T H E O P H I L U S

There are moments we are held vulnerable to influence both in disconcerting circumstances, and ones of great opportunity. But the greatest battle of any human being, let alone a Christian, is choosing to live life in a manner that is both wise and above reproach. To put the will of God before oneself. Knowing how to live this way is quite muddy in our human ideology which we attempt to make pragmatic. But the wisdom of living the Christian life is not merely pragmatic. As we grow in depth in our theology, it begins to shatter whatever simplicity we have in our flesh, and instead challenges us to go beyond what we measure to be the norm or standard of worldly human response.

I will not attempt (nor am I capable enough) today to discuss nor solidify and sort out any solution to figure out global moral and ethical debates or dilemmas, but I would like to touch rather on something that is much more deeper in the conduct of one’s walk and journey of faith. It is the battle of our hearts and minds – greatly to challenge our spirituality.

There are so many moments we either take what people have said to us or about us as a measure of our value and self worth – whether negative or positive. Some of us have the tendency to hear feedback and attribute it to ourselves as a means of how much we are worth to the people around us, and even to God. We will either crawl into self pity or be on an emotional rocket from the moment we’ve heard something positive to boost our esteem or simply to be acknowledged of our existence.

“Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.” – Ephesians 4:14

Our human brokenness lies within the frail nature of our swaying emotion and psyche. If evolutionists have gotten anything right about the nature of mankind and creation is that the human heart and mind is programmed for survival. Our animal instinct will be to find our significance in what others say about us as it acknowledges the flesh in which we live whether voluntarily or involuntarily. We grow angry as a response to whatever offends or harms both our outside and insides. We grow sad as a response to whatever loss or lacking one might feel in comparison to those around us that seem to thrive and are making progress.

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.” Joshua 1:7

Don’t give power to words of Untruth

The most courageous and brave choice of any human being is not acting as if none of these words nor judgements of the flesh affect us, but rather breaking that measuring stick in two. If the people around you are trying to measure your worth, then the only solution to make godly choices in the height of those frustrations and sparks of rage is not to try and measure them back nor try to remeasure yourself. The moment we have let the measurements of people become the standard by which we live, we have allowed those words to have power over our very existence, and our identity. They have gained control of you both physically and emotionally.

Hold onto the truth of God’s Grace

The Christian journey calls us to what cannot be measured by humanity – the glory of God and His sovereignty. This is not to say that we should not listen to those who criticize us, for I believe we can always learn from whatever errors we have made, but what I am speaking today is not of one’s fleshly performance. It is a matter of the heart; when we have allowed fleshly criticisms govern our eternity. Instead we ought to hold on the truth given to us through the gospels.

“¹⁶ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” – Galatians 5:16-17

God does not measure our appearance or performance.
He measures our faith.

The truth of the matter is, that God does not measure the amount of stuff nor accomplishments you have. This may have been mentioned to some of us many, many times over by preachers, but if we take this to heart and truly hold to this truth we will find ourselves more able to walk away or be unshaken by what seems to be so brutally insulting or damaging of one’s pride. If God matters everything to you, and your salvation matters to you, then what your enemy says or does to tear you down begins to mean so much less. There is no comparison to the great glory and truth which God has given us.

Today you may have been replaying and rewinding words which somebody has spoken to you to tear you down, and have let them destroy all that was a blessing in your life as of late. And if you have let those words and the measure of mankind be what governs your faith, then don’t conform any longer. Break the stick which measures you. Allow the Gospel to speak salvation and truth into your circumstances, so that his saving grace may continue to have sovereignty in the depths of your inmost being.

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

– Psalm 139:14