The Act, er, Journey of Sanctification

To the elect -

After the historical, overwhelmingly merciful act of salvation, that is, Jesus Christ's atoning work on the cross and the grace (free gift) to believe by faith that his death and resurrection alone are enough to pay for our sins and grant us salvation, God provided yet another gift. He said he would not leave us as orphans but would give us Himself, through the person and work of the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit's work is to not only call us and renew us to a living faith with God through Christ, that is, salvation, but it is also sanctification. We no longer are controlled by our original, sinful nature, sometimes called "the old nature," but instead now are a "new creation" in Christ by the indwelling of His Spirit.

The struggle I sometimes face in this all-out war of our original, sinful nature and the Spirit of Christ is that I focus on the visible and the internal.

• Visible: My 3 year old keeps asking me the same question, despite my same answer.
  
• Internal: My thoughts when I am cutoff in traffic on the way to work are not always Christ-like, dare I confess and easily "heard" by God.
  

These examples are easy to "see" by me. Yet, they are not the whole truth.

In an interview today, USA Track and Field’s chief executive, Doug Logan, said (of the recent USA track team's performance at the World Championships), “This is not a sport of breakthroughs. If you see week-to-week or month-to-month chopping of three seconds or four seconds, you ought to start asking questions. It’s a sport of progression." (from Alan Abrahamson's blog on universalsports.com)

[I include this quote because, 1) Track and field is one of my favorite sports; 2) It is a succinct sports analogy that describes our life in Christ, post-conversion. As a side note, I think God is gracious to use sports and other day-in, day-out examples to communicate His truths that are already expressed in the Bible.]

The truth is, God is at work in us both to will and to do his good pleasure. (Phil 2:13) Sanctification is both an act starting at regeneration and a journey, a progression, only completed when we are at home with Christ in heaven. Typically our life is a series of progressions with a few breakthroughs.

So to apply the truth of progressions, that Christ by His Spirit is continually at work in me, I need to periodically and soberly assess my character.

• Do I see a greater patience towards drivers cutting me off in traffic (what's my internal chatter)?
  
• Am I understanding that my 3 year old will not converse with me like my 21 year old and, hence, am I patiently repeating my instruction to her?

If so, I need to give thanks to God for working His character in me. Apart from him, I can do nothing (John 15:5), so, how can I boast (Rom. 3:27)?

--CFM

What we want as parents

"If we are prosperous, it will delight us to think that we are not acquiring wealth for those who will squander it on their lusts, but who will employ it for the glory of God when we are in dust. Or, if we are poor, it will cheer us to reflect that though we cannot leave you the riches of this world, we see you in possession of the favor of God, a portion which, after comforting you on earth, will enrich you through eternity. My dear children, if you are anxious to comfort the hearts of your parents, if you would fulfill our joy, if you would repay all our labor, anxiety, affection, if you would most effectually discharge all the obligations that you cannot deny you owe us, fear God and choose the ways of religion: this, this only will make us happy." Pg. 5

James, John Angell. The Christian Father's Present to His Children. Orlando: Northampton Press, 2008.

Where's My Anchor - A Review of "Marley & Me"

- Marley & Me: a real-life story, but not just a "dog lovers" movie -

If you've viewed the flick, you'll find:

• family values - a sound marriage, 3 children, living life together
  
• contrast of life between the married guy and the single "world traveler" guy
• perseverance with real life situations
  
• real life - infertility, miscarriage, multiple children, sleep deprivation, husband/wife disagreements, in-laws, job dissatisfaction, job change
  
• choices and consequences
  

All of the above, along with the main characters made for an entertaining movie, and, I admit that towards the end, my eyes filled with wet matter (aka tears). Afterward I conversed with my date, the lovely Catherine Miller, and told her that I was bothered by something in the movie.

At first I was unable to voice the lingering distraction, but the more I replayed the highlights of the film in my mind, I realized that the movie did not show a key to the reason why this family enjoyed life. I had questions:

• how did the wife stick to her choice to be a full-time mom when she apparently was a very successful career woman?
  
• what enabled her to get past her emotions which contributed to some spontaneous, serious, intense spats with her husband?
• how did the husband persevere with his wife through the infertility, sleep deprivation?
• what drove him to believe he could be successful by moving his family 1,000 miles away from the current home and job for a new location and job?
  

Finally, the lightbulb turned on for me: The husband and wife both operated from a foundation of faith and hope that: 1) it all would either turn out okay, or, 2) they would just continue with life and make the most of the situation. But the movie's director chose not to reveal their source of their hope and their understanding of how the world works.

True, not blind, faith must have an object to be faithful to. A camper must secure his or her tent with anchors to ensure that it's not washed away by a sudden downpour. A homeowner in Florida relies on roof anchors screwed into the dwelling to prevent the loss of head covering during a tropical storm or hurricane.

Hope is more than just a feeling. I think you would agree that feelings change more than the weather.

So what object then is to be my focus for faith? What or who does not change?

If you are a Christian, then you may have read (from the ESV, all bolded text mine):

• OBJECT: "...but God shows his love for us in that while were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8

• OBJECT: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:1

• TRUTH & HOPE: "...for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began..." - Titus 1:1-2

• ANCHOR: "Unless the Lord builds the house, those who labor build it in vain..." - Psalm 127: 1

--CFM