A Life Marked By Purpose

[newnature]

Romans 12:2, the tension between the world’s values and God’s values, this call to live sacrificially and to embrace God’s perspective is challenging, especially in a world that often encourages self-interest, but true transformation begins when you surrender your own agendas and allow God’s Holy Spirit to reshape your heart and mind. In doing so, you find yourself walking in God’s will, a life marked by purpose, peace and alignment with his desires. What does it mean to be a holy priesthood?

In the Old Testament, priests served as mediators between God and his people, offering sacrifices and leading worship. Now, Peter proclaims that all believers are part this holy priesthood, through Christ, you have direct access to God and the privilege of offering spiritual sacrifices, acts of worship, service and obedience that reflect your devotion to him. Consider your everyday acts of faith, whether through prayer, helping a neighbor or standing firm in trials, are spiritual sacrifices that bring joy to God.

This priestly calling elevates even the smallest actions, infusing them with eternal significance, yet, Peter also acknowledges the tension that comes with this calling. For some, Christ is a cornerstone, for others, he is a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. 1 Peter 2:8, to those who reject him, Jesus is not a source of stability, but a stumbling block, a challenge to their self-sufficiency and pride. This tension should not discourage you, instead, it should deepen your resolve to stand firm in faith.

Peter reminds you, that you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, 1 Peter 2:9, these titles are not earned, they are bestowed upon you by God’s grace. The privilege of being called God’s special possession, it speaks of his deep love for you and his commitment to use you for his purposes, your mission is to proclaim God’s goodness, to shine his light in a world often overshadowed by darkness, it is a call not only to worship, but to witness, to live in a way that reflects the hope and transformation you have found in Christ.

 

[ScottA]

Romans 12:2, the tension between the world’s values and God’s values, this call to live sacrificially and to embrace God’s perspective is challenging, especially in a world that often encourages self-interest, but true transformation begins when you surrender your own agendas and allow God’s Holy Spirit to reshape your heart and mind. In doing so, you find yourself walking in God’s will, a life marked by purpose, peace and alignment with his desires. What does it mean to be a holy priesthood?

In the Old Testament, priests served as mediators between God and his people, offering sacrifices and leading worship. Now, Peter proclaims that all believers are part this holy priesthood, through Christ, you have direct access to God and the privilege of offering spiritual sacrifices, acts of worship, service and obedience that reflect your devotion to him. Consider your everyday acts of faith, whether through prayer, helping a neighbor or standing firm in trials, are spiritual sacrifices that bring joy to God.

This priestly calling elevates even the smallest actions, infusing them with eternal significance, yet, Peter also acknowledges the tension that comes with this calling. For some, Christ is a cornerstone, for others, he is a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. 1 Peter 2:8, to those who reject him, Jesus is not a source of stability, but a stumbling block, a challenge to their self-sufficiency and pride. This tension should not discourage you, instead, it should deepen your resolve to stand firm in faith.

Peter reminds you, that you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, 1 Peter 2:9, these titles are not earned, they are bestowed upon you by God’s grace. The privilege of being called God’s special possession, it speaks of his deep love for you and his commitment to use you for his purposes, your mission is to proclaim God’s goodness, to shine his light in a world often overshadowed by darkness, it is a call not only to worship, but to witness, to live in a way that reflects the hope and transformation you have found in Christ.

This is a good reminder, one that comes so far from the beginning of these times of the gentiles (these other nations, not first chosen, not Israel of old) that many have become accustom and perhaps even satisfied with a continual "Christian life" as if there were no purpose other than such a life in this world. But this is not the eternity of promise.

These times of the gentiles have rather been our own generations and times of wandering in the desert--from which some would go back to what we have grown fond of in this world, as some of Israel wanted to return to Egypt. Not many actually wanted to press on to that promised land out of fear--and we--we have our own giants, and might rather be satisfied with a polished version of what we have become accustom to in this world: a good church, family, aplenty. But again, that's not the promise of God.

How then do we live as if ready to press on day after day, year after year, having seen generation after generation simply pass to the next?

That is the challenge.

The Bible has a word for it: Endure--"endure to the end"--to the end of our time in this world. Does that sound like "making happy", or "playing church?" Don't get me wrong--we should have joy, be happy, and do the best church we can muster--those are not wrong...that is unless we loose our long range sight of what may indeed require endurance. Wherein we do best by keeping our eye on the prize--that full promise of God.

The good news is, these times of we gentiles enduring are nearly fulfilled. Which means we ought to be waking up from this long road where many have become nearly asleep at the wheel, and prepare. On long trips...my wife takes her shoes off, even puts her feet on the dash, all well and good. But it's time to put our shoes back on!

It--the long awaited promise of God--is very close!

 

[newnature]

This is a good reminder, one that comes so far from the beginning of these times of the gentiles (these other nations, not first chosen, not Israel of old) that many have become accustom and perhaps even satisfied with a continual "Christian life" as if there were no purpose other than such a life in this world. But this is not the eternity of promise.

These times of the gentiles have rather been our own generations and times of wandering in the desert--from which some would go back to what we have grown fond of in this world, as some of Israel wanted to return to Egypt. Not many actually wanted to press on to that promised land out of fear--and we--we have our own giants, and might rather be satisfied with a polished version of what we have become accustom to in this world: a good church, family, aplenty. But again, that's not the promise of God.

How then do we live as if ready to press on day after day, year after year, having seen generation after generation simply pass to the next?

That is the challenge.

The Bible has a word for it: Endure--"endure to the end"--to the end of our time in this world. Does that sound like "making happy", or "playing church?" Don't get me wrong--we should have joy, be happy, and do the best church we can muster--those are not wrong...that is unless we loose our long range sight of what may indeed require endurance. Wherein we do best by keeping our eye on the prize--that full promise of God.

The good news is, these times of we gentiles enduring are nearly fulfilled. Which means we ought to be waking up from this long road where many have become nearly asleep at the wheel, and prepare. On long trips...my wife takes her shoes off, even puts her feet on the dash, all well and good. But it's time to put our shoes back on!

It--the long awaited promise of God--is very close!

Paul says, we who have died to sin, past tense, it already happened, it’s not something you hope to achieve someday, it’s something that should have already happened if you’ve really been born again. Dying to sin doesn’t mean you’ll never sin again, it means sin no longer has the same power over you, it means you no longer live in it as your natural state, it means when you sin it hurts, it bothers you, you can’t just move on as if nothing happened. Have you really died to sin, not in theory, not because you said it in a salvation prayer years ago, but in the present reality of your life, when you sin, does it cause you real pain or do you simply acknowledge it was wrong, say a quick prayer and move on with your life.

 

[ScottA]

Paul says, we who have died to sin, past tense, it already happened, it’s not something you hope to achieve someday, it’s something that should have already happened if you’ve really been born again. Dying to sin doesn’t mean you’ll never sin again, it means sin no longer has the same power over you, it means you no longer live in it as your natural state, it means when you sin it hurts, it bothers you, you can’t just move on as if nothing happened. Have you really died to sin, not in theory, not because you said it in a salvation prayer years ago, but in the present reality of your life, when you sin, does it cause you real pain or do you simply acknowledge it was wrong, say a quick prayer and move on with your life.

Indeed, I concur with all that. But I was referring rather to the times and the slumber of many well intended Christians, thinking that this could be the generation expected to fulfill all--but perhaps only haeartedly. But this time it's different, we really are very close.

But yes, Paul also eluded to proper tense, saying "we who are alive and remain." Which is the unique status of one born again, that is dead and remaining in these bodies of flesh and in this world, both eventually to pass away--but also alive in Christ, seated in heavenly places, remaining to continue the work of Christ...as Paul also said, "for me, to live is Christ." Which he did not say egotistically, referring--as you say--to the fact that proper tense of God and the things of God.

 

[newnature]

The thirst for transcendence that human beings carry is real, the problem is not in the thirst, but in the source chosen to quench it, the word “be filled” means that it is not a one-time experience achieved once and maintained forever, it is a state that needs to be renewed continuously, a condition of life that demands constant attention. To be filled with the Holy Spirit is neither a spiritual title nor an elite achievement reserved for advanced believers, it is the normal condition of believers life, that to which every believer is called and for which the Holy Spirit himself is always available. What hinders this filling most of the time is not the lack of willingness from God, but the spaces being occupied by other things, worries, entertainments, relationships, ambitions that take the place that should belong to the Holy Spirit.