The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. ~ James 3:17
1. What BLESSED you most this lesson?
2. What CHALLENGED you most and how do you intend to apply it (with prayer and the help of the Holy Spirit)?
3. Prayer requests and other comments.
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hello :)
i was a bit behind, and am still 1 day behind, but i finished week 4 today, and wanted to post while my thoughts are still fresh.
1. what blessed you most this lesson?
- "Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." 1 john 3:2-3
this verse is so clear: it is our hope in God and in Christ's coming that is God's means of purifying us to make us more like Himself. it is His clear and perfect promise that when we hope in Him, He will transform us to be more like Him.
2. what challenged you most and how do you intend to apply it?
- i'm really grateful for how hunt pointed out that these godly characteristics not only have opposites, but perversions! it's easy to tell yourself to be pure, and not impure, but who thinks of guarding themselves from being puritanical? it was very rebuking because whenever they asked us to think of an experience when we've observed a perversion, i guiltily had to write, "me, when i..." :(
specifically, i was challenged by how a perversion of fruitfulness is being fruit obsessed. i often pat myself on the back if i read and pray x amount of hours a day, share the gospel __ many times a week, etc, and experience a sinful sense of guilt and self loathing when i don't achieve these standards. i think i shared this a couple of weeks ago, but again, i really pray that i will stop seeing these things as the ends, and remember that they are the means of bearing fruit.
i honestly don't know what i can practically *do* to help this, especially as it seems like it's the *doing* that's the problem, but i do intend to pray about this more specifically and consistently.
3. prayer requests and other comments
for us (me) to be faithful
1. What BLESSED you most this lesson?
This lesson has been very insightful because it lists several characteristics of Christ. It is amazing to know that if we lived during Christ's time and observed Him, that he would exhibit these exact traits to perfection. What man he must have been! James 3:17 inspires me to yearn for these fruits of the spirit so that I may may understand Him more intimately and to get that much closer to His likeness.
2. What CHALLENGED you most and how do you intend to apply it (with prayer and the help of the Holy Spirit)?
What challenged me the most is realizing how many of these traits I was completely DEVOID of. I am not gentle, nor entreatable, and I show no mercy to anyone. I think I have a Gladiator complex. But I know that God has infinite grace and if I continue to pray for it and seek Him, He - and ONLY He can do this - will work within me to conform to His image.
3. Prayer requests and other comments.
I did not post last week mainly because I was feeling discouraged and fell in that state where I felt like doing nothing but wallow in self pity. Please pray that I become more steadfast with my faith in the Lor
1. What BLESSED you most this lesson?
I really like that we are starting to get deeper into the mind of Christ. Seeing and focusing on each characteristic lets me see just how perfect Christ is, and how depraved I am. Although this seems like it should be a challenge, I’m putting in the blessed category. Despite my weakness and inability to do anything, Christ, who is perfectly pure, peaceful, gently, entreatable, merciful, fruitful, steadfast, and honest, still loves me. In church this week, the talk of fellowship came up…and…wow! God in his goodness allows sinners such as us to come together once a week and remember our Lord, in doing so, we have fellowship with Him. This reminds me of the story (sorry, I can’t remember where it’s from right now) where the rich master tells his servants to go pick up all the beggars from the streets to eat at his table. Each Sunday, we-those useless beggars—are allowed to be near our Savior.
2. What CHALLENGED you most and how do you intend to apply it (with prayer and the help of the Holy Spirit)?
I think two things challenged me this wk.
1. The part about knowing scripture—I have to admit, the last time I really tried to memorize anything was for Sunday school years ago, and only because we would get a prize.
2. “My humanistically-trained mind wanted to work hard to achieve the virtues” This brought back memories of when I really thought that I could do something good enough for God. I remember praying something like…oh please help me do something that is worthy of you. Thankfully, God has taught me that no matter what I do, it will never be worthy—thus teaching me to be humble.
I am going to attempt to try to memorize scripture…but I hesitate saying that, because it sounds so good but I’m afraid that I’ll forget.
3. Prayer requests and other comments.
It seems lame to talk about my midterms each wk…but sadly that is pretty much the biggest thing going on right now. I’m done after this wk for a month, so please pray for continued diligence. And, that I may allow the Lord to continue to grow me.
Oh…and…I’m surprised to find that my posts are encouraging. It feels as if I’m always lacking spiritually myself. Praise God that yet again, though our infirmities, He can be glorified.
1. What BLESSED you most this lesson?
To know that God's word is fully sufficient to teach us how to respond to sin when we are tempted by it! Recalling how Jesus did not succumb to Satan's temptations in the wilderness by responding to them with the Word of God revealed just how sufficient it truly is. All Christ Himself needed was to use the Word to defeat temptation! How awesome is that? Praise God that this study is slowly, yet surely, helping and challenging me [us] to store His word in my heart, to dwell on His Word with my mind, and to call on it when we need itn times of trial.
2. What CHALLENGED you most and how do you intend to apply it?
In reading the section on purity (Day 2), it was especially challenging to read the section titled, "Jesus is the standard." Essential, but I so often overlook the fact - Jesus is the standard! It is so easy to think, "If I only would restrain myself from A", or, "If I stop myself from doing B": however, in thinking so, the standard of godly virtues is no longer held in Christ, but in my own sinful, shortfalling self. I pray that He would grant me to "fix my eyes" on Him even more intently, not seeking growth through my own powers, but rather allowing Him fully into my life and discipline, so that He would rightly and solely be "the author and perfecter of faith" (Heb 12:2).
3. Prayer requests and other comments.
Please pray that I would give my mind over to MORE of His word, to have it be MORE saturated with it, and to call on it and dwell on it MORE than I do on sin.
Hey guys, Some of your comments have made me think this morning.. so I wanted to comment on your comments!
"i honestly don't know what i can practically *do* to help this, especially as it seems like it's the *doing* that's the problem" - Sara
You are right, you can't DO anything - except pray for His transforming power! I am realizing through this study that it's so little to do with DOING and it's everything to do with BEING. Christ WAS and IS. He IS the epitome of perfection. As we continue to seek Him, we are being changed from day to day. How amazing!!!
"I did not post last week mainly because I was feeling discouraged and fell in that state where I felt like doing nothing but wallow in self pity." - Eugene
Hmmmm, sounds familiar! I believe that while doing this study we will all be attacked. Last week I witnessed God's amazing Faithfulness - He took care of the BSF lecture, He brought friends to help me clean the house, He canceled a few flights to buy me rest, and He gave me joy midst chaotic circumstances - and then, I suddenly felt despondent and discouraged. What's that about?? I am praying for each of you, especially you, my brother, for your spiritual walk with Christ. I see more than anybody, how Christ is working in your life. Fight these feelings of self-pity and the roller coaster of spiritual earnestness with the sword of the Spirit - His Word - and with prayer, regardless of how meager and awkward it seems. Thank the Lord, He is Faithful regardless!
"we-those useless beggars—are allowed to be near our Savior" - Estera
You are so right!! And not just Sunday, but EVERYDAY He calls us by name to draw near to Him. To recognize that we are the poor, the blind, the beggars who can never repay His kindness and generosity, is an immense blessing! and yes, you have been an encouragement to me, Estera! thank God for you!!
"Essential, but I so often overlook the fact - Jesus is the standard!" - Arthur
How convicting!! It's so easy to put other standards before us - what we hear in church, what we witness in the trends around us (even among Christians our standards fall so far short!), what we read in books, etc. Jesus is the only standard. That eliminates any temptation to glory in our self-righteousness! We always want to lower the standard in order to feel better about ourselves. But looking to Christ, not only makes us realize how much we need a Savior, it makes us appreciate more what a stretch it is to fill in the gap. He is All-Sufficient. Thanks for posting.
Eternity, Jules
1. What BLESSED you most this lesson?
It blessed me to read how the author responded to his humanistic worldview by committing to let God cleanse his mind. I loved that he desired more than anything to be saturated with God's way of thinking. Although I don't think I could do this, I can relate to this cleansing period. I've shared this with Sara SO many times, but in NC I did go thru a period where I really questioned my faith in God etc. I realized I was messed up in so many ways because I was like the double-minded man but pulled in a million different directions. I was addicted to Oprah's bookclub books (don't laugh) and barely picked up the Bible to blow the cobwebs off. I distinctly felt led to do away with all secular media and only read the Bible and good Christian literature for one month. That was 2001 - I've never looked back! Praise the Lord! I wish I could say I memorized several books of the Bible but I can say that the result was revolutionary in my thinking and life. If you are struggling with double-mindedness and doubt, I highly recommend fasting from all secular media (including TV) and see what happens when you saturate yourself with the Word. Talk about cleansing power!
2. What CHALLENGED you most and how do you intend to apply it (with prayer and the help of the Holy Spirit)?
Looking through the 8 characteristics of Christ, I DID see several areas I cringed at when I realized that I entertain the perversion of the Christlike virtue. I find these descriptions very helpful to get a closer look at the changes the Lord has made in my life, AND to pinpoint areas I know He will work on in the future!
3. Prayer requests and other comments.
I got hurt. I slipped and almost did the splits which is bad when you're well, and terrible when you are pregnant and your ligaments are messed up! I can hardly put pressure on it to walk - and anthony is leaving for 5 days tomorrow. What should I do??? I'm praying because so far I haven't found anyone who could stay with me and the kids are going to be with me. My back is aching too. I go to the doctor in the morning but there's not much he will be able to do. Just pray that my kids are helpful not demanding while anthony's gone!
Thanks
Jules
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