Past Reflections

Matthew 25:40

I recently just read through all of the Gospels, and I honestly wished I had done so a lot sooner. I figure this will be a recurring pattern I'll continue for the rest of my life, because it draws me back to the character of Jesus and reminds me what His teaching truly meant whenever I start to forget or wander off the path He has for me. One of the parables that really stuck out to me was “The Sheep and the Goats” in Matthew: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory ... All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance ... For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” — Matthew 25:31–40 (NIV) This really sticks out to me because it's something I unfortunately forget about so often. I get so caught up in my own issues and everything going on around me that when I have an opportunity to help someone, not be rude, or even just say a kind greeting in passing, I usually miss it or avoid it. That doesn't portray the character of Christ, and this passage emphasizes that every time I read it. It's very grounding for me. I'm not living for myself. I'm living to love and help others, as Christ taught us to. What's especially convicting is that the righteous didn't even realize what they were doing for Jesus. They weren't keeping score. They simply loved people, and Jesus told them that in doing so, they were loving and serving Him. I think that's something I want to carry with me: looking for the small opportunities right in front of me to reflect Christ. Because if I'm going to call myself a Christian, I want the way I live to actually look like the person I'm following. I love Jesus, and I am forever indebted to Him for what He has done for me. “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” — John 14:21 (NIV)

Romans 8:1

I think this is one of those verses that is very easy to read without fully understanding how strong Paul’s statement actually is. He doesn't say that there is less condemnation for those who are in Christ. He says that there is now no condemnation. Earlier in Romans, Paul explains that everyone has sinned and fallen short of God’s standard. None of us can make ourselves righteous by trying harder, following enough rules, or doing enough good things. Sin separates us from God, and we cannot fix that separation by ourselves. That is what makes Romans 8:1 so comforting. Paul isn't saying that our sin suddenly doesn't matter. He is saying that the condemnation we deserve was placed on Christ instead. Jesus took the judgment that belonged to us when he died on the cross. Because of that, those who place their faith in him are no longer standing before God as condemned sinners. We are covered by the righteousness of Christ. I also think the words “in Christ Jesus” are extremely important. This promise isn't based on whether we had a good week, avoided every temptation, prayed enough, or read enough of the Bible. It is based on our faith in Christ and what he has already done for us. That doesn't mean we are free to live however we want. Paul continues by explaining that Christians are called to live according to the Spirit rather than the flesh. However, our obedience is no longer an attempt to earn salvation. It becomes a response to the salvation we have already received.

Galatians 5:1

Paul makes a powerful statement at the beginning of Galatians 5. It took me a few rereads of the book, but I think I finally understand the “freedom” Christ has given us and what it looks like to live in that freedom through him. Earlier in Galatians, Paul explains that Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.” — Galatians 3:13 None of us can fulfill the law perfectly. The law reveals our sin, but it cannot save us from it. Christ alone fulfilled the law, and on the cross, he took upon himself the judgment our transgressions deserved. He paid the debt that we could never pay ourselves. Through Christ, we are given freedom, not because of our ability to obey perfectly, but through the faith we place in him and in what he has done for us. This freedom does not mean that we are free to sin without consequence or use grace as an excuse to satisfy the flesh. Paul makes that clear in Galatians 5:13. Rather, we are free from the condemnation of the law and from attempting to earn our justification through obedience to it. That is the “yoke of slavery” Paul warns us not to submit to again. When we place our faith in Christ, we are no longer condemned. The Holy Spirit dwells within us, and Paul explains what a Spirit-led life looks like in Galatians 5:16–26. That is why this is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. Paul lays out how we can become more like Christ: what it means to walk by the Spirit, what behaviors we must turn away from, and what fruit the Spirit produces within us. To me, the transforming power of the Holy Spirit is both obvious and deeply reassuring. This entire passage reminds me that following Christ is not merely about trying harder to obey rules. It is about trusting in what Christ has already accomplished and allowing his Spirit to transform the way we live.

James 1:2-4

I wish I'd read James earlier, because the premise of these verses is something I think about constantly. Somewhere between church services, things I've come across online, and Scripture itself, I've picked up this notion. God can see what you look like at your fullest potential, the version of you that has fully submitted to his will, followed Christ, and let the Spirit dwelling in you bear fruit. A version that actually bears the character of Christ. The strongest, most complete version of who you were made to be in his name. There's comfort in knowing that version of me exists, and James lays out the groundwork for how it's reached. What strikes me most about this passage is that it forces you to look at your situation from the outside in, to step back and see what actually needs to happen. I'm pretty bad at that. I get caught up in the trial itself and go looking for the fastest way out. Those quick exits don't build endurance or perseverance, they just numb the pain. And if the same thing comes around again, I have no strength for it, because I never endured it correctly the first time. I leaned on myself. I trusted my own ways out instead of his, instead of enduring what he'd laid in front of me. But he wants what's best for me, for us. So whatever trials he gives, if we choose to endure them in his name, will ultimately make us better. What comes out of that perseverance could even be the answer to a prayer or two.

Romans 7:22-23

I spent a decent amount of the morning today before church going through Romans, and chapter 7:22-23 really stood out to me. In Galatians, the law is talked about being associated with a curse: "For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse" - Galatians 3:10 (NIV) A curse is only incurred by us if we break any of the laws provided. That's the tension Paul is exposing, it's impossible for humanity to always abide by the laws given by God. A human will sin, the law exposes such sin as they have broken the law with that sin, and breaking the law (sinning) results in separation from God, and therefore, death (hence the curse). I feel like Romans 7 gives a great amount of insight to this, kind of piecing it all together. Paul states: "We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual" - Romans 7:14 (NIV) Which to me perfectly captures why we will never be righteous under the law, which is also supported in this verse: "Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because 'the righteous live by faith'" - Galatians 3:11 (NIV) The truth is that we are humans, we are in a realm of fleshly, physical things. The law is spiritual in nature, it's correct, it's good, it reflects God's character perfectly. But it cannot save, because saving requires breaking sin's grip on our nature, and the law has no power to do that. It can only expose the problem. This is exactly what Paul is wrestling with. He delights in the law because it reflects God's holy standard, but he can't live up to it, because of the "different law in my members," the flesh and its desires pulling against him. This is why faith in Christ matters so much. He is literally the only way we can break that curse, in fact he takes the curse upon himself. "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us" - Galatians 3:13 (NIV) Jesus took that curse so we wouldn't have to, and it's only through faith in him that we're saved.

Romans 7:21-23

For a long time I never really stopped to look at myself clearly. My days run together, one thing chasing the next, and I never really took stock of my actions, my thoughts, or my motives. Paul makes a good observation here of himself, recognizing that alongside his goodness, is evil. I do have small victories, victories that pertain to my faith, wins that I have over my more wrongful desires. But, these victories during my day are always swallowed back up into this sea of temptation, and this temptation that could eventually lead to sin. James puts language to what that pull feels like: "but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." - James 1:14-15 (NIV) Those small wins never registered. I never really acknowledged that they went away either, it was more of a blip, almost an anomaly in my character. "I actually did something in accordance to Christ? Huh, oh well.." then back to it. I think a lot of this boils down to the fact that I'm too "busy" to take that step back and look at all of this, as I am now. Thankfully, the Spirit resides within me, and I do feel conviction. It gets a lot stronger when my day winds down. Lately, it's been getting stronger through the day too. My issue was that I was numb to my reality. Completely immersed in this physical world, when I forget there's a spiritual one as well. The one that matters most. Maybe that's the whole point of this: learning to step back not just once in a while, but as a daily practice. To let conviction do what it's trying to do instead of running past it. I'm praying God builds that into me, because I clearly haven't been able to build it into myself

1 Corinthians 10:13

This verse has always stuck with me, and I often find myself returning to it. What I think Paul was getting at here is that no matter how tempted we are (and boy do I have my temptations), he tells us "God is faithful", and that God won't let us be tempted past what we can handle. This is actually very re-assuring to me. The fact that no matter what I face, no matter how tempted I am or how strong the urge is to act on this temptation, God sees me in a higher standard. God knows that the best version of me, the version that is instilled in me through him, won't fall to this. Whether I can see that version of me or not, it is still within me, and very possible to reach. And that best version of myself, the version of discipline and obedience to God, is reachable. Paul tells us how in the rest of the verse "but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." This leads to me think that the escape is in enduring the temptation. I believe that in order to get to that better self, that version of myself that God holds to the highest standards, the version God is forming in me through Christ, is through enduring and falling on him instead of sin. Paul says as much in Romans 5:3-4 "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." \- Romans 5:3-4 This endurance of resisting temptation, this suffering, persevering through it, developing our character into that higher standard that follows obediently our Father in Heaven, is the escape of our temptation.

Colossians 3:2

I have continued time and time again asking God for guidance to walk on the path of righteousness, to have safe travels, to get that job, or pass that exam, yet, what have I given him? For far too long I've strayed from actually following the word of God, and yet I'm expecting him to help me in my endeavors. As I recognized this, I realized how flawed of a Christian I really am. One of the greatest gifts I believe a person can have is the gift of clarity. Being able to see and perceive their reality through a spiritually objective lens. Before I really started to follow Christ, and even some points as of late, it's as if I'm looking through a kaleidoscope when trying to see things for what they are. The desires of the flesh are incredibly strong if you let them be. They distort our perception just enough to reorient everything around their agenda, which is to stray from the Spirit and remain in earthly pleasures. After genuinely devoting time to the word of God, I feel as if I can finally begin to glance through that spiritual lens. I can see that this relationship with God is a two way street. God will always be there for us, but we are not always there for him, and sometimes when we ask, we're asking from very far away.

Romans 5:1-5

"Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one" - Bruce Lee That quote has stuck with me for many years, and after looking up its source for this reflection I didn't even realize it's from Bruce Lee. A "difficult" life is most definitely a relative term, and everyone has their own experience with it. I don't think I can say I've had a "difficult" life as I'm only 25 years old, but I can say that it has certainly been hard at times. Through each hard time, I faced it as a different version of myself than I'd been before, and that version wasn't always stronger. At some points I was a quitter, other times I caved in, more so I would feel defeat and rarely would I fight. I used to have a very weak-minded perspective on these difficult events that I would go through. As I've grown and matured, there are definitely shadows that follow me from those times, but recently, I've reinstituted Christ in my life, and I'm choosing to walk the path he has called me to. And with this decision, comes a lot of other struggles, good struggles though. Struggles that are aligning me with what God desires. Struggles that only occur through obedience to God as I choose Spirit over flesh. And through this obedience I'm starting to feel as if those shadows are being cast out by the light of Christ in my life. I'm beginning to feel the Lord's might meeting me in the challenges I face. Jesus was the missing component for all of those versions of myself. For through Christ my strength is found, the strength to fight, not to cave. To God be the glory.