Click on the link below to read a short, but accurate article written by John MacArthur on discernment in the life of the believer. Discernement is a gift from God. MacArthur points out that God's "divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence" (2 Pet. 1:3).Friday, June 19, 2009
MacArthur on Discernment in the Life of a Believer
Click on the link below to read a short, but accurate article written by John MacArthur on discernment in the life of the believer. Discernement is a gift from God. MacArthur points out that God's "divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence" (2 Pet. 1:3).
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A few rambling comments (as mine usually are):
ReplyDelete(As a new grandparent - these thoughts and feelings now extend to 2 generations.}
When we become parents, we are thrust into a situation where we experience overwhelming love for our children. If we use the definition of love as proposed by Tom Wells as "putting the welfare of another above our own", we can identify with this defintion in our relationship to our children - we would sacrifice our own welfare for theirs (as we would also for our spouses - but this article was about being parents).
It is because of this love that we might experience fear or even depression at the thought of our children suffering - we suffer with their pain and we realize that we can't control those situations.
In most cases in our lives, we tend to pick and choose who we will love deeply, but with our children, that choice is strengthened by the close connection we have as they grow and develop. We all know that the more we love someone or something, the more we put ourselves at risk of being hurt.
I think this is part of the reason that Christians, as fallen, redeemed, but not fully sanctified sinners, many times hesitate to open ourselves up to the complete fellowship of other believers - if we do so, we may suffer with others in their pain.
As I thought about this, it struck me even more that the "risk" taken by Christ in expressing His love to His people so completely could never be in vain - anyone who truly experiences and understands the love of another to that extent could never just walk away - truly Irresistable Grace.
I conclude that realizing the love Christ has for us obviously demonstrates perfect love, but his joy in doing the Father's will also demonstrates that while we may never fully remove ourselves from our children's trials and sufferings (nor should we), the most valuable thing we can do for them, and all believers, is to pray for their, and our recognition of Christ's love and His suffiency in every single situation.
My previous comment posted under wrong topic - copied to correct one.
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