Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Description of Daniel
In Daniel 5 the Queen of Babylon gives her husband a description of Daniel:
What brings about the observation that Daniel has "an extraordinary spirit?" It has to be the calmness and quietness of his heart that reflects in his actions and reactions to people. His faith runs so deep that he is quietly rooted and grounded in love that overwhelms the people that he encounters.
How often do people reflect about us and says, "they have an extraordinary spirit?" Or are we just like everyone else - ordinary?
- He has a spirit of the holy gods
- Illumination
- Insight
- Wisdom like the wisdom of Gods
- Extraordinary spirit
- Knowledge
- Interpretation of dreams
- Explanations of enigmas (something hard to understand or explain)
- Solving of difficult problems
What brings about the observation that Daniel has "an extraordinary spirit?" It has to be the calmness and quietness of his heart that reflects in his actions and reactions to people. His faith runs so deep that he is quietly rooted and grounded in love that overwhelms the people that he encounters.
How often do people reflect about us and says, "they have an extraordinary spirit?" Or are we just like everyone else - ordinary?
Friday, December 05, 2008
The Spirit is Willing But . . .
I am studying Dallas Willard's "The Great Omission" - he makes a very powerful statement
The body can acquire a "life of its own" - tendencies to behave without regard to our concious intentions. In our fallen world this life is prepossessed by evil, so that we do not have to think to do what is wrong, but we must think and plan and practice - and receive grace - if we are to succeed in doing what is right.
Romans 12:2 says, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
Paul's words to the Corinthians, "We have the mind of Christ." (1 Cor. 2:16).
Paul says to Colassae, "Set your mind on the things above, not on the things on the earth." (Col 3:2).
The "setting your mind" is one of the most critical elements to a godly walk. We have to make an active determination to think about the things in heaven. It is the key to walking with the Lord Jesus Christ in holiness.
The body can acquire a "life of its own" - tendencies to behave without regard to our concious intentions. In our fallen world this life is prepossessed by evil, so that we do not have to think to do what is wrong, but we must think and plan and practice - and receive grace - if we are to succeed in doing what is right.
Romans 12:2 says, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
Paul's words to the Corinthians, "We have the mind of Christ." (1 Cor. 2:16).
Paul says to Colassae, "Set your mind on the things above, not on the things on the earth." (Col 3:2).
The "setting your mind" is one of the most critical elements to a godly walk. We have to make an active determination to think about the things in heaven. It is the key to walking with the Lord Jesus Christ in holiness.
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