SET them there

Colossians 3:2
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

I was reading Piper's book on Jonathan Edwards (A God-Entranced Vision of All Things). There were a few things in there that really opened my eyes to some things that I probably will be sharing on this blog in the near future. One of them had to do with what Piper has called the Duty of Delight. That is, it is our duty not only to do those things which glorify God, but to do those things with delight.

Usually, my reponse to that is: Yeah, right! But for whatever reason last night, I think it finally started getting through. Then, while thinking on that a bit, Colossians 3:2 came to mind. It says: "Set your affections" on something. I always imagined that either I want to do something, or not want to do something - either I would have the desire, or not. This verse is saying that we are to actively set our affections on something. It is active, something we do, not passive, something that happens to us.

How do we set our affections on things above? Well, I think first we have to be looking at things above. We need to determine what things are of God, and what things are of the world. After we have determined what things glorify God, then it is time to set our affections on them. Second, I think we have to take a minute before we perform whatever 'duty' it is that we are going to, after having recognized that the purpose of doing the duty is to glorify, to please God, and purpose in our hearts to be glad that what we are doing does, in fact, bring pleasure to our God.

When I look at the task I am about to perform, and I know that the task is one that is going to bring pleasure to God, then I can do it with delight - even if that task is something that 'under the sun' is very difficult to do. I can type this blog every day with delight, if I belive that it brings pleasure to God. I can go to church even on days I don't want to, if I believe that by doing so it brings glory to God. I could happily fast, pray, give all that I have, study, minister, preach, teach, be hospitable, witness, sing, or whatsoever I do, as long as I am doing it with my affections set on doing it to please God.

When our focus is on God, we will never be disappointed. When our focus is on things or people around us, it is quite easy to be disappointed - they may let us down, He will not. The only thing that we need to fear is our own failure of setting our affections on God. It is when we fail to do that, that problems may come. SET your affection on things above.

Just a delightful thought...

The Image of God

Genesis 1:27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

My thought today is an incomplete one. Perhaps, it is just a suggestion for us to think about a little more. We all know that God created man in His own image...

Wait a minute, I think we pass by that a bit too glibly. God created man in the image of Himself. Adam was created with the image of Almighty God! No, I don't really understand what that means. I do know that sin has so marred that image, that when Seth was born, Genesis 5:3 says that he was born in the image of Adam. But even with this image of Adam, James 3:9 says that men are "made after the similitude of God."

I guess I am not sure if I am looking for more than is there. Is it simply that "God" in whose image man was made has a head, 2 arms, 2 legs, etc.? Or is it more than that? Is it that God is a Triune being with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and man is Soul, Body, and Spirit? Or does His image given to Adam extend to the "image" of holiness and righteousness?

I don't know...

What I do know is that Christians are to be conformed to the image of Christ. In fact, it is predestined that we WILL be conformed to the image of Jesus - when He shall appear (Rom 8:29, 1 John 3:2).

Anyway, just some random thoughts...

Backup

Today's thought has little to do with spirituality. Maybe by the time I am done writing, I will think of something. Anyway...

BACKUP!!

Yup, I am a computer guy, and I recommend to everyone to backup all of your data regularly. You never know when a hard drive is going to stop working. I had a friend who had a Mac for only 6 days and its hard drive died. My PC, on the other hand, has gone for almost an entire year, but alas... grinding... click, click... Disk Read Error...

Now, I did not follow my own advice. I did not have most of the stuff, at least the recent stuff, backed up. Things like: 16 out of my 36 thesis topics... my Email... some recent pictures... not to mention a bunch of work related stuff that would bore you to talk about... Oh, and then there's the issue of the two missionaries' whose websites are done in Flash, that I cannot make changes to their Flash files because they were on there... (nobody tell them, ok!)

Alright, I hope that a Data Recovery Service will be able to help me out, but it will probably cost a bit. The moral of the story: A little extra time spent now, will probably save you more time (and money!) in the long run. I can't think of a verse with that principle, but I'm sure it would contain the word: FOOL, and I would fit the bill.

I am going to go back to the fetal position now and cry a little more...

Just a thought

Forward a Week Ago

2 Corinthians 8:10
(10) And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.

I began this year, 2008, by reminding us all to be forward a year ago as it says in 2 Corinthians 8:10. Then, I was reading some of Jonathan Edwards' resolutions, and number 30 says:

"To strive, every week, to be brought higher in Religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, then I was the week before."

Now, I have to admit that Paul's admonition is more important to follow than Jonathan Edwards', but wow, what if we were, every week, to examine ourselves to see if we have improved and risen in our faith.

Just a thought...

Number 200

Yesterday's post was my 200th post that I have published on my blog. I have found that, in writing, I am forced to formulate my thoughts and express them. Now, I agree with what you all are saying, sometimes I don't do a very good job of formulating and expressing my thoughts! but at least I am working on it.

200 Posts. The most common 'label' that I have given my posts is "KJV" with 13 posts. It has been a while since I've touched that subject, so I will have to revisit it again soon. "Influential Persons" had 12 posts, people like Jonathan Edwards, Rick Grape, Gary Beikirch, and my very first post about David Reagan. "Children" and "Daily Walk" tied with 9 posts, and they both beat out "Calvinism" by 1.

I have had opportunity to share with you great times of rejoicing, and of course, as recently, great times of weeping. Your, my faithful readers', comments have encouraged me, rebuked me, corrected me, made me laugh, and at times enfuriated me (but that's my fault, not yours)!

As far as the most comments on any one post? Well, there is a tie in that field. If you took all the comments for my Calvinism posts, that would win, however for the single post we have 20 comments for:
The Music Itself: Style, Genre, Sound and more recently PC Clearly More Spiritual

By God's grace, this blog will continue to improve: To remember that for which I am in this world; To challenge others to think on spiritual things. All for His glory. That Jesus Christ may be thought of with greater reverence, with more admiration, and with greater awe of His excellencies.

Just a thought...

Lincoln Does Right

For one of my classes this semester I was required to write a "Letter to the Editor" regarding something in the local newspaper. I found an article that interested me, and figured I would share my thoughts on it on my blog.

The article of interest is found here:
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

And the link about which the article talks is found here:
Lincoln and his Circle

My comments (limited to 175 words, of course) were:

I enjoy history, so when I read about Lincoln’s letters that the University of Rochester is posting on its website, my interest was piqued. In the letters, it is reported that Lincoln gave a proposed solution to slavery, in which the government would buy slaves from their owners at the price of $400, and in exchange states would establish a 20-year deadline for abolishing slavery. This would have cost as much money as the war cost for 87 days.

Initially, I thought Lincoln's solution was a great idea. Slave owners would get what they wanted as far as financial compensation for losing an “asset,” and the federal government would save money and lives.

The more I thought about it, the less I liked the idea. Abolishing slavery was the right thing to do. By extending the travesty 20 years, just to save money and lives would not have been the right thing to do. Sometimes it costs to do right: money, possessions, time, and even lives, but it is always right to do right now.

Just a thought... (No, I didn't include that in the paper I turned in!)

December 21, 1722

Romans 7:18
(18) For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

I am so thankful for this post is Jonathan Edwards' diary. It is short, just one line:

"Dec. 21, Friday. This day, and yesterday, I was exceedingly dull, dry and dead."

I read so much about the holiness of this man in his humility and following hard after God, that when I read this, I was at least encouraged in that there is hope. I do not see perfection as apprehensible in this life, but then I realize that Jonathan Edwards, and the Apostle Paul, both had the same struggles - to will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good, I find not.

This is not an excuse to continue being dull, dry and dead. The next day Edwards writes about how the Spirit quickened him that day and he had a great time with the Lord. I recognize that Jonathan Edwards and the Apostle Paul still had flesh, they both strove for holiness and an increase in their sanctification. So, let's work on getting better.

Just a thought...