@Tong2020 wrote,
I agree with @Behold that "walking in the Spirit" is not anything to do with trying to be a good Christian.
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I agree completely.
Trying to be a good Christian will incorporate times of walking in the Spirit, but "trying" is human effort, not spiritual life.
It's the difference between "I want to be" and "I am".
I've given a lot of thought in how to express this, and find I fall short, at least in my own eyes.
On the one hand, we recognize within our minds, I know God. On the other hand, there is addressing Him, the One Who is with me, as He addresses me, and we have relationship.
On the one hand, I can know that God has set me free from sin. On the other hand, there is recognizing that this feeling is lying to me about what I should do, and not doing that, instead, Dad, It's happening again! And not go that direction, because I know I don't have to, and I don't want to. Even if I feel a draw towards it, I know that's just flesh, so ignore it.
Trying to be a good Christian is attempting to do something I don't know if I can do. Trying to be a good Christian is to adopt a value judgment upon myself that God isn't.
Trying to be a good Christian is to define myself according to my perceptions of myself instead of what God says.
Trying to be a good Christian is attempting to be something I think I'm not.
Am I a good Christian? Is that even a valid question?
Am I a mature Christian? Am I fruitful Christian? Am I a loving Christian?
Personally, I'd say a "good Christian" is the one that is more interested in being with Jesus than in working out whether I'm a "good Christian".
Being with Jesus . . . when we see Him, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is. I say, begin now. See Jesus. In His Word. In His works, which He does in you, and through you.
Walking in the Spirit isn't trying, it's doing, not from wistful hope, but from faith.
What are your thoughts?
Much love!
I agree with @Behold that "walking in the Spirit" is not anything to do with trying to be a good Christian.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I agree completely.
Trying to be a good Christian will incorporate times of walking in the Spirit, but "trying" is human effort, not spiritual life.
It's the difference between "I want to be" and "I am".
I've given a lot of thought in how to express this, and find I fall short, at least in my own eyes.
On the one hand, we recognize within our minds, I know God. On the other hand, there is addressing Him, the One Who is with me, as He addresses me, and we have relationship.
On the one hand, I can know that God has set me free from sin. On the other hand, there is recognizing that this feeling is lying to me about what I should do, and not doing that, instead, Dad, It's happening again! And not go that direction, because I know I don't have to, and I don't want to. Even if I feel a draw towards it, I know that's just flesh, so ignore it.
Trying to be a good Christian is attempting to do something I don't know if I can do. Trying to be a good Christian is to adopt a value judgment upon myself that God isn't.
Trying to be a good Christian is to define myself according to my perceptions of myself instead of what God says.
Trying to be a good Christian is attempting to be something I think I'm not.
Am I a good Christian? Is that even a valid question?
Am I a mature Christian? Am I fruitful Christian? Am I a loving Christian?
Personally, I'd say a "good Christian" is the one that is more interested in being with Jesus than in working out whether I'm a "good Christian".
Being with Jesus . . . when we see Him, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is. I say, begin now. See Jesus. In His Word. In His works, which He does in you, and through you.
Walking in the Spirit isn't trying, it's doing, not from wistful hope, but from faith.
What are your thoughts?
Much love!