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pastor2022
Moderator
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 639
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 Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 5:30 am Post subject: Awakening to God |
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Awakening to God
And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time
to awake out of sleep . . . The night is far spent, the day is at hand.
Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness,
and let us put on the armor of light.
Romans 13:11,12
The heart can fully love God only when the mind is truly awake to Him. Contrary to much of popular spirituality, biblical spirituality celebrates the mind. The mind need not be "quieted" for the heart to assert itself. Indeed, since the heart follows the mind and our feelings flow from our thinking, the mind must be not only awake but truthfully informed about God if our heart is to have its proper response to Him. Authentic love for God requires accurate knowledge of God, and such knowledge will not come into our possession if our minds are not engaged.
Sad to say, however, many of us spend the greater part of our spiritual lives asleep. We don't make the effort to concentrate on the critical issues that confront our souls. Our minds are not actively engaged with respect to God. As far as all the most important things are concerned, we simply sleepwalk through life. Years are lost in darkness and dullness.
Yet all is not lost. If honesty compels us to admit that we've not been as alert as we ought to be, it is urgent that we wake up. And the biblical injunction to wake up presumes that we can decide to do so. The Light necessary for our spiritual enlightenment is already shining (John 8:12; 1 John 2:8). It must be our choice, however, to "awake out of sleep" (Romans 13:11). Without such a decision on our part, the Light will have little significant effect on us. The old saying that there are "none so blind as those who will not see" reflects an important biblical truth (John 9:39-41).
So if we wish our hearts to be aroused to a fervent love of God, then our minds must be awake and aware. If Christianity is what we're thinking about, there need be no conflict between love and knowledge. We must pay reverent attention to the truths by which God would stimulate our hearts. Since there is no being alive without being alert, it is time to shake off our stupor. |
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atoz
Emperor of the Solar System
Joined: 28 Jun 2007
Posts: 4189
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| Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 11:59 am Post subject: Re: Awakening to God |
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| pastor2022 wrote: |
....
Since there is no being alive without being alert, it is time to shake off our stupor. |
Excellent, P2022!
Wish I cd rewrite it!smile
In Hate for any words,
we are dead asleep even when alive & awake,
Luke 9:60, 1 Tim 5:6
and
doubly dead and doubly asleep when dead & asleep.
Jude 1:12,
In the Love that makes us
alive & awake even when dead & asleep,
John 11:25-26.
and
doubly alive & doubly awake when alive & awake,
2 Cor 12:9-10
atoz |
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wilber
Banned
Joined: 20 Dec 2007
Posts: 581
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| Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 3:16 pm Post subject: |
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Interesting post pastor. I'm trying to see it in a very practical way and I wonder how this reflects on the idea of 'stilling' the mind in God's presence, so that the 'busy-ness' of trivia in our minds can be replaced by God's will.
Can this be a way of becoming more alert to God's truth and his service or is this a danger that you would warn us against?
Any tips would be welcome
wilber
(got to go to sleep now but I'll try to be alert tomorrow  ) |
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pastor2022
Moderator
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 639
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| Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 7:32 am Post subject: |
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| wilber wrote: | Interesting post pastor. I'm trying to see it in a very practical way and I wonder how this reflects on the idea of 'stilling' the mind in God's presence, so that the 'busy-ness' of trivia in our minds can be replaced by God's will.
Can this be a way of becoming more alert to God's truth and his service or is this a danger that you would warn us against?
Any tips would be welcome
wilber
(got to go to sleep now but I'll try to be alert tomorrow ) |
Sorry I didn't get back to this yesterday but I spent the whole day ( a rarity with my schedule) with my beautiful wife!
The key to the practicality of this is found in this sentence of the post: "The heart can fully love God only when the mind is truly awake to Him." That is the concept I was addressing in being "alert." There is a subtle danger in our lives of being torn between our "feelings" towards God and our "intellect" about God. Both are good and necessary for us to be complete in the familial relationship that God intends. However, our inherent problem rests in that because we are sometimes such emotional creatures, we focus too much on the "feelings" of the relationship at the expense of our "intellect." In the verse you referenced, "Be still and know that I am God," the emphasis is on "knowing" and not "feeling."
On to the practical. It becomes an exercise of focus and attention of our mind. To "still" the mind is to shift and direct our focus from ourselves, our problems, our concerns, our plans, etc. to God. This is a conscious decision that we must make that takes effort and is not for the lazy nor the resolute. What I mean by this is, there is much in our lives and in the world that would seek to divert our focus (some very worthwhile, some not) from God and His will and purpose. We have to exert some effort to cease from the "efforts of life" to be with God to know Him.
What is the goal of "knowing" God? That is the crux of the matter is it not? Is it mere intellectual knowledge? Is it to make me "feel" better? The answer is to love God as He has and does love us through His Son, Jesus Christ thereby conforming us into His image. That is the goal, the end, the result of awakening to God. Deepening our relationship which deepens our love which deepens our commitment which deepens our service which deepens our relaltionship. God bless. |
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wilber
Banned
Joined: 20 Dec 2007
Posts: 581
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| Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 9:36 am Post subject: |
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Thank you pastor. That is extremely helpful to me. I'm also sure that part of God's love is for you and your beautiful wife to be able to share his love together from time to time.
God bless you both
Wilber |
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