"Love is the Answer"—or so it's said. Does whatever Question, posed first, have relevance? Or is there truth in the hippie mantra? And is the Christian who says likewise being either naïve or overly simplistic?
Perhaps "whatever Question" is less important than how one defines love.
"Love" is a commonplace word in our world. "Love" is seen as humanity's true nature. "Love" conveys warm feelings toward those who do good to us, and those for whom we have natural affection (such as our children). We use "love" in connection with anything or anyone important to us—or simply pleasing to us—from food to someone we find attractive. "Love" is also a synonym for sex, even the most casual or torrid sex, for our world makes little distinction between sex as a marriage bond and sex as a call of nature.
But there is another love, decidedly uncommon, set apart from all natural instinct: God’s holy love.
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. Love is not rude, is not selfish, and does not get upset with others. Love does not count up wrongs that have been done. Love takes no pleasure in evil but rejoices over the truth. Love patiently accepts all things. It always trusts, always hopes, and always endures.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NCV)
This love is anything but our true nature. Our nature dictates self-gratification and self-preservation. From the moment of birth until the last struggle against death, our nature is not love but avoidance of injury, pain and discomfort to body and soul. The "love" defined by this world is willing to love only if it furthers the goal of self-preservation and self-gratification. Suicide—the willingness to destroy one's own life—is the result of pain avoidance overcoming even the instinct for self-preservation.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
~ John 3:16 (NKJV)
The nature of holy God is to love regardless of Self-preservation or Self-gratification. God's Son Jesus did not commit suicide but rather laid down (John 15:13) His life. Rather than avoid suffering, Jesus embraced horrific pain and death in order to overcome both the self-destruction inherent to sin and humanity's instinct for sin.
"To be holy is to look like God. His beauty—His ultimate beauty—is the beauty of love and goodness."
~ from my last post, "Why Holiness is Beautiful"
Did the last post seem to argue for love and holiness being synonymous? Did it cross the line of biblical integrity?
Yes, love and holiness are distinct. Even so, I maintain that holiness cannot exist apart from the holy and wholly unnatural love of God. God is holy because He is wholly set apart from what humanity is by nature. To be a Christian is to be set apart to God as holy and to love with His wholly unnatural love. To the question of what holiness is, "Love is the answer" if it is the love of God.
"In the last analysis, it is our conception of death which decides our answers to all the questions that life puts to us."
~ Dag Hammarskjold
Whatever the question, the answer is never "love" as the world defines it.
To every question, and especially to the ultimate questions posed by death, God is the Answer, and "God is love" (1 John 4:8).
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – use @gmail.com *after* buildingHisbody
Copyright 2013, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Showing posts with label Holiness / Sanctification. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holiness / Sanctification. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Friday, February 8, 2013
Why Holiness is Beautiful
Who would want to be as ugly as "holier than thou" people?
If God's holy and I'm not, why does the Bible say "be holy"?
Why be holy if it means being boring?
Holy simply means "set apart." But of all the ideas presented by the Bible, perhaps nothing is less understood than holiness. Holiness seems to be the domain of clergy, missionaries, and spiritual giants—or religious snobs. The word "holy" is more likely to evoke images of candle lit cathedrals, flowing robes, and vessels of gold than of beaches and boardrooms, shopping malls and construction zones.
Regardless of how we define "holy," both Old Testament (eight times) and New Testament (four times) contain an imperative from God to all of His people:
"And you shall be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine."
~ Leviticus 20:26 (NKJV)
God does not ask the impossible. He simply makes a logical distinction already evident throughout our culture.
You can easily discern which people in Wal-Mart are set apart as employees by their blue vests. Police officers are set apart by their uniform, badge and gun. And there's something about their manner that sets apart college instructors from the students, even when age and clothing aren't all that different.
Of all advice I've heard about success in the business world, one I consider very practical is this: wear attire which approximates the appearance of the boss, neither more dressy nor more casual.
And so God asks the same thing of people who are His—"look like Me." Too many Christians make the mistake of thinking that means we should all look alike.
"For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
~ 1 Samuel 16:7 (NKJV)
God is love (1 John 4:8,16). Jesus said we would be known as His disciples—recognized as set apart to Him—by our love for one another (John 13:34-35).
… we should be holy and without blame before Him in love …
~ Ephesians 1:4 (NKJV)
May I therefore suggest that the most vital component of being set apart to God as His is to grow increasingly more loving with the selfless love of Jesus?
Asking "What would Jesus do?" might be a starting place for what it means to love as God loves. It is also not wise to put God in a box, lest He directs something completely unpredictable. Although Jesus twice fed a hungry crowd, His Word also says that people who won't work shouldn't eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10). Jesus often healed people, but sometimes withheld healing (Matthew 13:58, 15:23-24). The gentle and lowly Jesus (Matthew 11:29) occasionally used strong names (Matthew 12:34, Luke 10:3, John 8:44) and a whip of cords (John 2:15).
All ways, at all times, Jesus remained love. To look like Jesus is to look like selfless love, whether in business attire or T-shirt and jeans. To look like Jesus is to look like selfless love, at home, office, vacation, hospital, church, store. To look like Jesus is to look like selfless love, in the time to remain silent and the time to speak boldly.
To be holy is to be set apart to God, increasingly used by Him to fulfill His purposes rather than our own purposes, continually growing in reliance upon His divine strength rather than our human resolve.
"It's easy to be a holy man on top of a mountain."
~ Mountaintop monk, The Razor's Edge
One way to be holy on top of a mountain is to withdraw from people and situations that provoke us to unholiness. Holiness also occurs on spiritual mountaintops, when we experience profound blessing and easily pass it along.
God's people are also called to be holy when we're running late, the express lane line is long with full carts, and that blue vest associate is in no hurry. We are called to be holy when cut off, in traffic or in conversation. We are called to be holy with the people and situations that would cause the most reasonable people to lose their temper.
God's people are called to be holy in the deepest of dark valleys, where we lose hope of seeing the mountaintops we can hardly remember, because God assures us that He walks with us and is in us.
He has sent us a mighty Savior …
So we can serve God without fear,
In holiness and righteousness before Him
All the days of our life.
Luke 1:69,74-75 (NLT, NKJV)
Holiness is neither ugly nor boring. To be holy is to look like God. His beauty—His ultimate beauty—is the beauty of love and goodness.
: : :
Note: In follow up to this post, please see
The Case for Love: "Love is the Answer"
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – use @gmail.com *after* buildingHisbody
Copyright 2013, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
If God's holy and I'm not, why does the Bible say "be holy"?
Why be holy if it means being boring?
Holy simply means "set apart." But of all the ideas presented by the Bible, perhaps nothing is less understood than holiness. Holiness seems to be the domain of clergy, missionaries, and spiritual giants—or religious snobs. The word "holy" is more likely to evoke images of candle lit cathedrals, flowing robes, and vessels of gold than of beaches and boardrooms, shopping malls and construction zones.
Regardless of how we define "holy," both Old Testament (eight times) and New Testament (four times) contain an imperative from God to all of His people:
"And you shall be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine."
~ Leviticus 20:26 (NKJV)
God does not ask the impossible. He simply makes a logical distinction already evident throughout our culture.
You can easily discern which people in Wal-Mart are set apart as employees by their blue vests. Police officers are set apart by their uniform, badge and gun. And there's something about their manner that sets apart college instructors from the students, even when age and clothing aren't all that different.
Of all advice I've heard about success in the business world, one I consider very practical is this: wear attire which approximates the appearance of the boss, neither more dressy nor more casual.
And so God asks the same thing of people who are His—"look like Me." Too many Christians make the mistake of thinking that means we should all look alike.
"For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
~ 1 Samuel 16:7 (NKJV)
God is love (1 John 4:8,16). Jesus said we would be known as His disciples—recognized as set apart to Him—by our love for one another (John 13:34-35).
… we should be holy and without blame before Him in love …
~ Ephesians 1:4 (NKJV)
May I therefore suggest that the most vital component of being set apart to God as His is to grow increasingly more loving with the selfless love of Jesus?
Asking "What would Jesus do?" might be a starting place for what it means to love as God loves. It is also not wise to put God in a box, lest He directs something completely unpredictable. Although Jesus twice fed a hungry crowd, His Word also says that people who won't work shouldn't eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10). Jesus often healed people, but sometimes withheld healing (Matthew 13:58, 15:23-24). The gentle and lowly Jesus (Matthew 11:29) occasionally used strong names (Matthew 12:34, Luke 10:3, John 8:44) and a whip of cords (John 2:15).
All ways, at all times, Jesus remained love. To look like Jesus is to look like selfless love, whether in business attire or T-shirt and jeans. To look like Jesus is to look like selfless love, at home, office, vacation, hospital, church, store. To look like Jesus is to look like selfless love, in the time to remain silent and the time to speak boldly.
To be holy is to be set apart to God, increasingly used by Him to fulfill His purposes rather than our own purposes, continually growing in reliance upon His divine strength rather than our human resolve.
"It's easy to be a holy man on top of a mountain."
~ Mountaintop monk, The Razor's Edge
One way to be holy on top of a mountain is to withdraw from people and situations that provoke us to unholiness. Holiness also occurs on spiritual mountaintops, when we experience profound blessing and easily pass it along.
God's people are also called to be holy when we're running late, the express lane line is long with full carts, and that blue vest associate is in no hurry. We are called to be holy when cut off, in traffic or in conversation. We are called to be holy with the people and situations that would cause the most reasonable people to lose their temper.
God's people are called to be holy in the deepest of dark valleys, where we lose hope of seeing the mountaintops we can hardly remember, because God assures us that He walks with us and is in us.
He has sent us a mighty Savior …
So we can serve God without fear,
In holiness and righteousness before Him
All the days of our life.
Luke 1:69,74-75 (NLT, NKJV)
Holiness is neither ugly nor boring. To be holy is to look like God. His beauty—His ultimate beauty—is the beauty of love and goodness.
: : :
Note: In follow up to this post, please see
The Case for Love: "Love is the Answer"
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – use @gmail.com *after* buildingHisbody
Copyright 2013, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Friday, November 2, 2012
Biblical Purgatory
"If you're going through hell, keep going."
~ Winston Churchill
If the Bible repeatedly speaks of Hell as an actual locale of the afterlife, it just as assuredly tells of another hell involuntarily frequented by mortals in this life. If afterlife Hell is defined by horrific and unending torment and flame (Luke 16:19-31), the hell of this life is defined by such intense human agony as to beg the question: why does a good God allow suffering?
Theology follows a progression from free will to sin to suffering, rationalizing the equation for affliction. But it proffers no pact to regulate pain. An athlete amiably shrugs, "No pain, no gain" and halts at the finish line. But the victim of dire straits becomes a quarry which gave no consent to the contest and may perceive an abyss of no return.
Meet biblical Purgatory, the place of purging.
Purgatory: The souls of those who have died in the state of grace suffer for a time of purging that prepares them to enter heaven and appear in the presence of the beatific vision [visible God].… It is an intermediate state in which the departed souls can atone for unforgiven sins before receiving their final reward.
~ From The Catholic Encyclopedia
This view of Purgatory has no foundation in Scripture. Its only connection to biblical truth is that the Holy Spirit indeed works continual purging of sin from our lives—a work that begins with the atonement of sins rather than completes atonement. The Bible contrasts the above definition with clear affirmations that Jesus completed, with His death, the work of atonement for all of our sins (Hebrews 10:10-14; John 19:30; Romans 5:8-11; 1 John 1:7). Chapters 9 and 10 of the book of Hebrews are particularly emphatic on this point.
Note that 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 refers not to Purgatory but to the testing by fire of our faith and works. A sure and strong faith is attested by works which are purified by fire and receive rewards in both this lifetime and the next. Faith that is just barely sufficient for salvation receives that salvation, but is accompanied by vain works that are shown worthless by fire, with the soul alone escaping the flames.
Fire testing, or fire baptism, is the purging—the biblical Purgatory—that we rightly call "going through hell."
"Why did I not die at birth? …
Then I would have been at rest …"
~ Job 3:11-13 (NKJV)
"Have I sinned? What have I done to You? …
Why have You set me as Your target … ?"
~ Job 7:20 (NKJV)
"Oh, that the Almighty would answer me!"
~ Job 31:35 (NKJV)
The "patience of Job" had its limits. Like so many people going through hell, Job also begged to question why a good God would allow suffering, with an edge of demand in his voice which the traveler through biblical Purgatory understands.
The Lord often answers our queries with His own, and Job received four chapters of them. The Lord concluded His lengthy interrogatories with none-too-casual observation about children of pride. And Job, purged of his pride, repented of his query with his face on the ground.
Job received not an answer but a purging. No mere pawn in a contest between God and devil, Job held a status as beloved of God. What the devil meant for evil, God used for good, adding multiplied blessings to Job's intense but brief suffering.
So it shall be for us, as the Holy Spirit continues His work of preparing a pure and glorious bride for her Bridegroom.
"If you're going through hell, keep going."
~ Winston Churchill
Faithful Father, whatever the fire, please carry us through it, beyond it, to the place of blessing.
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – use @gmail.com *after* buildingHisbody
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
~ Winston Churchill
If the Bible repeatedly speaks of Hell as an actual locale of the afterlife, it just as assuredly tells of another hell involuntarily frequented by mortals in this life. If afterlife Hell is defined by horrific and unending torment and flame (Luke 16:19-31), the hell of this life is defined by such intense human agony as to beg the question: why does a good God allow suffering?
Theology follows a progression from free will to sin to suffering, rationalizing the equation for affliction. But it proffers no pact to regulate pain. An athlete amiably shrugs, "No pain, no gain" and halts at the finish line. But the victim of dire straits becomes a quarry which gave no consent to the contest and may perceive an abyss of no return.
Meet biblical Purgatory, the place of purging.
Purgatory: The souls of those who have died in the state of grace suffer for a time of purging that prepares them to enter heaven and appear in the presence of the beatific vision [visible God].… It is an intermediate state in which the departed souls can atone for unforgiven sins before receiving their final reward.
~ From The Catholic Encyclopedia
This view of Purgatory has no foundation in Scripture. Its only connection to biblical truth is that the Holy Spirit indeed works continual purging of sin from our lives—a work that begins with the atonement of sins rather than completes atonement. The Bible contrasts the above definition with clear affirmations that Jesus completed, with His death, the work of atonement for all of our sins (Hebrews 10:10-14; John 19:30; Romans 5:8-11; 1 John 1:7). Chapters 9 and 10 of the book of Hebrews are particularly emphatic on this point.
Note that 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 refers not to Purgatory but to the testing by fire of our faith and works. A sure and strong faith is attested by works which are purified by fire and receive rewards in both this lifetime and the next. Faith that is just barely sufficient for salvation receives that salvation, but is accompanied by vain works that are shown worthless by fire, with the soul alone escaping the flames.
Fire testing, or fire baptism, is the purging—the biblical Purgatory—that we rightly call "going through hell."
"Why did I not die at birth? …
Then I would have been at rest …"
~ Job 3:11-13 (NKJV)
"Have I sinned? What have I done to You? …
Why have You set me as Your target … ?"
~ Job 7:20 (NKJV)
"Oh, that the Almighty would answer me!"
~ Job 31:35 (NKJV)
The "patience of Job" had its limits. Like so many people going through hell, Job also begged to question why a good God would allow suffering, with an edge of demand in his voice which the traveler through biblical Purgatory understands.
The Lord often answers our queries with His own, and Job received four chapters of them. The Lord concluded His lengthy interrogatories with none-too-casual observation about children of pride. And Job, purged of his pride, repented of his query with his face on the ground.
Job received not an answer but a purging. No mere pawn in a contest between God and devil, Job held a status as beloved of God. What the devil meant for evil, God used for good, adding multiplied blessings to Job's intense but brief suffering.
So it shall be for us, as the Holy Spirit continues His work of preparing a pure and glorious bride for her Bridegroom.
"If you're going through hell, keep going."
~ Winston Churchill
Faithful Father, whatever the fire, please carry us through it, beyond it, to the place of blessing.
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – use @gmail.com *after* buildingHisbody
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Spiritual Armor: Righteousness
"And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me."
~ John 17:22-23 (NKJV)
From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible describes our sin as shameful nakedness, exposing us as we truly are.
Naked is no way to enter the heat of battle.
The second component of spiritual armor is a covering of righteousness. Ephesians 6:14 and Isaiah 59:17 call righteousness a breastplate. Elsewhere righteousness is called beautiful clothing (Job 29:14; Psalms 132:9; Isaiah 61:10) and fine linen (Revelation 19:8).
Regardless of how many or how notable our good works are, they clothe us with no more than filthy rags. True righteousness is not a put on, but comes only by wearing Jesus Christ. As we increasingly yield our hearts to His Spirit, we exude His character in our thoughts and feelings, words and actions. When Jesus is at work through us, His glorious righteousness covers us as a garment of light.
Shall Darkness overcome such Light?
"O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."
~ John 17:25-26 (NKJV)
If marks of righteousness can be identified, surely they are love and unity.
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
~ John 17:22-23 (NKJV)
From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible describes our sin as shameful nakedness, exposing us as we truly are.
Naked is no way to enter the heat of battle.
The second component of spiritual armor is a covering of righteousness. Ephesians 6:14 and Isaiah 59:17 call righteousness a breastplate. Elsewhere righteousness is called beautiful clothing (Job 29:14; Psalms 132:9; Isaiah 61:10) and fine linen (Revelation 19:8).
Regardless of how many or how notable our good works are, they clothe us with no more than filthy rags. True righteousness is not a put on, but comes only by wearing Jesus Christ. As we increasingly yield our hearts to His Spirit, we exude His character in our thoughts and feelings, words and actions. When Jesus is at work through us, His glorious righteousness covers us as a garment of light.
Shall Darkness overcome such Light?
"O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."
~ John 17:25-26 (NKJV)
If marks of righteousness can be identified, surely they are love and unity.
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Come, Follow, Go – Part III
How Far Will You Go?
"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me."
~ from Luke 9:23-24 (NKJV)
"Go into all the world" need not bring fear of the globe's distant corners. The missionary heart called to Timbuktu can hardly wait to get there.
Consider more terrifying places: upon the daily cross, we crucify the flesh where sin and death linger; in the heart's mirror, we behold our unlikeness to the Master and yield to His makeover; at the soul's sacred altars—where we pray "anything but that!"—we destroy idols which enslave us.
Yet "we do not lose heart"! Wherever our Lord sends us, He accompanies us. Wherever His Spirit leads, we discover new liberty.
Comments, questions, and respectful disagreement are welcome.
Reply via comments at BuildingHisBody.com,
or e-mail buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
~ from Luke 9:23-24 (NKJV)
"Go into all the world" need not bring fear of the globe's distant corners. The missionary heart called to Timbuktu can hardly wait to get there.
Consider more terrifying places: upon the daily cross, we crucify the flesh where sin and death linger; in the heart's mirror, we behold our unlikeness to the Master and yield to His makeover; at the soul's sacred altars—where we pray "anything but that!"—we destroy idols which enslave us.
Yet "we do not lose heart"! Wherever our Lord sends us, He accompanies us. Wherever His Spirit leads, we discover new liberty.
"Most of God's people are content to be saved from the hell without;
they are not so anxious to be saved from the hell within."
~Robert M. McCheyne
they are not so anxious to be saved from the hell within."
~Robert M. McCheyne
Comments, questions, and respectful disagreement are welcome.
Reply via comments at BuildingHisBody.com,
or e-mail buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Fairy Tale Not
Once upon a time a small girl lost her way in a dark forest ruled by an evil ogre, who captured the girl and shackled her with strong chains. The ogre often came by to amuse himself by frightening her, until the girl grew accustomed to him and to living in darkness and terror. And when she grew to be a maiden the ogre made her fully his.
Many years passed, and the young woman sometimes wondered if dreams of a loving papa and beautiful little girl in a sparkling city might be memories. But she once caught her reflection of dirty face and matted hair in a rain puddle, and saw her tattered rags and thought of her life with the ogre, and knew her dreams could not be real.
One day a woodcutter arrived in the forest. He offered her fresh water and fed her with warm bread and asked if she wished to someday follow him to the city. She feared the plain stranger and refused him, but he returned every day with food and the same offer.
When the ogre next came by, he found her well fed and raged against the woodcutter, warning her that the strange man sought to capture her so he might shame her filth and ugliness if she went to the city. The woodcutter returned the next day, and the ogre screamed that he could not have the girl for she belonged to the forest and to himself.
The woodcutter drew a sword and a key, bargaining his life for hers with the ogre, promising the girl he would one day return and marry her if she chose to be free. The ogre received the sword with a laugh and slew the woodcutter. The girl took the bloody key from the woodcutter’s hand, while the ogre ridiculed her dead hero and any thought of being a bride.
The girl long wept for the woodcutter, until one day she drew the key and unshackled herself. The ogre appeared at once and his taunts prevented her running away from him. But each night thereafter she dreamt of the woodcutter, who stood in clothes of gleaming white and spoke kindly to her and told her of secret treasures He’d hidden for her in the forest.
The girl began to venture farther and farther away from her chains, discovering beautiful garments and perfumes and jewelry and a rushing waterfall in which to bathe. The ogre never went away or ceased to torment her, but he no longer touched her and she came to stop fearing him. In her dreams the woodcutter had become a prince, assuring her that he lived to return for her, and she believed him and dwelt with joy even in the dark forest.
Then one day the living woodcutter become prince was crowned king, and he came for her on a white horse. She did not know that she radiated beauty in her joy and cleanliness and white garments, for she'd never quite stopped thinking of herself as a dirty little girl with matted hair in rags defiled by an ogre.
But her beloved woodcutter had always seen her as she would be this day, and had loved her from the beginning.
And they lived happily ever after.
~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~
"Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
~ Revelation 19:7-8 (NKJV)
Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True ... And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
~ Revelation 19:11,16 (NKJV)
I appreciate hearing from you. Questions are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments or e-mail me—my address is
buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com.
Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Image source: truthinlove.com.au
Many years passed, and the young woman sometimes wondered if dreams of a loving papa and beautiful little girl in a sparkling city might be memories. But she once caught her reflection of dirty face and matted hair in a rain puddle, and saw her tattered rags and thought of her life with the ogre, and knew her dreams could not be real.
One day a woodcutter arrived in the forest. He offered her fresh water and fed her with warm bread and asked if she wished to someday follow him to the city. She feared the plain stranger and refused him, but he returned every day with food and the same offer.
When the ogre next came by, he found her well fed and raged against the woodcutter, warning her that the strange man sought to capture her so he might shame her filth and ugliness if she went to the city. The woodcutter returned the next day, and the ogre screamed that he could not have the girl for she belonged to the forest and to himself.
The woodcutter drew a sword and a key, bargaining his life for hers with the ogre, promising the girl he would one day return and marry her if she chose to be free. The ogre received the sword with a laugh and slew the woodcutter. The girl took the bloody key from the woodcutter’s hand, while the ogre ridiculed her dead hero and any thought of being a bride.
The girl long wept for the woodcutter, until one day she drew the key and unshackled herself. The ogre appeared at once and his taunts prevented her running away from him. But each night thereafter she dreamt of the woodcutter, who stood in clothes of gleaming white and spoke kindly to her and told her of secret treasures He’d hidden for her in the forest.
The girl began to venture farther and farther away from her chains, discovering beautiful garments and perfumes and jewelry and a rushing waterfall in which to bathe. The ogre never went away or ceased to torment her, but he no longer touched her and she came to stop fearing him. In her dreams the woodcutter had become a prince, assuring her that he lived to return for her, and she believed him and dwelt with joy even in the dark forest.
Then one day the living woodcutter become prince was crowned king, and he came for her on a white horse. She did not know that she radiated beauty in her joy and cleanliness and white garments, for she'd never quite stopped thinking of herself as a dirty little girl with matted hair in rags defiled by an ogre.
But her beloved woodcutter had always seen her as she would be this day, and had loved her from the beginning.
And they lived happily ever after.
~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~
"Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
~ Revelation 19:7-8 (NKJV)
Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True ... And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
~ Revelation 19:11,16 (NKJV)
I appreciate hearing from you. Questions are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments or e-mail me—my address is
buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com.
Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Image source: truthinlove.com.au
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Conquest
Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You.
~ Psalms 119:11 (NKJV)
Conquest
How does the human soul
comprehend that it is whole
for to it Your Spirit binds.
My joy You intimately know
only in You is it able to grow
fleeting happiness is not the same kind.
My griefs You also share
Rooted in sin and heavy to bear
You reveal the guilt which is mine.
No condemnation You hold
Your blood makes me white as snow
You bid me leave sorrow behind.
A tender heart of desire You need
Your Word is sown as Your seed
And conquest power I find.
I love hearing from you. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments or e-mail BuildingHisBody@gmail.com.
Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
That I might not sin against You.
~ Psalms 119:11 (NKJV)
Conquest
How does the human soul
comprehend that it is whole
for to it Your Spirit binds.
My joy You intimately know
only in You is it able to grow
fleeting happiness is not the same kind.
My griefs You also share
Rooted in sin and heavy to bear
You reveal the guilt which is mine.
No condemnation You hold
Your blood makes me white as snow
You bid me leave sorrow behind.
A tender heart of desire You need
Your Word is sown as Your seed
And conquest power I find.
I love hearing from you. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments or e-mail BuildingHisBody@gmail.com.
Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Monday, July 26, 2010
The Necessity of Beauty
The look at the book of Revelation begun in January was interrupted. It will be picked up again, going back to the beginning for continuity.
"Though we travel the world over
to find the beautiful,
we must carry it with us
or find it not."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
The Necessity of Beauty
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
~ Revelation 1:3 (NKJV)
The Bible's last book—"The Revelation of Jesus Christ"—is exhaustively studied concerning end times and Christ's second coming. But what might the book reveal about the Person of Jesus as He prepares to receive not only a throne but also His bride, the church?
Ancient Israelite custom was for the bridegroom to prepare the couple's home and wedding, while the bride gave full attention to preparing herself as would please her husband. Among the betrothal gifts he gave her were garments, perhaps as an indication of his preferences.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church ...
~ Ephesians 5:25-27 (NKJV)
This journey through Revelation will look specifically at Jesus, the garments of righteousness He gives His bride, and how he defines His bride's beauty. We'll look again at the necessity of beauty, not for the world's sake, but in anticipation of pleasing our Beloved Bridegroom.
Lord Jesus Christ, You are King of kings, Lord of lords, and most especially our Beloved Bridegroom. Please give Your Holy Spirit as our divine Valet, to open our eyes to what most pleases You, that we might make ready for Your coming.
FOLLOW-UP NOTE: An invitation for response from the male perspective is included in Wendy's comment below.
Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com Comments or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
#Biblestudy
Photo from eternal-wedding-design.com
"Though we travel the world overto find the beautiful,
we must carry it with us
or find it not."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
The Necessity of Beauty
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
~ Revelation 1:3 (NKJV)
The Bible's last book—"The Revelation of Jesus Christ"—is exhaustively studied concerning end times and Christ's second coming. But what might the book reveal about the Person of Jesus as He prepares to receive not only a throne but also His bride, the church?
Ancient Israelite custom was for the bridegroom to prepare the couple's home and wedding, while the bride gave full attention to preparing herself as would please her husband. Among the betrothal gifts he gave her were garments, perhaps as an indication of his preferences.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church ...
~ Ephesians 5:25-27 (NKJV)
This journey through Revelation will look specifically at Jesus, the garments of righteousness He gives His bride, and how he defines His bride's beauty. We'll look again at the necessity of beauty, not for the world's sake, but in anticipation of pleasing our Beloved Bridegroom.
Lord Jesus Christ, You are King of kings, Lord of lords, and most especially our Beloved Bridegroom. Please give Your Holy Spirit as our divine Valet, to open our eyes to what most pleases You, that we might make ready for Your coming.
FOLLOW-UP NOTE: An invitation for response from the male perspective is included in Wendy's comment below.
Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com Comments or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
#Biblestudy
Photo from eternal-wedding-design.com
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Refiner's Fire
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love.
~ 1 Peter 1:6-8 (NKJV)
These brief hours on the earth aren't about me, and not even about now.
It's all about Him, the glory we can give Him now, and the glory shared with Him for our eternity together.
He's irresistibly drawn to the holiness in us which is like His own, and He makes us increasingly like Himself. The more we are like Him, the more we know Him, the more we love Him.
Here am I, Lord.
Have Your way with me.
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold and precious silver
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold, pure gold
Refiner's fire
My heart's one desire
Is to be holy
Set apart for You, Lord
I choose to be holy
Set apart for You, my Master
Ready to do Your will
Purify my heart
Cleanse me from within
And make me holy
Purify my heart
Cleanse me from my sin
Deep within
Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com Comments or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Music and Lyrics of Refiner's Fire by Brian Doerksen Copyright 2004 Integrity Media, Inc.
~ 1 Peter 1:6-8 (NKJV)
These brief hours on the earth aren't about me, and not even about now.
It's all about Him, the glory we can give Him now, and the glory shared with Him for our eternity together.
He's irresistibly drawn to the holiness in us which is like His own, and He makes us increasingly like Himself. The more we are like Him, the more we know Him, the more we love Him.
Here am I, Lord.
Have Your way with me.
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold and precious silver
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold, pure gold
Refiner's fire
My heart's one desire
Is to be holy
Set apart for You, Lord
I choose to be holy
Set apart for You, my Master
Ready to do Your will
Purify my heart
Cleanse me from within
And make me holy
Purify my heart
Cleanse me from my sin
Deep within
Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com Comments or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Music and Lyrics of Refiner's Fire by Brian Doerksen Copyright 2004 Integrity Media, Inc.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
The Discipline of Suffering
The Question of the Week on Bullets and Butterflies last Saturday was "Why Suffering?" The answer will be expanded on this week's posts here.
The Discipline of Suffering
"For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and He whips every son whom He receives." ... If you do not receive discipline (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are bastards and not sons.
~ Hebrews 12:6,8 (author)
In the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.
~ Hebrews 5:7-8 (NKJV)
Depending on motivation, the discipline of suffering is seen as either desirable or undesirable.
Discipline is defined as training, and the controlled behavior which results from training. When athletes train, they inflict pain on themselves that would be considered cruelty from anyone else. With motivation to attain a goal, discipline is valued.
Discipline can also refer to chastening for the purpose of corrective training. When an authority wishes to motivate us to achieve a goal we’ve yet to make our own, correction is at best humbling, and at worst painful. The discipline of suffering is rejected.
The Lord’s goal for us is to humble us so we are able to know Him, able to love Him, able to be like Him. He wants us as His disciples. A good disciple requires both self-imposed and God-imposed discipline.
When yielded to the Holy Spirit, we may experience pain, but it is possible to embrace that pain with faith that it is God’s instrument of training. But if we doubt God's goodness, cling to pride, or make pain avoidance a higher goal than discipleship, we will not only resent suffering, but may even find that doubt or pride or pain avoidance becomes a god which usurps God.
Discipline can be given to not only individuals but also groups of people, such as when natural disaster occurs. If—if it seems that areas hit by disaster are characterized by flagrant immorality (such as New Orleans and Haiti), I would contend against anyone who cries “Judgment!” that God’s judgment is reserved for a time yet to come. Disaster is simply God’s discipline, to train those yielded to God, to chastise those who need to be humbled, to warn those who will not be humbled that judgment shall be more painful than discipline.
If inclined to complain “Not fair!” about the discipline of suffering, it helps to remember that the only righteous Person undeserving of suffering was Jesus, and His is the greatest suffering of all—not just the pain of Calvary, but of all suffering every human has ever known.
More on that for Friday’s post, “The Overcoming of Suffering.”
Lord Jesus, please let us ever be grateful for the great suffering You endured to prevent our eternal suffering. Please help us to believe that our Father loves us when He chastens us. Please let our love for You motivate us to cooperate with Your Holy Spirit.
Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
#suffering
Image source: iowaprepsports.com
"No pain no gain."
~ Mantra of Athletes
~ Mantra of Athletes
The Discipline of Suffering
"For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and He whips every son whom He receives." ... If you do not receive discipline (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are bastards and not sons.
~ Hebrews 12:6,8 (author)
In the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.
~ Hebrews 5:7-8 (NKJV)
Depending on motivation, the discipline of suffering is seen as either desirable or undesirable.
Discipline is defined as training, and the controlled behavior which results from training. When athletes train, they inflict pain on themselves that would be considered cruelty from anyone else. With motivation to attain a goal, discipline is valued.
Discipline can also refer to chastening for the purpose of corrective training. When an authority wishes to motivate us to achieve a goal we’ve yet to make our own, correction is at best humbling, and at worst painful. The discipline of suffering is rejected.
The Lord’s goal for us is to humble us so we are able to know Him, able to love Him, able to be like Him. He wants us as His disciples. A good disciple requires both self-imposed and God-imposed discipline.
When yielded to the Holy Spirit, we may experience pain, but it is possible to embrace that pain with faith that it is God’s instrument of training. But if we doubt God's goodness, cling to pride, or make pain avoidance a higher goal than discipleship, we will not only resent suffering, but may even find that doubt or pride or pain avoidance becomes a god which usurps God.
Discipline can be given to not only individuals but also groups of people, such as when natural disaster occurs. If—if it seems that areas hit by disaster are characterized by flagrant immorality (such as New Orleans and Haiti), I would contend against anyone who cries “Judgment!” that God’s judgment is reserved for a time yet to come. Disaster is simply God’s discipline, to train those yielded to God, to chastise those who need to be humbled, to warn those who will not be humbled that judgment shall be more painful than discipline.
If inclined to complain “Not fair!” about the discipline of suffering, it helps to remember that the only righteous Person undeserving of suffering was Jesus, and His is the greatest suffering of all—not just the pain of Calvary, but of all suffering every human has ever known.
More on that for Friday’s post, “The Overcoming of Suffering.”
Lord Jesus, please let us ever be grateful for the great suffering You endured to prevent our eternal suffering. Please help us to believe that our Father loves us when He chastens us. Please let our love for You motivate us to cooperate with Your Holy Spirit.
Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
#suffering
Image source: iowaprepsports.com
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Confront Lust
The theme for the Blog Carnival hosted today by Bridget Chumbley is lust. (More articles on "Lust" are here.)
The first gentle piece I wrote for today was rather wimpy so I tossed it. And since it was in a Twitter discussion that Mike Ellis suggested this theme and I responded with the dare for constructive confrontation of lust, I thought it only fair of me to meet that challenge head-on with these more forthright words.
====================
"The average girl would rather have beauty than brains because she knows the average man can see better than he can think."
~ Anonymous
Confront Lust
"I have made a covenant with my eyes;
Why then should I look upon a young woman?"
~ Job 31:1 (NKJV)
Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
~ Proverbs 31:30 (NKJV)
Because they are less discreet, men are seen as the gender with a lust problem. Before addressing female lust, shall we acknowledge that women help perpetuate male lust with the way they present themselves?
I’m not proud to admit it, but I remember what it was like a couple of decades back to measure all my attire, adornment and mannerisms by their affect on the opposite sex. Shame on me and the women who have tried to manipulate a man’s attention with subtle (or not so subtle) yet open seduction. And it is seduction, even if a woman says she doesn’t mean it that way.
Gentlemen, surely you are not so weak and stupid that you cannot see such female behavior for the snare it is. If you don’t want to be a woman’s prey, I suggest you keep your attention on her from the neck up, and keep your contact with her clean. I know this can be a challenge, because my own eyes have difficulty from straying to attention grabbers on women—and hardly because I'm attracted to it. But if a painfully attractive, bronzed and bare-chested construction worker can stand three feet from me while I keep my eyes above his neck, keep my hormones in check, and keep my attention on the roof work being discussed, then I know it’s possible for you to do likewise with women.
Ladies, do you reduce yourselves to a pretty piece of hairdo and flesh? If you do get a man to drool over the outward, how difficult will it be to re-divert his attention to the inward? Women were created not as advertisements, but to radiate beauty—the beauty of the Lord's light.
Furthermore, ladies, can we acknowledge that our lust may be as pervasive as men's? If we don't struggle with keeping our eyes above a man's neck, it's because that's where our primary lust lies. Regardless of any interest in his body, we're more interested in his attention.
What do little girls dream of? The Prince Charming who will marry the maiden and shower her with his love so that they live happily ever after. But either Prince Charming fails to marry us, and leaves us with broken hearts; or, he marries us, we discover that Prince Charming has other things on his mind besides us, and we decide he's not so perfect.
So we're inclined to lust after potential Prince Charmings: the co-worker who's such a gentleman; the man at church who treats his wife in a manner we wish a man might treat us; the kind and handsome sir who frequently crosses our path too briefly. The fact that female lust is more emotional than physical doesn't mean it isn't lust, and doesn't make it less dangerous to either present or future marriage.
We women forget that no man is perfect, and no man can meet all of our emotional needs. Admit it ladies: if you were married to the Lord Jesus Himself you'd complain that He gives work all His attention and is on the road too much.
If you're a single woman, be careful about where you let your heart wander. You'll miss out on blessings of what is if you're too caught up dreaming of what might be.
If you're a married woman and have serious marital issues, address them respectfully. But remember that you're not perfect, and no matter how your husband might change he still wouldn't be perfect. Resolve not to day dream about other men, make your marriage the very best it can be, and give your husband the respect, attention and passion that belong to him, both in the bedroom and elsewhere.
Men, if you feel your wife fails to give you all this, do you fantasize or lust over women who might? If your wife isn't generous enough with physical affection, do you feel you're being denied your marital rights? Do you deny her the affection and attention which warm her—which constitute her marital rights? The Bible says, "Husbands, love your wives." Do you love your wife and put her needs above your own, as Paul instructs? Or do you turn the attention that belongs to her elsewhere? (Just some suggested thoughts from a woman's point of view.)
There's plenty more I might say. I'll simply leave men and women alike with a recommendation for "bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ." Trying to push away temptation doesn't tend to be effective, because the resulting void creates a vacuum into which the temptation returns.
More effective is filling your mind and heart with something more valuable than the object of temptation.
Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Photo from glamour.com
The first gentle piece I wrote for today was rather wimpy so I tossed it. And since it was in a Twitter discussion that Mike Ellis suggested this theme and I responded with the dare for constructive confrontation of lust, I thought it only fair of me to meet that challenge head-on with these more forthright words.====================
"The average girl would rather have beauty than brains because she knows the average man can see better than he can think."
~ Anonymous
Confront Lust
"I have made a covenant with my eyes;
Why then should I look upon a young woman?"
~ Job 31:1 (NKJV)
Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
~ Proverbs 31:30 (NKJV)
Because they are less discreet, men are seen as the gender with a lust problem. Before addressing female lust, shall we acknowledge that women help perpetuate male lust with the way they present themselves?
I’m not proud to admit it, but I remember what it was like a couple of decades back to measure all my attire, adornment and mannerisms by their affect on the opposite sex. Shame on me and the women who have tried to manipulate a man’s attention with subtle (or not so subtle) yet open seduction. And it is seduction, even if a woman says she doesn’t mean it that way.
Gentlemen, surely you are not so weak and stupid that you cannot see such female behavior for the snare it is. If you don’t want to be a woman’s prey, I suggest you keep your attention on her from the neck up, and keep your contact with her clean. I know this can be a challenge, because my own eyes have difficulty from straying to attention grabbers on women—and hardly because I'm attracted to it. But if a painfully attractive, bronzed and bare-chested construction worker can stand three feet from me while I keep my eyes above his neck, keep my hormones in check, and keep my attention on the roof work being discussed, then I know it’s possible for you to do likewise with women.
Ladies, do you reduce yourselves to a pretty piece of hairdo and flesh? If you do get a man to drool over the outward, how difficult will it be to re-divert his attention to the inward? Women were created not as advertisements, but to radiate beauty—the beauty of the Lord's light.
Furthermore, ladies, can we acknowledge that our lust may be as pervasive as men's? If we don't struggle with keeping our eyes above a man's neck, it's because that's where our primary lust lies. Regardless of any interest in his body, we're more interested in his attention.
What do little girls dream of? The Prince Charming who will marry the maiden and shower her with his love so that they live happily ever after. But either Prince Charming fails to marry us, and leaves us with broken hearts; or, he marries us, we discover that Prince Charming has other things on his mind besides us, and we decide he's not so perfect.
So we're inclined to lust after potential Prince Charmings: the co-worker who's such a gentleman; the man at church who treats his wife in a manner we wish a man might treat us; the kind and handsome sir who frequently crosses our path too briefly. The fact that female lust is more emotional than physical doesn't mean it isn't lust, and doesn't make it less dangerous to either present or future marriage.
We women forget that no man is perfect, and no man can meet all of our emotional needs. Admit it ladies: if you were married to the Lord Jesus Himself you'd complain that He gives work all His attention and is on the road too much.
If you're a single woman, be careful about where you let your heart wander. You'll miss out on blessings of what is if you're too caught up dreaming of what might be.
If you're a married woman and have serious marital issues, address them respectfully. But remember that you're not perfect, and no matter how your husband might change he still wouldn't be perfect. Resolve not to day dream about other men, make your marriage the very best it can be, and give your husband the respect, attention and passion that belong to him, both in the bedroom and elsewhere.
Men, if you feel your wife fails to give you all this, do you fantasize or lust over women who might? If your wife isn't generous enough with physical affection, do you feel you're being denied your marital rights? Do you deny her the affection and attention which warm her—which constitute her marital rights? The Bible says, "Husbands, love your wives." Do you love your wife and put her needs above your own, as Paul instructs? Or do you turn the attention that belongs to her elsewhere? (Just some suggested thoughts from a woman's point of view.)
There's plenty more I might say. I'll simply leave men and women alike with a recommendation for "bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ." Trying to push away temptation doesn't tend to be effective, because the resulting void creates a vacuum into which the temptation returns.
More effective is filling your mind and heart with something more valuable than the object of temptation.
I say then: Walk in the Spirit,
and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
~ Galatians 5:16 (NKJV)
and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
~ Galatians 5:16 (NKJV)
A postscript: Wives, husbands, remember to pray for each other. Even if you're single, you can pray now for the man or woman the Lord might one day make your spouse.
Father in Heaven, please use Your Holy Spirit to speak to each of us how You'd fill us with something better than whatever we might lust after. Please increase our desire for such blessing. Please give us all the needed strength to direct our hearts and minds toward You.Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Photo from glamour.com
Monday, January 11, 2010
The Necessity of Beauty, Part Two
"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful,we must carry it with us or find it not."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
The Necessity of Beauty,
Part Two
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
~ Ephesians 5:25-27 (NKJV)
Today is an interlude between a look at Psalms and returning to the New Testament.
My rotation has been to follow Psalms with a Gospel. But since I've now blogged on all four Gospels, I thought I'd look at Jesus through the book titled "The Revelation of Jesus Christ."
The last book of the Bible is seen primarily as a prophecy of end times. My intent is to look less at the plans and promises of the Lord for His second coming, but at His Person. Every book of the Bible reveals the Lord Jesus. How much more so the book with such a title?
The Lord's second coming is not only to receive a throne, but to receive a bride.
For the ancient Israelite wedding, the bridegroom made all the preparations for both the couple's home and the wedding feast. The bride gave her full attention to preparing only herself. She did all within her means to make herself beautiful for her husband. He might even give her garments as betrothal gifts, perhaps as an indication of his preferences.
In looking at the Lord Jesus Himself, might we also discover what He looks for in His bride—His preferences? What might garments of righteousness which He gives to us look like?
Last Monday's Necessity of Beauty was a look at Christ's church as His witness to the world. We'll look again at the necessity of beauty, not for the world's sake, but in anticipation of pleasing our Beloved Bridegroom.
Since tomorrow's post will be on the topic of Lust for the Blog Carnival, I'll plan to open the book of Revelation on Wednesday.
Lord Jesus Christ, You are King of kings, Lord of lords, and most especially our Beloved Bridegroom. Please give Your Holy Spirit as our valet, to open our eyes to what most pleases You, that we might make ready for Your coming.
Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
#Biblestudy
Photo from eternal-wedding-design.com
Friday, January 8, 2010
Friday Freelance: FIRE
I breathe
I eat
I dance
I die
And yet I never live
You can feel me
But cannot touch me
Although your heart may hold me
Nothing with life survives without me
And nothing of heaven and earth will survive me
I am Fire
Friday Freelance: FIRE
Few things please and fascinate me as does fire.
Dancing flames soothe my soul as might crashing waves or gently babbling brook or wind whispering in pines. I'd rather stare at a fire than T.V. any time. Add one of my daughters at the piano or violin, a glass of Riesling, an open Bible—you might just convince me that I've died and gone to Heaven.
A most captivating mystery of fire is that I stuff log after log into a stove that utterly destroys the wood, returns beauty and warmth, and leaves behind bits of ashes. My mind knows there's some scientific equation about matter and energy that explains this. My soul cares not a whit.
Perhaps most fascinating to me is that the Holy Spirit of Almighty God is represented by fire. Though He is also represented as water and air (and even as a dove), His representation as the fire taken into our bosoms which does not burn us deeply resonates with me. Whatever mighty transformation the Lord may achieve by the power of water or air, nothing can completely alter matter as can fire.
"Who can endure the day of His coming?
And who can stand when He appears?
For He, like a purifying fire ...
Will be enthroned to refine and purify His wealth,
Will purify His priestly sons ...
That they may rightly bring offerings to YHWH."
~ Malachi 3:2-3 (author paraphrase)
I've said before that when I surrendered to the Holy Spirit, He did an "extreme makeover—soul edition." The woman who was baptized on December 4, 1988 is still alive, but she bears little resemblance to the person I am now. Fire has completely altered what once existed.
The last two months have been a study of Psalms 101 thru 125, which I introduced as "thoughts on praise and suffering." The Psalms are valued for their words of praise. They say nearly as much about suffering.
I do not think the two can be separated. Suffering is the fire that purifies the offering—the sacrifice—of praise.
Suffering is the matter taken by the Spirit's fire and transformed into the currency of ashes which the Lord exchanges for His beauty.
"Christ-followers have more at their disposal
to handle pain & suffering than anyone else on earth.
One might even argue that we were designed for it."
~Sarah Markley
Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
"I am Fire" poem by Anne Lang Bundy
Image from images.google.com
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Test or Temptation?
"Many fail in battle because they wait until the hour of battle...Anticipate your battles; fight them on your knees
before temptation comes."
~ R.A. Torrey
Test or Temptation?
"If it had not been the LORD who was on our side ...
Then the waters would have overwhelmed us,
The stream would have gone over our soul;
Then the swollen waters
Would have gone over our soul."
~ Psalms 124:2,4-5 (NKJV)
"And lead us not into temptation ... "
~ Matthew 6:13 (KJV)
Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
~ James 1:13 (NKJV)
If anything is Greek to me, it's understanding the distinction between the related words peirazo, peira, peirasmos, peirazo as they are translated tempt[ation], try/trial, and test.
I also admit that Jesus instructing us to ask the Father "lead us not into temptation" presents an odd contrast with the Scripture which says God does not tempt. Of little help is the explanation I've heard that temptation is from the devil trying to make us fall and testing is from God trying to make us strong. When I'm going through it, temptation, trial and testing have little differentiation, and I seem as likely to stumble upon all three.
Perhaps the day will come when I can successfully discern between temptation, trial and testing, and more clearly see the best response. For now, I look at all three as a test allowed by God to make me more Christlike.
For now, I simply accept Jesus' instruction, and regularly offer this prayer:
Lord, when temptation comes, please use it to make us more holy, like You. Please use it to wash us not drown us, refine us not burn us. Please draw us to walk closely at the side of You, our Shepherd, and to acknowledge You in all our ways, so that we will follow You safely leading us around or above or even through temptation, but never into it, until we are beyond it.
Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2010, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
#discipleship
Photo from thomerica.com
Monday, November 30, 2009
The Day of the Lord
"Spiritual warriors fight for love, fight for light,
and believe in what others say is impossible."
~ Maura Casey
and believe in what others say is impossible."
~ Maura Casey
The Day of the Lord
#biblestudy
Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power,
in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning:
thou hast the dew of thy youth.
~ Psalms 110:3 (KJV)
Your troops will be willing on your day of battle.
Arrayed in holy splendor, your young men will come to you
like dew from the morning's womb.
~ Psalms 110:3 (TNIV)
... when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe ...
~ 2 Thessalonians 1:10 (NKJV)
While the Psalms are all poetical, Psalm 110:3 is more so. The Lord has allowed to King David the prophet that his eyes should see the glory of the coming of the Lord. The majestic vision has evidently compelled David to use language even more evocative and figurative than usual. Of roughly 30 Bible versions I consulted, the translations for this particular verse were highly varied. As is often the case with poetry, no one understands it quite the same.
Here's what I see in today's passage from Psalms, translated to prose:
During the long dry months from perhaps April thru October, Israel's ground receives no life-sustaining moisture except the dew. For someone like David, in exile from Saul for many long years, and often in the desert wilderness, the dew was indeed a glorious display of life from the womb of the morning. His glimpse of the Day of the Lord was more glorious yet, for it was a day long awaited, accompanied by the Lord's bride in all of her own glory, willingly at her King's side as He faces His enemies.
Our adornment shall be the splendor of holiness. Holiness gets a bad name, because artificial holiness is a source of pride. True holiness is being like Christ, in all the beauty of His goodness and love, with all the strength of youth in its prime.
The Day of the Lord is awaited by Him with even more zeal than by us. When the hour finally arrives for the Lord Jesus to display His might, it will be as lovely as the early dawn—the best part of the day—and it will be only the first light of our Lord's reign.
Lord Jesus, we see the signs You said would tell us it is near—right at the door! How happy we are that we shall see you soon. How beautiful shall be the King and His bride. Prepare us, Lord. Make us beautiful in Your eyes.
Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Photo from flickr.com
Thursday, November 12, 2009
As Far as the East is from the West
"Nearness to God is the foundation of a creature's happiness."
~ Isaac Watts
~ Isaac Watts
As Far as the East is from the West
#salvation
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
~ Psalms 103:11-12 (NKJV)
In Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin... Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
~ 1 John 3:5-6,9 (NKJV)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
~ 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)
The north and south poles are 12,436 miles apart. No such extreme point exists between east and west. The distance between them is not infinite. The two are simply opposed to one another without measurement.
The Hebrew word for transgression is pesha. It means the sin of rebellion, revolt, or to throw off authority. Such rebellion puts us in opposition to God—as opposed as east and west.
When we come to fear the Lord—to recognize Him as Almighty God and stand down from opposing Him—He makes available the mercy of Calvary. There God took the transgression of man upon Himself and removed it "as far as the east is from the west." God now draws near.
God once stood afar off. Now sin is far removed. Sin once tightly bound us. He is now tightly bound to us. Sin was once deeply inside of us. He is now inside of us.
Holy God will not have sin where He resides. Thus sin cannot be in us. Never.
If we commit sinful thoughts, feelings, words and actions, how are they not sin? Because they are no longer attributed to us. No matter what we do, it is no longer counted as sin, for then it would also touch Him.
This is no license to permit sin to abound—a topic of Hebrews 10:26-29 and well-covered in other posts here. It simply describes the liberty in which we walk as new creations.
Precious Abba, what words could we offer in gratitude for what You have done? You have taken what is most disgusting in our lives, filled with death, and exchanged Yourself—fullness of lovingkindness, goodness, light, peace, life, joy, love. We stand in awe.
Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Photo from facilities.pps.k12.or.us
Monday, November 2, 2009
Made Perfect
"There is only one thing more painful than learning from experience,
and that is not learning from experience."
~ Laurence J. Peter
and that is not learning from experience."
~ Laurence J. Peter
Made Perfect
#discipleship
"... everything that can endure fire, you shall put through the fire, and it shall be clean; and it shall be purified with the water of purification. But all that cannot endure fire you shall put through water."
~ Numbers 31:23 (NKJV)
Although He was God's Son, yet He learned obedience from the sufferings which He endured; and so, having been made perfect, He became to all who obey Him the source and giver of eternal salvation.
~ Hebrews 5:8-9 (WNT)
This passage from Hebrews is one of endless fascination to me. Jesus—the perfection of God in human flesh—was "made perfect" (or "made complete") by learning obedience to His Father. He became something more than He already was in this experience.
Jesus didn't want to do this. We see his anguish in Gethsemane. He speaks at it several times beforehand, such as in His words of Luke 12:49-50: "I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!"
Jesus had already been baptized with water. Whatever else His baptism did, it showed that Jesus was willing to be identified with our humanity, and our sin. In His fire baptism at Calvary He again identified with our sin—but this time He overcame it with His death.
Christ's blood atones for, or "covers" our sin. But to be made perfect, we must also be baptized in water and fire. There are some things that the water of His Word cleanses. But there are other impurities in our lives that simply must undergo fire for us to learn what we must if we shall be complete.
If we would be as pure gold, nothing less than the Refiner's touch will do.
Lord Jesus, You know well the fire. You have learned its necessity. Please give us hearts to endure the searing pain with faith. Please let us not shrink back from Your Spirit's touch. Please quicken our hearts to be cleansed by the water of Your Word and avoid the flame.
Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Artwork "Road to the Cross" by Brian Jekel © 2006 Dayspring
Thursday, October 15, 2009
As One Dead
"When you judge another person,
you do not define him or her, you define yourself."
- Wayne Dyer
you do not define him or her, you define yourself."
- Wayne Dyer
As One Dead
#powerofwords
Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses ... "Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?" ... So the anger of the LORD was aroused against them ... suddenly Miriam became leprous, as white as snow... So Aaron said to Moses, "Oh, my lord! Please do not lay this sin on us ... Please do not let her be as one dead."
Numbers 12:1-2,9-12 (NKJV)
And it happened, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the City of David, that Michal, Saul's daughter, looked through a window and saw King David whirling and playing music; and she despised him in her heart... Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.
1 Chronicles 15:29; 2 Samuel 6:23 (NKJV)
Where do you see barrenness? Is there a person, a relationship, or a church you know of which lacks spiritual life, as one dead or dying?
Is a critical spirit present?
Here are two biblical examples of a critical spirit leading to quenched life. It is a simple matter of sowing and reaping. Critical words tear people down, robbing them of life. Those who speak them are likewise robbed of life.
Ironically, a common response when recognizing that someone has judgmental and critical spirit is to ... judge and criticize the person. Do you see a problem here? If we want to reap spiritual life, we must consistently sow words of life and love. (I speak as one who's lived on both sides of the problem.)
Perhaps the people who need such words most are the critical and judgmental ones, who need an example of someone gently and lovingly sharing with them where and why things are amiss.
Father, thank You for looking at Your children without condemnation. Please let us see one another through eyes of love first, and then with discernment of how to speak words of healing and peace. Please fill our hearts and mouths and keyboards with words of life.
Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
#powerofwords
Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses ... "Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?" ... So the anger of the LORD was aroused against them ... suddenly Miriam became leprous, as white as snow... So Aaron said to Moses, "Oh, my lord! Please do not lay this sin on us ... Please do not let her be as one dead."
Numbers 12:1-2,9-12 (NKJV)
And it happened, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the City of David, that Michal, Saul's daughter, looked through a window and saw King David whirling and playing music; and she despised him in her heart... Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.
1 Chronicles 15:29; 2 Samuel 6:23 (NKJV)
Where do you see barrenness? Is there a person, a relationship, or a church you know of which lacks spiritual life, as one dead or dying?
Is a critical spirit present?
Here are two biblical examples of a critical spirit leading to quenched life. It is a simple matter of sowing and reaping. Critical words tear people down, robbing them of life. Those who speak them are likewise robbed of life.
Ironically, a common response when recognizing that someone has judgmental and critical spirit is to ... judge and criticize the person. Do you see a problem here? If we want to reap spiritual life, we must consistently sow words of life and love. (I speak as one who's lived on both sides of the problem.)
Perhaps the people who need such words most are the critical and judgmental ones, who need an example of someone gently and lovingly sharing with them where and why things are amiss.
Father, thank You for looking at Your children without condemnation. Please let us see one another through eyes of love first, and then with discernment of how to speak words of healing and peace. Please fill our hearts and mouths and keyboards with words of life.
Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Sowing and Reaping
This Tuesday thru Thursday, posts will focus on three key principles of the Christian life.
"What goes around comes around."
~ cliché
Sowing and Reaping
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
~ Galatians 6:7 (NKJV)
"Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."
~ Luke 6:38 (NKJV)
Call it a cliché. Call it karma. Call it poetic justice.
The fact is, God's Word does say that we reap what we've sown.
This does not mean that bad things won't happen to good people. It doesn't mean that wicked people will never prosper. It is simply a principle of God as certain as gravity, which He will bring to pass in due time.
What are you struggling with right now? Anger? Bitterness? Impatience? You do well to give in quickly to the righteousness the Holy Spirit is trying to accomplish in you. The longer we persist in unpleasant behavior, the more likely we are to see it crop up in our own lives from others.
What would you like to reap right now? Attentiveness? Forgiveness? Love? Try to sow seeds of that gift in the lives of others, and wait for the Lord to return it to you. The more generously you sow, the more generously you will reap.
Jesus said so.
Oh, Lord—I'm greedy for blessing! I want to reap it abundantly. It's not that You haven't been generous. It's because You have been so generous that I long for more of Your favor! Please let us see what we're sowing, be it good or bad. Please work in our hearts wherever You know we're struggling to sow good.
Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Ishi / Husband
For July, each post examines an Old Testament name of God.
Ishi / Husband
(prounounced: "eesh-ee")
"You will call Me 'My Husband,'
And no longer call Me 'My Master.' "
~ Hosea 2:16 (NKJV)
For your Maker is your husband,
The LORD of hosts is His name.
Isaiah 54:5 (NKJV)
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved [His bride] the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish... This is a great mystery ...
~ Ephesians 5:25-27,32 (NKJV)
Most Christians are aware that the church is called the bride of Christ, and He is called the Bridegroom. The relationship Paul calls a mystery is first observed in the Old Testament, where God speaks of Himself as a Husband to His people.
In doing so, the Lord intimates Himself as more than Creator, Master, Lord. He holds out a relationship more precious and meaningful than every other human relationship. If I might be so bold to make the suggestion, I believe the great love the Creator puts between a man and his wife moves us so powerfully simply because its purpose is to magnify the love and relationship the Lord offers those who are His.
Our response? Here's a place to start. A wife in love with her husband seeks to please him. She’ll learn to cook his favorite foods. She’ll dress and style herself in the manner he likes to look at. She’ll learn what pleases him and not only offer it as part of her love for him, but she'll conform herself to being what He favors. She becomes uniquely his.
God tells us what He finds desirable. As any Bridegroom, Christ wants a glorious bride. His Word tells us, "Be holy, for I AM holy" (1 Peter 1:16). And because we're unable to do it for ourselves, Christ puts His Spirit in us to prepare us for the day we meet Him. The Holy Spirit acts as a divine valet, washing us and teaching us and conforming us into the bride Christ waits to return for.
Yesterday's post described "holy" as set apart from all that is ordinary. Over at the blog What I Learned Today, Billy Coffey rightly said one of the devil's greatest lies is "that we are all ordinary." Peter not only reminds us to be holy, but goes on to counter the devil's lie with this:
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9 NKJV)
The King James translates "special people" as "peculiar people." The Greek peripoiesis combines peri (around, for oneself) with poieo (to make or do), and the combination describes something uniquely acquired, with which to surround oneself.
As a man acquires a wife.
By dwelling inside of us, God surrounds Himself with us. As He makes us holy, we are set apart with him, not from Him, both unique and uniquely His.
Feedback appreciated! Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Ishi / Husband
(prounounced: "eesh-ee")
"You will call Me 'My Husband,'
And no longer call Me 'My Master.' "
~ Hosea 2:16 (NKJV)
For your Maker is your husband,
The LORD of hosts is His name.
Isaiah 54:5 (NKJV)
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved [His bride] the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish... This is a great mystery ...
~ Ephesians 5:25-27,32 (NKJV)
Most Christians are aware that the church is called the bride of Christ, and He is called the Bridegroom. The relationship Paul calls a mystery is first observed in the Old Testament, where God speaks of Himself as a Husband to His people.
In doing so, the Lord intimates Himself as more than Creator, Master, Lord. He holds out a relationship more precious and meaningful than every other human relationship. If I might be so bold to make the suggestion, I believe the great love the Creator puts between a man and his wife moves us so powerfully simply because its purpose is to magnify the love and relationship the Lord offers those who are His.
Our response? Here's a place to start. A wife in love with her husband seeks to please him. She’ll learn to cook his favorite foods. She’ll dress and style herself in the manner he likes to look at. She’ll learn what pleases him and not only offer it as part of her love for him, but she'll conform herself to being what He favors. She becomes uniquely his.
God tells us what He finds desirable. As any Bridegroom, Christ wants a glorious bride. His Word tells us, "Be holy, for I AM holy" (1 Peter 1:16). And because we're unable to do it for ourselves, Christ puts His Spirit in us to prepare us for the day we meet Him. The Holy Spirit acts as a divine valet, washing us and teaching us and conforming us into the bride Christ waits to return for.
Yesterday's post described "holy" as set apart from all that is ordinary. Over at the blog What I Learned Today, Billy Coffey rightly said one of the devil's greatest lies is "that we are all ordinary." Peter not only reminds us to be holy, but goes on to counter the devil's lie with this:
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9 NKJV)
The King James translates "special people" as "peculiar people." The Greek peripoiesis combines peri (around, for oneself) with poieo (to make or do), and the combination describes something uniquely acquired, with which to surround oneself.
As a man acquires a wife.
By dwelling inside of us, God surrounds Himself with us. As He makes us holy, we are set apart with him, not from Him, both unique and uniquely His.
Feedback appreciated! Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
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