Wednesday 9 October 2013

When wanting to be 'me' is compelling

Am I the only person out there who struggles with the old nature? Do you hear the words of a parent or other influential person, even though they might no longer be with us, cheer you on to even scores and 'get them before they get you'?

So often I tell young men and women that, even when they have decided they don't want to be theists there are two sound principles by which living, if they are accepted and embraced, is made wholesome and just.

The first of these is to be found in Matt 7.12//Lk 6.31: 'Do to others as you would have them do to you'.

The second of these is concerned with the way we judge others and again we turn to Matt 7.1//Lk6.37 where we find what becomes:

'Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged... Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.'

It is so easy to retreat back into the old nature when feeling threatened. So simple to justify yourself with the, 'Well they started it!' approach to judging behaviour. The reality is that when the going gets tough the weak get judging and lashing out and demanding and ...

Well I'm sure you know what I mean.

So here's a tip from a Bloke by the name of Paul from Romans 12.2:

'Don't copy the way the world lives but let God change you into someone new person by changing the way you think. If you do this then you will find you know the way God has planned for you to be and you'll find it is pleasing, fulfilling, good and perfect. So what are you waiting for?'

Well?

2 comments:

Phil said...

This is so much like the Buddhist concept of Annata (no-self).

Becoming less Self-ish leads to peace.

Vic Van Den Bergh said...

Yep -guess that fits with my thinking - not often I get one right but today might just buck the trend :-)

Thanks for comment,

V