May she ever wave
with pride and a symbol of the spirit of the American people.
This is going to be an
interesting time. I have never had a dog
quite like Wanda, so she is taking some getting used to – she likes to get
underfoot.
I think she is one place and I
move, only to find she is either in my way or the way I am turning and she
doesn’t move easily.
Blaze and she have had some
disagreements; we have an area we have cordoned off to put her in if need be, so
Blaze (and the cats) is not stressed all the time.
Carla and Teresa set up the area
next to the shed where she has room, and can go so she too isn’t stressed out –
and gives the others some reprieve.
Philippians 3:12-14 Not as though I had
already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may
apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ
Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not
myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things
which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are
before,
14 I press toward the mark
for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ
Jesus.
We know the story of Paul, his
high rank as a Pharisee, his persecution of the Church, his calling by Jesus
into His fold on the road to Damascus and the years of teaching and writing that
he did before his death.
In the earlier verses of this
chapter he once again talks of his background and how he has relinquished all
for Jesus.
Paul obviously regretted his
persecution of Christians. I often
wonder if he had those 0-dark-thirty moments where satan tried to take him down
for his past. For a while it is
possible, but I think he also had the Holy Spirit help him purge the element of
guilt from his heart: forgetting those things which are
behind
Paul had dealt with his sins of
the past and understood that Jesus had forgiven all. He talks of his history because the Jewish
people needed to understand that he wasn’t just Jewish, but he had been well
respected – a leader.
A Jewish leader who accepted
Christ.
It was important, particularly
for the Jews, for him to give his resume’.
He was a scholar, a leader in the Jewish religion he ticks off his
credentials so they understand what he says, he says with authority.
It is not much different than
when we are applying for a job. We want
to give our scholastic and training levels, we want to give our past employment
history so we can show we know what we are talking about and we know how to work
in that particular occupation.
He tells them what he did in the
past, is in the past. He forgets those
things in as much as it no longer grieves him; he has gone past it and focused
on his responsibility to God to preach the gospel of Christ. He has moved on and is now serving God in
preaching the gospel of Christ.
He is establishing his
authority, the reason they should listen to him. He is an expert when it comes to the things
of God.
Yet he tells them he is not
resting on his laurels, it is important to continue serving God with his eye
focused on service to Him. I press toward the mark for the prize of the
high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Paul gives several examples in
his discourses as well as the truth of Christ’s salvation.
He was a sinner, who persecuted
the Church, but was forgiven. Anyone, no
matter what they have done can be forgiven.
(Yes I know except for the sins against the Holy Spirit – but if a person
is truly seeking Christ, it is doubtful that sin was committed.)
He continued working for Christ
until he died. No one has achieved the
top, we all must continue serving and obeying God until he calls us home.
God used Paul; he used his
abilities; he used his education and service to the Jewish people.
God turned Paul’s passion to
persecute the Church to teaching the Church on how to serve God.
God didn’t make Paul a
superhero; God used the gifts he had given Paul for Paul to use in teaching the
Church. In praising and chastising the
Church so they could better serve Him.
From what I understand, Paul was
not a good speaker. His oratory lacked
from both his stature and his voice – however, he could write with
authority.
He knew the Scriptures and could
apply them to the Church. He could show
them where the Church had a new and different covenant with God than they did
when they were ‘just’ Jews.
God used Paul’s heart, his
passion, his ability and his knowledge to teach the Church what God needed to be
taught.
When we accepted Christ, He
changed our hearts. He changed our
relationship with Him.
He did not erase our memories
and infuse our minds with only what He wanted us to say. He uses us as He found us. He lifts the burden of sin from us.
But He also allows us to reach
people because of our past life before Christ.
We have been there, just as Paul had been there for the Jewish people
that he knew needed the explanation of who Christ is from a Biblical
perspective.
He knew of what he spoke.
One of the things most of us
hear as we tell others about Christ, is we haven’t been where they are, where
they have been.
In most ways that is very
true. We share the past of sin, but we
may not fully understand what they are going through.
We can show them the path out of
their sins, but sometimes it takes more than that – it takes having walked the
same path they have walked.
That, of course, is not to say
the Holy Spirit cannot work with us to lead them. God can use us to reach anyone.
However, people are usually more
receptive to those that share past experiences and/or those who they know and
trust that they understand - truly understand what they are going through.
When I was working as a
Certified Ombudsman at the Veterans Home, I talked with many troubled Vets. They were suffering from a myriad of
illnesses and many were suffering from the memories of war that were just now
surfacing from the depths of their minds.
While they were active, working
and playing, raising their children they didn’t have time for reflection and the
memories laid buried.
I could relate, to a degree, but
I had not been there – it didn’t keep me from representing them. However, as I talked with them it became
obvious, to me, that had I tried to counsel them – as many were charged to do –
I would not have the credibility of having experienced what they had
experienced.
Many of the counselors had not
been there. Many of the ministers had
not been there. But military Chaplains,
Bible studies conduct by veterans, who had been there, could be related to –
they shared that common bond.
Paul was uniquely qualified; but
so were the other Apostles, they all had strengths, backgrounds and a heart that
was willing to obey God and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Paul was able to relate with the
Jewish people on an intellectual basis, Peter was far more emotional and could
relate with the ‘working stiff’ easier.
Each had the common bond of
salvation, but each had different styles, and people related to them
differently.
Yet, both were extremely
effective. They loved Jesus, they
believed in His Words and they had a passion and heart to tell others.
No matter who we are, what our
history is, God has a use for us. He
just wants us to open our hearts to Him.
He wants us to serve Him using our gifts He has given us – and NOT worry
about what He hasn’t given us.
No matter what we have been, no
matter what we are now, no matter what we may be as we get older – God can use
us to bring others to Christ. We just
need to listen to Him with an open heart.
Later, Art :-)
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