Being Sequestered

A phrase came to my mind the other day as I was praying. It was the idea of being "sequestered" like a jury who is taken to a place where they are able to focus on coming to a verdict. They are sheltered from the outside world, from its distractions and influences.

Here is how I found the reality of the concept of being sequestered in Christ: I am presently recovering from what was to be a very minor surgery. Turns out it sapped my strength and the drugs used had a very draining effect on my energy levels. This situation, coupled with a low potassium level, left me exhausted and miserable. Both the surgeon and my primary care doctor had given me the choice of waiting until December 22 or going ahead with the November date. Anyone who knows me, knows I do not like to postpone something my mind is made up about. Perhaps I should have waited . . .

Now, however, I am finding delight in taking my time conversing with my LORD all day long, spending much more time than ever before. I have no outside obligations and I can pray, meditate and study His Word as I want. Of course, there's laundry, resting, cleaning, cooking and did I mention - resting.

Being sequestered in the Father's love and in His Presence is a calming and refreshing experience. Instead of being bored, I am grateful for this change of pace. I prefer being as active as possible with lots of projects to challenge and inspire me to service, but this quiet, peaceful time has turned out differently than I had thought it would.

So, if you get slowed down by illness, or a delay, you can think of it as an invitation from Our Father to stop and be sheltered for a bit, if only to hear His heart speak of His love for you. Have a blessed Thanksgiving! Doma

Those Important Little Words

I always like teaching prepositions. I sometimes use a desk and have a student be in the desk, on the desk, over the desk, by the desk, with the desk, etc. Those little prepositions or connecting words make so much difference. Example: You are not in the desk when you are by the desk. Sometimes these parts of speech in the English language are words that explain position or location.

I do not know any of the biblical languages, but I know how painstakingly they were translated, and I have studied many versions of the Bible. I am inclined to believe that Oswald Chambers' favored translation of Galatians 2:20 is the accurate one. He uses the phrase of Christ, instead of in Christ when he is describing the faith we have received and by which we are able to live the Christian life.

Here is the verse: "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."

Look at those little italicized words! Note our positions - We are crucified with Christ. Christ lives in me. I live by faith - that is, His faith. He actually gives us faith which becomes our means to trust in Him and be saved. As it says in Ephesians 2:8, "By grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast" It is not some faith I generated because of some experience I had. Oh no! This faith is a gift of God so nobody can brag about their great faith acquired by diligent study or spiritual experiences. This faith is His and He has blessed us with it. He authored it and He finishes its work in us.

I get upset when someone implies a person whose prayer was not answered or who was not healed just "didn't have enough faith". The truth is it's Christ's faith, totally adequate, wonderfully effective and paid for by His blood. This is the faith given to the believer.

Yes, people like me don't avail themselves of the full benefit of this wonderful God-given faith. In fact, I know some people who equate faith with their denomination. There is no way you can get that interpretation from these verses. The scripture says what it says, in my view, and I am so glad He has gifted us with faith. How about you? Thank Him today! Doma

Captive Thoughts

Captives are often pictured as being dragged away, violently kicking and screaming, resisting with all their might. This is the picture I have in my mind when I think of the verse that says "We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ."

The King James version, which I memorized, says it like this, "Casting down imagination, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every though to the obedience of Christ."

Here's how I see it. I am dragging my thoughts before the throne of Christ. They are sinful thoughts, they are useless imaginings, they are going to capture me if I don't deal with them.
Before I knew Christ Jesus, when I did not have something to do to actively occupy my mind, my thought life was a wasteland full of soap operas and romance novels.

We need to submit our thought life to God. Those imaginations or speculations are the "What ifs" the "If Onlys" and the other useless things we spend time thinking about. Sometimes we may have thoughts that reason away God and His truth. They seem so "intellectual" and culturally logical. But, they are false and empty. They will lead to sin.

We are responsible before God for our every thought. Jesus even said certain ways of thinking are equivalent to actual sin. Remember His conversation that a man who looks at a woman and lusts after her is guilty of sin? Just as if he had really done it, just as if he were an adulterer, because he is, in his mind. The same is true of a woman, she has become unfaithful in her mind, so she is!

When are you going to realize the battle is raging around you and in your mind as well? You have already surrendered if you are not taking your thoughts captive before Christ.

So how do you do that? You ask Christ to be the LORD of your conscious and unconscious mind. You purposefully input only good things into your mind. One thing to put in your mind is scripture. It is not as hard as you think. It is actually a joyful and peaceful practice. Do you not see that you are what you think!

Are you going to be a captive, or are you going to take your thoughts captive before they lead you into sin? This is the challenge of this verse. Are you up to it? Doma