As a student of theology, your definition of sanctification is very interesting. I place sanctification as a work of grace within the Ordo Salutis. However, your consideration is in accord with the Apostle Paul’s writing to “sanctify yourself daily.” I appreciate the insight you give. Very appropriate and worthy of contemplation. The application of this in society falls back upon the work of the Church. Sadly, the church has been infiltrated by our enemy with a form of religion that denies power of God and of salvation.
I read this yesterday! It stirred up a lot of good thoughts. I started typing them out and then my 3 year old demanded my attention 😂. I wish I could remember all I wanted to say. But thank you for writing it. Your thoughts on the need for family to function more as a unit were very good… I think that’s what we are after with our kids… a sense that we are a team, working together and for eachother… we want to instill that into our son and soon to be born daughter.
I did not expect you to start talking about Comer, and I was surprised by your conclusions on his book (in a good way).
I remember reading that book and going “this sounds nice… but it’s kind of unattainable, the ONLY way to get anything significant done is through hurry.” I shared some of the some thinking patterns as you.
Then over the next few years God used situations in my life to break me of that mentality. He still is. It’s been hard to let go… but I’m realizing that so much of the way we think about work is shaped by cultural elements that are not Jesus.
I still work hard. I still do my best. But I can’t control the outputs, only the inputs. I have to trust that Jesus finds my work significant even if it doesn’t always feel like others do. I’ve got to do it as worship to Him. And then I need to let go, stop striving, play hide and seek with my son, and pray while I do the dishes.
A few years ago a young church planter friend told me that I was the busiest guy he knew. He said it with awe and respect in his voice… but I immediately recoiled from it internally because the instant he said it my mind went to this statement: “But if that’s true… why am I still not happy?”
The same year, a pastor I really looked up to was praying for me and called me “one of the hardest working and productive men he knew”
Again… my mind went to “But… why am I not satisfied?”
For me I realized after way too long that I was trying to find satisfaction in living For God rather than With Him. Living with him is still productive, but it requires slowing down… something I am still learning.
As a student of theology, your definition of sanctification is very interesting. I place sanctification as a work of grace within the Ordo Salutis. However, your consideration is in accord with the Apostle Paul’s writing to “sanctify yourself daily.” I appreciate the insight you give. Very appropriate and worthy of contemplation. The application of this in society falls back upon the work of the Church. Sadly, the church has been infiltrated by our enemy with a form of religion that denies power of God and of salvation.
He’s very busy. Much of what he does, I think, is on autopilot. The system he instituted is always working.
I read this yesterday! It stirred up a lot of good thoughts. I started typing them out and then my 3 year old demanded my attention 😂. I wish I could remember all I wanted to say. But thank you for writing it. Your thoughts on the need for family to function more as a unit were very good… I think that’s what we are after with our kids… a sense that we are a team, working together and for eachother… we want to instill that into our son and soon to be born daughter.
I did not expect you to start talking about Comer, and I was surprised by your conclusions on his book (in a good way).
I remember reading that book and going “this sounds nice… but it’s kind of unattainable, the ONLY way to get anything significant done is through hurry.” I shared some of the some thinking patterns as you.
Then over the next few years God used situations in my life to break me of that mentality. He still is. It’s been hard to let go… but I’m realizing that so much of the way we think about work is shaped by cultural elements that are not Jesus.
I still work hard. I still do my best. But I can’t control the outputs, only the inputs. I have to trust that Jesus finds my work significant even if it doesn’t always feel like others do. I’ve got to do it as worship to Him. And then I need to let go, stop striving, play hide and seek with my son, and pray while I do the dishes.
Some people never learn that. They actually live with guilt over not being supremely busy.
A few years ago a young church planter friend told me that I was the busiest guy he knew. He said it with awe and respect in his voice… but I immediately recoiled from it internally because the instant he said it my mind went to this statement: “But if that’s true… why am I still not happy?”
The same year, a pastor I really looked up to was praying for me and called me “one of the hardest working and productive men he knew”
Again… my mind went to “But… why am I not satisfied?”
For me I realized after way too long that I was trying to find satisfaction in living For God rather than With Him. Living with him is still productive, but it requires slowing down… something I am still learning.
Bring over doing.
Being over doing. (I didn’t have glasses on😆)
I liked it because I knew what you meant. 😏
Have you read “From Strength to Strength” by Arthur Brooks?
I haven’t. Maybe I will check it out.
Excited to read this.
I wrote this a few months ago. There are some changes I would make in it. I would explain what I mean by formation. Maybe that’s a bridge essay.