A Master in Heaven
Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that
you also have a Master in heaven. Colossians 4:1
I am thankful for God, my Master in heaven. He is above all, sovereign, and the most loving, kind, right, fair, just, faithful, forgiving (and more!) Master ever.
(Explanation behind focussing on the names/titles/descriptions.)
In that day the LORD Almighty will be a glorious crown, a beautiful wreath for the remnant of his people. He will be a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, a source of strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate. Isaiah 28:5-6"The Lord is our crown, our treasure, our everything... Jesus came at Christmas, took one look at our shabby lives, and decided to put a crown on our heads, His crown, His own royal nature... Jesus is our treasure, but Jesus the Treasure turns right around and makes us His Treasure. He has a royal crown, He’s the King of Kings as you’ll hear, but Jesus turns around and crowns us with His royalty, beauty, and holiness." Pastor Ben Squires blog (which I randomly came as I researched this verse.)
Should we just give up and say that we will always have these intense temptations, these fiery darts from the enemy, and at timse we will have victory over them and at other times we will give in to them? Many people do just that. They are tired of fighting, tired of resolving to stop only to fall again, tired of the vicious cycle. But friend, this does not have to continue. Scripture makes a declarative statement:
Walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. Galatians 5:16
The above passage states that there is a way to keep from fulfilling the lusts of the flesh. It is to walk by the Spirit. It is to be led by the Spirit. It to walk with the Spirit. So, our "fight" is not so much with not overeating, or not being greedy, selfish or divisive, it is with maintaining our walk with the Lord. For if we live by the Spirit, are led by the Spirit, and walk with the Spirit, the promise of Scripture is that we
will not gratify our flesh. We will not overeat. We will not be sexually immoral, etc. There is our answer! TLT workbook pg 87-88
I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:5
Truly stopping habits of overeating requires ongoing intimacy with God. TLT workbook pg101
While I am still tempted and occassionaly fail, the pattern of my life now is walking in obedience to the Lord in this matter. I pray that He will do a complete work in me and I will bring glory to His name because of His grace working in me. TLT workbook pg110
Friend, you know that at Jesus' birth He was immediately placed into a manger, right? But do you know what a manger is? It is that which held the animal's food. Jesus Christ was placed into a feeding trough! His birth makes a statement that He came to be fed upon. TLT workbook pg 99
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness, and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:5-8
1. We start with faith in Jesus Christ.
2. Goodness is our faith moving into action, living a life pleasing to the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. Next we move to a deeper understanding of God and His Word…knowledge. (which I'm working on applying more effectively lately with the "lining the walls of my mind" posts)
4. From this knowledge we move to self-control. It appears to be a key step towards self-control.
5. From self-control we move into needing to persevere. This suggests to me that we will all slip and stumble but the key is to keep on keeping on!
6. From perseverance we will begin to show the fruit of godliness. My NIV notes state:
Godliness: a genuine reverance toward God that governs one's attitude toward every aspect of life.
What is so interesting is what comes next! Brotherly kindness and then love! Interesting! The goal appears to be loving others, setting others interests above our own! I was not expecting that. I thought godliness would be the end goal in and of itself. But if I think about this, we are right back to square one (mature & equipped this time) to put our faith in action more effectively.
Applying this to my struggle with overeating… I see my end goal should not be simply self-control and perseverance (which have been my current goals) but add to that godliness and brotherly kindness and love… Become OTHER centered rather than SELF centered.
What could this look like when applying to eating…
* caring more about conversation and connecting in social settings and less about eating. (THIS is what I'm feeling convicted about applying this week)
* phoning a friend or writing a note to a friend at times when I am feeling tempted to eat or bored etc.
* begin to make more sacrifices to give to the poor and needy, those who are REALLY hungry.
Overall it means I want to love my brother as Christ first loved me (1 John 4:19). This is a good challenge! Loving with actions and truth (1 John 3:18).
And as I begin to possess these qualities of faith, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love in INCREASING measure, I will be EFFECTIVE and PRODUCTIVE in my knowledge of Christ.
The most important lesson I think God is wanting to teach me this week, as I struggle this Christmas with eating in social situations, is that I need to focus on loving others~being OTHER centered. I need to bring this to the Lord in prayer constantly and capture each thought making it obedient to Christ as I struggle to be loving and kind and OTHER centered. And if I take this lesson to heart I am sure that I will not struggle with greed for food, because I will be focussed on the Lord and others, not letting the spotlight rest on my wants and greedy/gluttonous desires. This is my prayer.
Merry Christmas everyone! I pray that we all have wonderful times with family and friends and celebrating the Lord's birth:-)
A forgiving God.
They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them. Nehemiah 9:17
O LORD our God, you answered them; you were to Israel a forgiving God, though you punished their misdeeds. Psalm 99:8
The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; Daniel 9:9
I am exceedingly thankful that God continues forgiving me as I call out to Him. I know that I, like Israel, often do things *my* way and rebel against His ways.
Thanks Lord for Your forgiveness, grace, compassion, patience and abounding love. Amen.
(Names/titles/descriptions of God listed in the appendix of "Knowing and Doing the Will of God" by Henry Blackaby.)
Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? Prov. 6:27
You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. Psalm 90:8
For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them. Matthew 13:15
but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. James 1:14-15
If you find honey, eat just enough—too much of it, and you will vomit. Proverbs 25:16
I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it. Psalm 81:10
Taste and see that the LORD is good; Psalm 34:8
My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. Psalm 63:5
When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty. Jeremiah 15:16
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8
Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control. Proverbs 25:28
With lack of self-control and vigilance (stopping when I'm satisfied and practicing moderation) my overeating actually allows the enemy an opening in the wall, similar idea as the foothold imagery.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
