Comments on: The Hardest Part http://www.feedoneanother.com/2008/11/the-hardest-part/ Feed people the Word of God Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:02:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: billhunton http://www.feedoneanother.com/2008/11/the-hardest-part/comment-page-1/#comment-8 billhunton Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:15:15 +0000 http://www.feedoneanother.com/?p=79#comment-8 I am not sure my comment got through, so I restate it. 1 Corinthians 9:27 Paul says he disciplines his body to bring it under control or subjection. He is talking in athletic terms I think, which means the discipline is systematic, not sporadic sessions with Oswald Chambers when you feel spiritually overweight. Hating your body means you don't like the status quo of serving self. The discipline is more than haphazard sacrifices and "random acts of kindness." I think that it is the "working out your salvation with fear and trembling," the personal sanctification part that we are responsible for, that comes after salvation. So for me, am I able to actually list the things I work on to deny myself, and to bring myself under subjection? I am not sure my comment got through, so I restate it. 1 Corinthians 9:27 Paul says he disciplines his body to bring it under control or subjection. He is talking in athletic terms I think, which means the discipline is systematic, not sporadic sessions with Oswald Chambers when you feel spiritually overweight. Hating your body means you don’t like the status quo of serving self. The discipline is more than haphazard sacrifices and “random acts of kindness.” I think that it is the “working out your salvation with fear and trembling,” the personal sanctification part that we are responsible for, that comes after salvation. So for me, am I able to actually list the things I work on to deny myself, and to bring myself under subjection?

]]> By: Jon Franz http://www.feedoneanother.com/2008/11/the-hardest-part/comment-page-1/#comment-7 Jon Franz Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:41:41 +0000 http://www.feedoneanother.com/?p=79#comment-7 Just had another thought on this... Whenever I read the passages about Moses' motley crew who crafted a golden calf as the object of their worship, I'm tempted to condemn them as though there are no idols in my own life. Is it possible that my wants ARE my modern day idols? Just had another thought on this…
Whenever I read the passages about Moses’ motley crew who crafted a golden calf as the object of their worship, I’m tempted to condemn them as though there are no idols in my own life. Is it possible that my wants ARE my modern day idols?

]]> By: Bill http://www.feedoneanother.com/2008/11/the-hardest-part/comment-page-1/#comment-6 Bill Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:55:45 +0000 http://www.feedoneanother.com/?p=79#comment-6 1 Corinthians 9:27, Paul says he "beats" or "disciplines" his body to bring it under control or subjection, unless after he had preached to others he would be a "castaway." I won't get into whether you can "lose your salvation," but the point is that to actually abandon myself is extremely difficult and requires a lot of thought and discipline. It's not just a haphazard couple of sacrifices or random acts of kindness that I might do. 1 Corinthians 9:27, Paul says he “beats” or “disciplines” his body to bring it under control or subjection, unless after he had preached to others he would be a “castaway.” I won’t get into whether you can “lose your salvation,” but the point is that to actually abandon myself is extremely difficult and requires a lot of thought and discipline. It’s not just a haphazard couple of sacrifices or random acts of kindness that I might do.

]]> By: Jon Franz http://www.feedoneanother.com/2008/11/the-hardest-part/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Jon Franz Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:24:43 +0000 http://www.feedoneanother.com/?p=79#comment-5 We clutch our wants with a death grip, don't we. For example, in our families and within the CCC congregation there are good people voting differently. I've talked with many who have landed on opposite sides of the ballot and are struggling to reconcile how God's children can be so divided in their politics. Denying personal wants in surrender to His greater plan is the only answer there is. Thanks Ben We clutch our wants with a death grip, don’t we.
For example, in our families and within the CCC congregation there are good people voting differently. I’ve talked with many who have landed on opposite sides of the ballot and are struggling to reconcile how God’s children can be so divided in their politics. Denying personal wants in surrender to His greater plan is the only answer there is. Thanks Ben

]]> By: Chris http://www.feedoneanother.com/2008/11/the-hardest-part/comment-page-1/#comment-4 Chris Tue, 04 Nov 2008 11:07:13 +0000 http://www.feedoneanother.com/?p=79#comment-4 Denying the flesh has been the most difficult part of my relationship with Christ. (Man, isn't that really just step 1?). I've struggled so long to learn how to cope with life on my own. Learning how to get my own needs met. Learning how to make a little joy for myself. Now, I gotta give that all help. Hold on a second. I've worked long and hard on this flesh of mine. "Yes Chris, give it up and follow me. Trust me for your everything. I love you and will never fail you." His plan is so much better than anything I could create for myself. So, why is it so hard to accept a free gift. Maybe accepting the gift isn't so difficult...letting go of ourselves so we have hands to hold onto the gift is really the struggle. Lord, help us all to let go of ourselves. To accept Your precious love... always...so that this constant tug-of-war over our flesh can stop. Help us let go of ourselves into Your arms that we might be available to see Your world...through Your eyes...that You might then be able to use us because we are no long focusing on ourselves. In Jesus name, Amen Denying the flesh has been the most difficult part of my relationship with Christ. (Man, isn’t that really just step 1?). I’ve struggled so long to learn how to cope with life on my own. Learning how to get my own needs met. Learning how to make a little joy for myself. Now, I gotta give that all help. Hold on a second. I’ve worked long and hard on this flesh of mine.

“Yes Chris, give it up and follow me. Trust me for your everything. I love you and will never fail you.”

His plan is so much better than anything I could create for myself. So, why is it so hard to accept a free gift. Maybe accepting the gift isn’t so difficult…letting go of ourselves so we have hands to hold onto the gift is really the struggle.

Lord, help us all to let go of ourselves. To accept Your precious love… always…so that this constant tug-of-war over our flesh can stop. Help us let go of ourselves into Your arms that we might be available to see Your world…through Your eyes…that You might then be able to use us because we are no long focusing on ourselves.
In Jesus name,
Amen

]]> By: Bobby http://www.feedoneanother.com/2008/11/the-hardest-part/comment-page-1/#comment-3 Bobby Tue, 04 Nov 2008 09:42:45 +0000 http://www.feedoneanother.com/?p=79#comment-3 Wow that really hits home to me.Seeking a new life through the 12 steps,this hate thing runs deep in me.Time to work more steps and read more Luke and Matthew.Thanx Ben Wow that really hits home to me.Seeking a new life through the
12 steps,this hate thing runs deep in me.Time to work more steps and read more Luke and Matthew.Thanx Ben

]]> By: alan http://www.feedoneanother.com/2008/11/the-hardest-part/comment-page-1/#comment-2 alan Tue, 04 Nov 2008 00:56:09 +0000 http://www.feedoneanother.com/?p=79#comment-2 Good thoughts, Ben. Thanks for kicking this off. I could really battle and fight and argue as to whom I would "hate" in order to put Christ first --- but there is no one greater than mySELF that I should "hate" and get out of the way. Thanks. Good thoughts, Ben. Thanks for kicking this off. I could really battle and fight and argue as to whom I would “hate” in order to put Christ first — but there is no one greater than mySELF that I should “hate” and get out of the way.
Thanks.

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