To joey down under,
You wrote this:
You may be correct in theory. But it is important to consider the Bible as a whole. Some people concentrate on small parts of the Bible and end up with a distortion. However, my understanding is that it is the work of the Holy Spirit, rather than reading the Bible, which would cause a persons mind to be renewed. If only because I have been told several times that you cannot truly understand the Bible unless it is interpreted and made significant for you by the Holy Spirit.
I would prefer not to answer that question directly. If I give an example, you could quite rightly say that there are many other examples that I could have suggested. I would prefer to leave it up to God to decide how to respond to me. I just hope that if God should respond to me, I would recognise it for what it is.
I have to say that I have no recognition of God acting on me through other people.
I appreciate that the Bible says that eternal life is on offer. It is just that I do not regard eternal life of as any consequence to me. There were other aspects of the total package that I was more interested in, like the opportunity to serve God in whatever way God asked me to serve. It may be because I lack spiritual life that I lack interest in eternal life.
I did have faith. There is no doubt that I was a believer. Whether or not I was saved, I do not know partly because I have no awareness of spiritual life.
Thank you.
Of course I am not rejoicing in the Lord. I can never do anything in the Lord, because I do not know the Lord. However, in principle I agree with you; I am not totally obeying the commandments implied by the Bible.
You are right. I do not see my life having meaning. However, I understand what you are saying, that perhaps other people might say that my life has meaning. But the people who might say that my life has meaning, are those who only know me in a superficial way. Those who know me better do recognise that my life lacks meaning. Those who know me very well are even more definite that my life lacks meaning.
Christians maybe. I do not class myself as a Christian. I know that you may think otherwise, but ultimately it would be what God thinks that would really matter.
Maybe it is because I am tired after a busy week, but I am not able to give any examples just now. There are certainly people that I have helped in different ways. But I cannot think of any who were blessed that nobody else could have helped. I probably would have recognised that if it had happened, because I have always been on the lookout for such a situation.
The only way in which I recognise that I might be the one person who could do it, is with regard to my lack of emotions, lack of spiritual awareness and apparent lack of any feedback from God when I was a believer. I know that I am not unique in that situation, but there are not all that many of us around. What I need to do is to find out just how to use that unusual combination in the best way. Looking at it from a Christian point of view, it could be that God might want me to use my unusual talent and experience in some special task that most Christians could never imagine. If so, it might be completely counter-productive for me to become a believer again just now. However, if God does have such a plan for me, I would appreciate a nudge from God in the right direction.
I could not quite see the relevance of the passage in Hebrews, to what you had written.
You wrote this:
That is another reason why it is so important to read the Bible regularly and carefully. If christians do that their mind will be renewed, they will remember the underlying commands that we are to follow. romans 12:2/
You may be correct in theory. But it is important to consider the Bible as a whole. Some people concentrate on small parts of the Bible and end up with a distortion. However, my understanding is that it is the work of the Holy Spirit, rather than reading the Bible, which would cause a persons mind to be renewed. If only because I have been told several times that you cannot truly understand the Bible unless it is interpreted and made significant for you by the Holy Spirit.
What kind of response do you think would register as a direct intervention or communication to you as coming from God Himself not mere chance?
I would prefer not to answer that question directly. If I give an example, you could quite rightly say that there are many other examples that I could have suggested. I would prefer to leave it up to God to decide how to respond to me. I just hope that if God should respond to me, I would recognise it for what it is.
God could be giving you love by sending loving people to you, God could be showing you His kindness through other people being kind to you, God could be correcting you by people who know you well and how to communicate to you on your own level. You have to recognise that as being from Him not mere coincidence though.
I have to say that I have no recognition of God acting on me through other people.
If you have spiritual life - that only comes from faith in Christ/God Himself -that means an eternal life as well. You must have faith to receive spiritual/eternal life.
I appreciate that the Bible says that eternal life is on offer. It is just that I do not regard eternal life of as any consequence to me. There were other aspects of the total package that I was more interested in, like the opportunity to serve God in whatever way God asked me to serve. It may be because I lack spiritual life that I lack interest in eternal life.
I did have faith. There is no doubt that I was a believer. Whether or not I was saved, I do not know partly because I have no awareness of spiritual life.
You are telling the truth, I respect your honesty. You definitely deserve the same as well. I would not be spending a lot of time in thinking what I should say as well as prayer for you otherwise.
Thank you.
Take a step back and say "if I compare how I am thinking/acting with what God commands with the Bible, am I obeying or disobeying His commandment/s? The Bible says to rejoice in the Lord always, am I, was I doing that? "
Of course I am not rejoicing in the Lord. I can never do anything in the Lord, because I do not know the Lord. However, in principle I agree with you; I am not totally obeying the commandments implied by the Bible.
I don't expect that supporting other people will change your lack of experience either. What you should do is learn to see things through a different perspective. Does your life have meaning? Any one looking at how your life blesses others immediately can see that it most definitely does!!!! You however don't seem to be able to see that at the moment.
You are right. I do not see my life having meaning. However, I understand what you are saying, that perhaps other people might say that my life has meaning. But the people who might say that my life has meaning, are those who only know me in a superficial way. Those who know me better do recognise that my life lacks meaning. Those who know me very well are even more definite that my life lacks meaning.
Yes you should be trying to use your experiences the best way possible. All christians are supposed to live as servants of God as well living like sons and daughter of God.
Christians maybe. I do not class myself as a Christian. I know that you may think otherwise, but ultimately it would be what God thinks that would really matter.
I think it is time for you to get out a long list and write down what has happened in your life, what you have learned, how that lesson you learned changed you, how that lesson you learned blessed someone who came your way that no-one else could have helped them with that problem. That seems to be your strongest area. And then share a few personal examples with me. Doesn't have to be long, but do it for your own sake.
...
Now I realise an atheist would say my helping another person about to live in a very similar situation with my knowledge of 1. what they experienced 2. what good will come from their own personal understanding/knowledge when working with those people was mere chance. A christian would say "wow, you were put there by God to learn those lessons". It really does depend on your worldview. Are you willing to carefully examine your life and see how your struggles have blessed others? hebrews 12:3-13/
Maybe it is because I am tired after a busy week, but I am not able to give any examples just now. There are certainly people that I have helped in different ways. But I cannot think of any who were blessed that nobody else could have helped. I probably would have recognised that if it had happened, because I have always been on the lookout for such a situation.
The only way in which I recognise that I might be the one person who could do it, is with regard to my lack of emotions, lack of spiritual awareness and apparent lack of any feedback from God when I was a believer. I know that I am not unique in that situation, but there are not all that many of us around. What I need to do is to find out just how to use that unusual combination in the best way. Looking at it from a Christian point of view, it could be that God might want me to use my unusual talent and experience in some special task that most Christians could never imagine. If so, it might be completely counter-productive for me to become a believer again just now. However, if God does have such a plan for me, I would appreciate a nudge from God in the right direction.
I could not quite see the relevance of the passage in Hebrews, to what you had written.
Upvote
0