Christian Living

[Doctor Strangelove]

I was doing some reading this weekend and found a few quotes about Christian living that really struck me and I thought I would share them.

"This life therefore is not righteousness, but growth in righteousness, not health, but healing, not being but becoming, not rest but exercise. We are not yet what we shall be, but we are growing toward it, the process is not yet finished, but it is going on, this is not the end, but it is the road. All does not yet gleam in glory, but all is being purified."
Martin Luther

"...you have to grasp that Christian virtue isn't about you - your happiness, your fulfillment, your self-realization, it's about God and God's kingdom..."
N. T. Wright

 

[miss-a]

Those are excellent. Thanks for sharing. It's so easy to get our eyes off the truth that it's not about us. It's about Jesus.

 

[blackribbon]

"...you have to grasp that Christian virtue isn't about you - your happiness, your fulfillment, your self-realization, it's about God and God's kingdom..."
N. T. Wright

excellent reminder to us all!

 

[live2dt]

Good quote from Luther. It is God and His kingdom that should be our goal in life as a Christian. I have to realize His finish line is all the matters. He is not finish with me until the day I die.

 

[dayhiker]

I really like Luther's quote.

This is the first quote of Wright that I disagree with. To me this is one of the reasons that God created us and why Jesus died for us. Seems to me when we are delivered from sin that we have a joy unspeakable and full of glory. Even the OT says the joy of the Lord is our strength. Jesus didn't die for God's happiness, Gods fulfillment, God's self-realization. God had all those things from the beginning. We are the ones that God is creating and saving and sanctifying to bring to the fullness of Christ. That isn't just the next world, I believe and its my testimony that is happening in me today. Honestly, those type statements sound self righteous and more heavenly minded that earthly good. When all these things are done in us that brings glory to God for He created something this beautiful in a lump of clay.

Well, that's how I see it anyways.

 

[Doctor Strangelove]

I think it is very practical to think more about God's kingdom and less than if I get the right "spiritual" formula I will be happy. I am a little more content now that I am not looking for happiness everywhere. The world does not revolve around me or around whatever I think might make me "happy" at the moment.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

I think that we were created for God's glory, not our own. HE created US not the other way around so whatever He created me for, that is what I hope to fulfill.

Our Pastor said something last week that was like this, he said "Maturity is an "ing". Meaning it is an ongoing process. He also periodically says "this life is a preparation for the next"

I tend to agree with both statements.

 

[dayhiker]

Well, I spend almost no time searching for what will make me happy. Happiness comes for me by being thankful for what God has given me, number one. The other things that make me happy is being with people. I get so excited to see Christ in people, to hear their story about how the Spirit of God is working in their life. Just last weekend I was talking with a Jewish lady. Doesn't know Christ at all. But she shared how God answered many questions she had one year. She had tears as she is telling me this and she hadn't thought about that time in years. I find that so meaningful.

I do look forward to when Jesus will take me to heaven. Its going to be so glorious. But to me the best way to be read for heaven is to love people here. Then when I get to heaven, I'll just continue on loving God's children.

Since God is a father, I think this makes Him extremely happy to see his children loving each other, just as I know I love it when by boys show who much they care for each other.

 

[Doctor Strangelove]

Being thankful is important. I don't believe you can find happiness without being thankful.

 

[dayhiker]

I'd have to agree with that Doc.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

I go with what Jesus said the two greatest commandments were

To love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and spirit and

To love your neighbor as yourself.

So love God and love people just like dayhiker said.

 

[Jupiter Drops]

Thanks for sharing. God bless.

 

[Jenster]

I agree with both quotes, though I don't always find it easy to live like I believe it. As for the Wright quote, my take would be that our happiness, fulfillment and self-realization are the byproducts of seeking to glorify God and further His kingdom.

It's paradoxical: If we seek our own happiness, we will end up unfulfilled; but if we seek His kingdom then fulfillment and more will be ours.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

I agree with both quotes, though I don't always find it easy to live like I believe it. As for the Wright quote, my take would be that our happiness, fulfillment and self-realization are the byproducts of seeking to glorify God and further His kingdom.

It's paradoxical: If we seek our own happiness, we will end up unfulfilled; but if we seek His kingdom then fulfillment and more will be ours.

paradoxical! I like it! that's a 50 cent word LOL But your statement is true and that's why we are told by Jesus to seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33

 

[ISeeWhat4U]

I was doing some reading this weekend and found a few quotes about Christian living that really struck me and I thought I would share them.

"This life therefore is not righteousness, but growth in righteousness, not health, but healing, not being but becoming, not rest but exercise. We are not yet what we shall be, but we are growing toward it, the process is not yet finished, but it is going on, this is not the end, but it is the road. All does not yet gleam in glory, but all is being purified."
Martin Luther

"...you have to grasp that Christian virtue isn't about you - your happiness, your fulfillment, your self-realization, it's about God and God's kingdom..."
N. T. Wright

Thank you for sharing....very strong & encouraging words ~

 

[blackribbon]

Alturism (a 50 cent word that I had to know for my psych nursing test today).


Altruism or selflessness is the principle or practice of concern for the welfare of others. It is a traditional virtue in many cultures and a core aspect of various religious traditions, though the concept of "others" toward whom concern should be directed can vary among cultures and religions. Altruism or selflessness is the opposite of selfishness.

Simply, it is when you meet a need in your life by serving someone else.

It is considered in psychology to be one of the highest and most adaptive forms of dealing with stress, trauma, and anxiety in our lives. (and they say the Bible isn't "scientific" enough?)

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

I think that might be a 75 cent word...at least

 

[dayhiker]

I have befriended a couple of SE Asian men during my life. Both of them would do any to help some, but then there were others they didn't like at all. This puzzled me till the 2nd one said with no feel of shame that that person had done nothing to help me, so I don't like him and I'll do nothing to help him. I've never heard an American state that view on how to treat people so blatantly before. But it reminded me of Jesus and Paul when he said you go good to your friends, the unbelievers do that. You are to do good to your enemies/those who dispitefully use you Paraphrase.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

It's all so simple really and yet we make it so hard. It's easy for me to say to myself "How would Jesus act?" and then try to emulate that action. But instead we are a tit for tat society and every man for himself, and you can't help anyone unless you help yourself first blah blah blah.

We are called to love the unlovable, and to help those that cannot help themselves and to forgive those that use and abuse us even when they aren't sorry and don't deserve it because Jesus already paid their penalty and ours on the cross. And yet most of the time we act like the guy that was forgiven a tremendous debt by the king who immediately went out and wanted revenge on a guy that owed him a small amount. It's like how it says as soon as we walk away from the mirror we forget what we look like (paraphrase).