Spiritual Ponderings

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God-- not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. (Ephesians 2:8-10 NRSV) Here is possibly one of the greatest problems with works, with trying to earn God's favor in any way. When I make choices based on the premise that God harbors any feelings towards me other than total graciousness, compassion, selfless love and forgiveness, then that very premise defines my internal beliefs about the kind of God I am serving. I am basing my life on presumptions that God's mind in some way, small or large, needs to be changed, persuaded, convinced or altered. I am clinging to beliefs and feelings about God that though false constitute the very foundation and fabric of my opinion about God. And the more I act and speak in ways that refle...

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good . (Romans 12:21) Overcoming. What or who is it that needs to be overcome? What does it look like to overcome evil with good? The context for this verse gives a lot of detail. Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Belo...

For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. (Mark 8:35-38) Then he said to them all, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels....

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power . 1 Put on the full armor of God 2 so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes . 3 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood , 4 but against the rulers , against the authorities , against the powers of this dark world 5 and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 6 Therefore put on the full armor of God , so that when the day of evil 7 comes, you may be able to stand your ground , and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm 8 then, with the belt of truth 9 buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness 10 in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace . 11 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith , 12 with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 13 Take the helmet of salvation 14 and the sword of the Spirit , 15 which is the word of God. And...