Questions?

Is my past, subconsious understanding of the Christian life that the death of Christ gets me into it, but I have to work to stay in? That what makes a good Christian is always trying to do more? Instead of thinking that I have to measure up to a certain standard what should motivate the choices I make? Is it a deep sense of gratitude to Christ for creating me in the first place and then saving me from my own rebellion, because everything I have in the whole world comes from His hand?

Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men...

From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another. (John 1:3-4, 16)

Pondering...

As I study, I find that there are so many things I have not thought about before or that I was convinced I understood thoroughly enough. It is difficult and sometimes threatening to have my understanding stretched. My understanding of what it means to be a Christian is growing by leaps and bounds. Actually, I am realizing that my conception of a "good Christian" is too narrow. Fulfilling who God created me to be as a human and a bearer of His image is so much wider than that, and I feel like I am just beginning to touch the surface.

Some thoughts I have been pondering:

My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding—
indeed, if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.
For the LORD gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He holds success in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just
and fair—every good path.
For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
Discretion will protect you,
and understanding will guard you.
Proverbs 2:1-11

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31

What is our calling as those restored to a relationship with God? Is it to make God present to "practice the presence of God?" No. Is it to seek spiritual experiences to assure us of His love and power in our lives? No. Is it to pray, to go to church, to study the Bible, to evangelize? No, though it involves those things. Our calling is the same as Adam's was. It is to serve Him with our whole life, to love Him, to enjoy Him, to reflect His character. Every area of our life is to reflect spirituality, not just some special parts of it. Every area of our life in every day is to express the relationsip we have with Him. Because we have a relationship with Him through Christ, we can speak to Him simply at any time. We do not have to use any special techniques to make Him present or to feel His presece or to ensure our prayer is real. We can simply talk to Him as our loving Father.
Ranald Macauley and Jerram Barrs, Being Human: The Nature of Spiritual Experience

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
Stuart Townend, "How Deep The Father's Love For Us"