When I was a young person, I would have run wild if not for an innate fear of my parents. As a child, I was afraid of getting caught and then being punished. Later I feared that I would disappoint them or not meet their expectations. As an adult, I am still prone and certainly capable of being selfish, running wild, and even destroying the good around me. Since I no longer fear my parents, what is it that keeps me from running amuck?
Each day I am deciding what I will do, say, and think. Will I tell the truth or fudge on facts so that I do not look bad? Will I give thanks for what I have or covet other people’s stuff, abilities, or position? Will I keep my vows to my wife or will I seek love and affirmation elsewhere? Will I slander, hate, steal, lust, have outbursts of anger, or abuse substances? I am capable of going down any of these paths and in the process destroy my life and those around me. What causes me to choose that which is right?
Those times that I choose the right path, it is not because I am a naturally good person or have had a proper upbringing and a religious orientation. I know plenty of good, proper, religious people who are making poor decisions and thus destroying their lives. No, there is something else at work. Rather than an external threat of punishment, I am to live by the recalibration of my mind toward God’s ways.
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a modern technological marvel. By means of a small device that sends microwave signals to satellites, I can know exactly where I am, the speed and direction of my travel, and where my destination lies. It is constantly locating, positioning, and then in a nano-second, recalculating my location and direction. Amazing! I do not have to understand the science behind a GPS device in order to know my physical location and what my direction should be. I just have to turn it on and - bingo - there I am!
Even though I do not understand the mystery of the Spirit, I can know my location and what my direction should be. Sometimes when I have made wrong, destructive decisions, it has been because I forgot where I stand. I need to remember that I stand as a sinner redeemed by the grace of God and not as an accomplished, self-made man who makes demands or has rights. If I am not too proud to listen to the Spirit, he will remind me of where I stand and where I should be headed.
Many voices offer me advice, but the surest direction comes from Scripture. It recalibrates my values and convictions and then points me toward a narrow way that leads to good choices and life. Destructive choices can be avoided, if I will heed the instructions of Scripture.
The Apostle Paul exhorts the Romans, and us, to be transformed by the renewing of the mind (12:2). Choices that lead to life come through remembering who we are and by recalibrating our attitudes and actions. Left to myself, I will forget who I actually am and misjudge my steps. So, if I will daily open the Scriptures and promptly respond to the promptings of the Spirit, God will relentlessly and faithfully recalibrate my mind toward that which is the good and perfect way of God. Amazing!
So, the real question is how do you approach the Bible in your life or as a discipline? How do you choose what to read, etc?
True … but you have got to get there first. Faithfulness to go to the Scriptures and the decision to listen to Spirit must be there. I think this is 70% of the battle. Approach is important but not the biggest hurdle.
My question springs from the following statement: “Those times that I choose the right path, it is not because I am a naturally good person or have had a proper upbringing and a religious orientation. [...] No, there is something else at work. Rather than an external threat of punishment, I am to live by the recalibration of my mind toward God’s ways.”
But what about those who have not experienced a resurrected life with Christ (those who have the impetus to recalibrate their minds)? Many of these “noble pagans” love their spouses, treat their neighbor well, etc.; therefore, shouldn’t we speak of the imago Dei?
Maybe I should have said – “it is not necessarily because I am a naturally good person … ” I would never negate the ability of the non-Christian to love or do the right thing. The point I intended to make is that we cannot count on human nature, upbringing, or religion as reason or motivation for doing what is right. We need something more.
Ben, thanks for the chance to clarify!
Ahhh, Stroope thoughts anytime I want them! Life is good….=)
This recalibration would be what St. Paul calls the “renewing of the mind” (Rom 12. 2). I understand this not as a refreshing, such as the renewal that we might feel after a rest, but a recreation. And we are the created, not the creator.