As some of you know, Todd and I have been reading through The Purpose Driven Life together. Granted there are times when we don't read because we get preoccupied with other things, though we are trying to become more disciplined in reading it more often. If you have read the book before, you know there are questions at the end of each chapter. The question for chapter 26 got me thinking.
What Christlike character quality can I develop by defeating the most common temptation I face? Throughout the chapter Rick Warren talked about how our temptations could make us grow closer to God. The thing is I am finding a hard time trying to answer that question. I think one of the qualities I can develop through my temptations is patience. I have found lately that I get aggravated with some people to quickly. I see that I have been getting better at being patient with mainly those I love.
I see the people I have the least patience with is my family, and that really does bother me. Patience is one of the fruits of the spirits and I would love to develop it more. Rick Warren said: God uses the opposite situation of each fruit to allow us a choice. I have decided when I find myself starting to get aggravated, I'm of course going to stop and pray to God for help, the strength to not get aggravated and angry, but to have patience with those I love, because I don't think getting angry and aggravated with each other shows that I do love them deeply.
What are some of the temptations in your life, that can help you develop Christlike character qualities? How can you grow in Christ because of your temptations?
Showing posts with label Purpose Driven Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Purpose Driven Life. Show all posts
Sep 25, 2008
Jul 29, 2008
Fellowship
As I said before Todd and I have been reading "The Purpose Driven Life." I admit we got into a little bit of a slump after a while, but we started reading it again last night. The chapter we read was about fellowship. He said the term fellowship no longer has the meaning that it once did. Now when someones asks "Where do you fellowship" they are really asking "where do you go to church." And many times fellowship refers to a time of eating, and socializing. The Bible says we were designed to go through life together: Each one of you is part of the body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together in peace. (Colossians 3:15.)
We are told that when two or more are gathered then God is in our midsts. Small groups are great for fellowship because it engages everyone involved where if it were a large group some people would back off and allow others to take control of the situation. With fellowship it's a time for us to be real with each other. It requires authenticity, mutuality, sympathy, and mercy. We need to be authentic about wanting to be with each other and get honest about things. We need to be mutual in depending on each other the Bible also tells us that The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part (1 Corinthians 12:25).
Sympathy is when we really feel the pain of those around us, not just giving them advice. We need to share, study the word, serve together and most importantly suffer with one another. Again the Bible tells us to be sympathetic, kind, humble, gentle, and patient. Those characteristics describe Jesus, and since we are supposed to be like him...
Fellowship is not just spending time together and talking with each other. Its more about being honest and open about what we are dealing with. We need to get deep to the heart of the problem and share it with each other, we shouldn't be ashamed of what we are dealing with. Real fellowship is carrying each others' burdens and go through the hardships together.
We are told that when two or more are gathered then God is in our midsts. Small groups are great for fellowship because it engages everyone involved where if it were a large group some people would back off and allow others to take control of the situation. With fellowship it's a time for us to be real with each other. It requires authenticity, mutuality, sympathy, and mercy. We need to be authentic about wanting to be with each other and get honest about things. We need to be mutual in depending on each other the Bible also tells us that The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part (1 Corinthians 12:25).
Sympathy is when we really feel the pain of those around us, not just giving them advice. We need to share, study the word, serve together and most importantly suffer with one another. Again the Bible tells us to be sympathetic, kind, humble, gentle, and patient. Those characteristics describe Jesus, and since we are supposed to be like him...
Fellowship is not just spending time together and talking with each other. Its more about being honest and open about what we are dealing with. We need to get deep to the heart of the problem and share it with each other, we shouldn't be ashamed of what we are dealing with. Real fellowship is carrying each others' burdens and go through the hardships together.
Jul 7, 2008
Purpose Driven Life
Todd and I have decided to go through the Purpose Driven Life together. We thought it would be not only a good way to grow closer to God and to each other, but it's a great way to keep God the center of our relationship along with going to Bible Study and doing our own studies. The Purpose Driven Life not only helps you find the purpose for your own life, but reminds you that we all have the same purpose: serving and worshiping God.
Rick Warren says so many things that makes a lot of sense. Right now Todd and I are in the section that talks about us being a part of God's family; the church. There is a reason we call our churches: our church family. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ yet we don't act like it. I am finding this section so interesting and real meaningful. The first one talked about remembering that God is the center of everything. It really does make you think, as does the questions at the end of each chapter. I have been writing down the questions and my answers on one of my other blogs. I may decided to post some here.
Reading Rick's book has made me really think about not just my relationship with God, but my relationship with other people. One of the things I wrote last week about taking a moral inventory was that I don't feel compassion for people sometimes and I really do need to change that. I need to support my brother man by showing compassion and not getting frustrated at times. How does not having compassion show God's love for us? Isn't part of being a Christian just that: showing compassion and God's love through our actions?
There is something in the 17th chapter that hit me last night when Todd and I was reading it, and it was "..God expects you to show other believers -- a willingness to love them in the same way Jesus loves you." Do we really do this? Do we really show a sacrifical love to other Christians?
Rick Warren says so many things that makes a lot of sense. Right now Todd and I are in the section that talks about us being a part of God's family; the church. There is a reason we call our churches: our church family. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ yet we don't act like it. I am finding this section so interesting and real meaningful. The first one talked about remembering that God is the center of everything. It really does make you think, as does the questions at the end of each chapter. I have been writing down the questions and my answers on one of my other blogs. I may decided to post some here.
Reading Rick's book has made me really think about not just my relationship with God, but my relationship with other people. One of the things I wrote last week about taking a moral inventory was that I don't feel compassion for people sometimes and I really do need to change that. I need to support my brother man by showing compassion and not getting frustrated at times. How does not having compassion show God's love for us? Isn't part of being a Christian just that: showing compassion and God's love through our actions?
There is something in the 17th chapter that hit me last night when Todd and I was reading it, and it was "..God expects you to show other believers -- a willingness to love them in the same way Jesus loves you." Do we really do this? Do we really show a sacrifical love to other Christians?
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