The outdoor survivalist talking on television sported a stubby beard, worn jeans, a faded camo-shirt, and dirty hiking boots. Holding a small magnifying glass he had swiveled out of a vinyl case, and speaking out the side of his mouth he said, “If you ever need to start a fire, this is an essential tool.”
After watching him demonstrate on a self-made bird-nest of kindling, I felt inspired. So I grabbed the magnifying glass out of my desk drawer, fielded a piece of newspaper, and walked onto our front porch where the fall sun sent soothingly warm light through the nippy air.
I folded the newspaper, placed it on the porch, and waited. The sun’s light hit the paper, but nothing happened. I waited a bit longer, and still nothing. I bent down and touched the paper. It felt cool.
I then held the magnifying glass between the sun and paper and focused a few inches of sunlight into a beam that formed a bright spot on the paper. Almost instantly, gray smoke curled up from the white dot. In that moment I saw the power of focused light.
Water is the same way. Steam rising from a tea kettle is unfocused and puffs harmlessly into the surrounding air. But directed steam surging through a turbine generates electricity.
What’s true of light and water is also true of people. We’ve all seen the difference when we focus on a topic we’re studying or a task we’re performing. When we channel our mental, emotional, and physical energy into a single purpose, we possess great power.
How do we do this in the spiritual realm? Jesus shows us the way. In John 15:1-11 he used one word ten times.
Abide
Abide
Abide
Abide
Abide
Abide
Abide
Abide
Abide
Abide
Jesus could have told us the focus of our lives should be performing religious rituals, abstaining from certain foods and drinks, giving money to the poor, or attending church. Instead he repeated one word ten times so we wouldn’t miss the point.
When we channel all of our mental, emotional, and physical energy into abiding in Jesus, we possess great power.
Photo by Dave Gough, CC
I am stuck. – and love your book !
I have also been reading books by Andrew Farley, ( GOD without Religion & Then Naked Gospel) and If I am understanding his points, is that the Old Testament is pretty much non-relevant to us in Christ today, past the point of pointing out our shortcomings and our obvious need of Christ and the salvation that he offers. I am keen on discussing this with people, but it was eye-opening how when I talked about what I was learning, how fast the opinions became very ‘hard’
I am not a very theological person, and what Mr. Farley is talking about makes sense. But does what he teach hold true? Does our need for compliance to The Law, go away with Christ’s resurrection? What about tithing? Just last weekend, the community church I attend (I think it used to be a Pentacostal Church before they moved) spoke about the giving every week being an “obligation”. One of the people I thought would be open to what I was talking about, said ” If what you are saying is true, that there are no rules, then everybody would pretty much do what they want” … and I said, “Exactly!” True grace offers that… Then he threw Paul’s speech at me, the one where Paul says that should we sin more so that grace abounds more? Not a chance” . My response to that was that if you know Christ, and follow, then your heart would tell you that following that logic is ludicrous.
By the way, I got your name from your book ” 6 Rules Every Man Must Break”
I want to do what is right, I don’t want to be a rebel UNLESS we are called to be rebels. I like the idea of the freedom that I think is being offered, but I don’t want to set myself up ( and others) if this is flat out wrong.
What do you think?
In Romans 5 Paul talked about the fact that a person is justified—declared righteous by faith alone apart from works. He then begins Romans 6 with the questions, “What she we say then, shall we continue in sin that trace might abound?” In other words, should I sin a lot so God can forgive me a lot and thus prove his grace is great for forgiving my many sins?” His response is twofold. First, he says in Romans 6:1-14 he says we can’t continue in sin because we are new people—identified with Christ in his death and resurrection. It would be inconsistent with your new and true identity to live in sin any longer. It’s now who we are. Second, in verses 15-23 he responds to the question which asks if it’s okay to sin once in a while since we’re under grace and not law. He responds by saying that every small sin becomes a big sin and ultimately our master. For that reason we should not have a pet sin. So the very question your friends asked in response to the idea of grace, is the very question Paul answers in Romans 6. It’s natural for those living under religious rules to think if they didn’t live under such rules they would fall into all sorts of sin. But the teaching of the New Testament is that grace will produce a greater righteousness than law. Grace will produce greater generosity than rules such as tithing. Look over Galatians 3 where Paul contrasts law and grace and the righteousness produced by grace.
However, Paul also says this, “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh” (Galatians 5:13). Those who live in grace should demonstrate a godlier life than those who live under the law. They should not use it as an excuse to indulge in sinful practices.