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Wednesday, May 02, 2012
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Sunday, August 28, 2011
A Patriarch
Recently someone challenged me to describe, "A Patriarch." Here is my current thinking on this subject. Needless to say, I broke it down in 5 major categories of LIFE, MARRIAGE, FAMILY, WORK, CHURCH. I would love your ideas around this too.
1. A man who has a deep, intimate personal relationship with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Deut. 6; John 17)
2. A man who delights in and meditates on God’s Word day and night. (Psalm 1)
3. A man who abides in/remains in Christ and bears much fruit. (John 15)
4. A man who walks in and lives by the Spirit and does not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. (Galatians 5)
5. A man who understands that he is perpetually opposed daily by three enemies: the world, the sinful nature/flesh and devil. (1 John 2)
6. A man who is full of positive emotions like love, joy, peace, faith and hope. He resists negative emotions like anger, wrath, jealousy, and hate. (Galatians 5)
7. A man who cares for his body as a temple of the Holy Spirit through proper diet, exercise and rest. (1 Cor.6)
MARRIAGE:
8. A man, who loves, serves and leads his wife, as Christ loves the church. (Eph.5)
9. A man, who earns, gives, saves, invests and spends wealth wisely. (Proverbs)
FAMILY:
10. A man, who has taught, modeled and prayed for his family and enjoys great relationships with his children and grandchildren. (Deut.6)
11. A man who honors his father and mother and cares for them all the way to the end. (Eph.6)
12. A man who watches over his extended family; sisters, brothers, nieces and nephews. (1 Timothy 3 & 5)
WORK:
13. A man who knows his work is a gift from God and that he serves the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3)
CHURCH:
14. A man who knows and participates with Christ as He builds His Church. (Eph.5)
15. A man who mentors and invests in the next generation behind him. (2 Tim.2)
16. A man who enjoys deep, open, honest and safe friendships. (Prov.17.17)
17. A man who has determined, by the grace of God, to finish his race well, strong and with joy. (John 17, 2 Tim.4)
I want to be this kind of man. You?
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
1 Cor.13 Love Contrasted To Sin
I have always been impressed with the “Love Chapter” in 1 Corinthians 13. I recently did an exercise that brought these truths into sharper focus. I simply contrasted the characteristics of LOVE and the opposite, SIN.
| LOVE is… | SIN is… |
| Patient | Impatient |
| Kind | Unkind |
| Does not envy | Envies |
| Does not boast | Boasts |
| Not proud | Proud |
| Not rude | Rude |
| Not self-seeking | Self-seeking |
| Not easily angered | Easily angered |
| Keeps no record of wrongs | Keeps record of wrongs |
| Does not delight in evil | Delights in evil |
| Rejoices with the truth | Rejoices with lies |
| Always protects | Never protects |
| Always trusts | Never trusts |
| Always hopes | Never hopes |
| Always perseveres | Never perseveres |
| Never fails | Always fails |
As I studied these two lists, I saw how SIN in me often wants to act and behave like the right hand column. It is not me, but SIN in me. This “beast” must always and only be controlled by the Holy Spirit. How are you doing these days? Are you allowing the LOVE of Christ and the Spirit flow in and out of you? Or are you being controlled more by SIN and your sinful nature? It is our choice. Choose LOVE. Choose LIFE.
