us not feel bad about our sin. The gospel is a route of escape from the wrath of God which is upon the wicked. There must be a reason to continue in the faith. True, when we received Jesus we felt that release, that joy , the love that we knew came from God. Suddenly our lives were envigorated and our eyes were opened to the wonders of God. Then came times of trial, times when God was no where to be found and when everything did not seem so right. Doubts came pouring in, doubts of our salvation, doubts of God's love what a mess! What kept us from chucking the whole works if not that we know our faithfulness will not go unrewarded and that there is an answering at the end of the road? We feared God and His displeasure.

Holiness is not something that we can conjure up by some pious effort which amounts to will worship. Holinessis the believer reflecting Jesus in them. It is the believer living their life with their affections set on those things above, not as an act of self will but as one whose focus is on Jesus. Holivess to me is taking God at His Word, believing it and walking in it allowing the Holy Spirit to have His way in sanctifying and working obedience ino a desperately wicked heart. Holinessis receiving that we are separated from this world unto God's purpose and looking for and learning what is the will of God for us in it. I am holy now in that I have been translated into the kindom of God's Son where I now dwell. I am holy in that the blood of Jesus continually cleanses me. I am holy now in that in Christ I am crucified and so am dead unto sin and alive unto God separated unto His purposes to do His will. I am now a child of God and as such I have no citizenship here in this world, I have been separated from this "kosmos" or world system and it is alien to the spirit that is alive within me. We have been given these great and precious promises that by them we might be partakers of the divine nature. We gave been born again of incorruptible seed and have been given all things that pertain to life and godliness. II Peter 1:3; Eph. 1:3; 1 Cor 1:5 This being true, obedience dictates that we lay hold on these promises by faith so that we might be purged of whatever the Spirit of God reveals to us is not in agreement to the Word of God. My biggest struggle with holiness is in trusting God. He tells me that all things are working for the good in me, but I still tend to want to have my hand in there, manipulating. I repent of these things. The struggle in me is to let go and trust completely in Him.

Our hope should be set fully on the grace given when Jesus is revealed. I realize that the interpretation of revealed is thought here to be in reference to the second coming of Jesus. I would like to present another view that I do not think will do injustice to our matter at hand. We are being transformed from glory to glory into the image of Christ. 1 John 3:2 "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." It is true that we now only see Him dimly but as He is being revealed in us we become like Him unto that day when we will behold Him face to face at which time we will be like Him because we will see Him as He is. It therefore seems that there is a direct relationship between the revelation of Jesus in us and the degree we resemble Him. The grace of God can be defined as His favour, forgiveness and divine assistance for our regeneration. It means that we are put in a state of being pleasing to Him. We have access into this grace by faith, that is we lay hold upon the promises that He has given to us. Here we see in this passage that this grace is given to us as Jesus is revealed. Jesus is the door! He is the only way into this grace through His blood. The joy of knowing Him and having Him revealed to our heart! To know that I am pleasing to God. It inspires hope in that we see it ahead. We have tasted that the Lord is good and I want more and more. Hope is desire with expectation of obtaining what is desired or the belief that it is obtainable. We know that what He has promised He will also perform and we will obtain that grace because He has said so. It's worth waiting for! Hebrews 6:17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed [it] by an oath:18 That by two immutable things, in which [it was] impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: :19 Which [hope] we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; :20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, [even] Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Having this hope set before us causes us to set our affections on the things above and not on the things of earth. 1 John 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. We will therefore purge ourselves of anything that will hinder us in pursuing Christ. We see this in Paul's exclaimation Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ, If we do not have this urgency for the revelation of Christ in us, if we as in Luke 12:45 say in our heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; we risk the displeasure of our Father and we miss out on the grace that could be ours. The reverse of 1 John 3:3 begins to happen to us where we do not take care to purify ourselves, we become lax and idle.

The basis of Christian joy is faith. Romans 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. This joy is not an ethereal circumstance dependant feeling or emotion. It, like faith, is substance 2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen [are] temporal; but the things which are not seen [are] eternal. Because we have been born again and our spirit has been quickened we have been brought into a living relationship with God and His love shed abroad in our hearts gives us confidence that He is there. It is this pure and deep love He has given us that rejoices the heart. This joy interplays with human emotion making one quick to laugh, and with a bright and cheerful countenance with a smile never far from the surface. It is because this joy is in our spirit which informs our soul. Our soul is at peace, our soul is being delivered and is free. We are receiving the end of our faith even the salvation of our soul. We have a strong redeemer who walks continually with us. This joy is not emotional although it evokes happiness and emotional lightness. Emotion is essentially a function of the soul and can be swayed easily by circumstance, feeling, hormones, and of course the devil is eager to pull us down into the pits of despair as he points out our many flaws. This joy is rooted in Christ. One of the attributes of the Holy Spirit is joy. That is Who He is. He does not have joy, He is joy (as well as the other 8 enumerated). We have Him within us. Thus as long as we have Him we have joy regardless how I feel, what is happening. As a matter of fact anything that would seek to tell us different is a lie (and we all know where that is coming from) "The pursuit of happiness" almost sounds carnal. The world rushes around trying to find happiness in one futile thing or another. I suppose anything to fill the void and ease the pain, to blot out the fear. Our loving Father subjected this frail creature to this futility in hope that we would turn to Him, the fountain of eternal joy. Romans 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected [the same] in hope. We do not pursue happiness, we pursue Jesus. Sometimes that pursuit leads us into a paradox. He may lead us into the valley of death, into sore trials and hardship. 2 Corinthians 1:8 ...that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But oh what joy! What rejoicing that our names are written down in the book of life.

I have had difficult circumstances in my life and, yes, have found them to prove and refine my faith. I found that God is a faithful, loving, patient, kind, pitiful God. I did not understand these qualities of God before, but in the fires, so to speak, He walked with me. For this He won my heart and drew me to Him with cords of loving-kindness. Psalms 119:67

Salvation is not something we achieve by our own efforts. The best acts of righteousness of man are as filthy rags before God. Only one man was able to perfectly satisfy the righteous requirement of the Law, Jesus. Because He was able to enter the Holy of Holies by virtue of His own sinlessness, He was able to beome an atonement for our sin through His blood. He is the door. There is no other name given among men whereby we might be saved. In fact the Bible tells us that if we attempt to come in any other way we are a thief and a robber. Thus it is rebellion for me to throuw God's gift back at Him and go my own way. It is arrogance for me to walk in my own stringth and expect God's forgiveness. The sin of the devil was that he believed he could be as God and ascend to the heights. This is the same deception that he whispers to men. "You shall be as gods". It can be said in many forms but the same message is that we act in our own strength apart from God. John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 1 John 2:3

Peter stated that he was writing to the strangers in Asia Minor. In other words he was writing to believers who understood that they were but sojourners in this world even as the writer of Hebrews stated Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. We have received the promises that they so diligently looked for. How much more are we also sojourners?! Any man that is called to be an ambassador to an enemy nation represents the nation which sent him and he is responsible to promote the interests and position of his country. The failure to do so amounts to an abnegation of his obligations and responsibilities and he misrepresents his country bringing reproach upon it. Worse, if he sides with the country he is sent to, he becomes a traitor to his own country and cannot be an effective represenative. Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Therefore the behaviour of a Christian who identifies more with this present world will mirror the behaviour and thinking of the world. He will be indistinguishable from one who does not have his citizenship in heaven. He will no longer be salt to this world. Matthew 5:13