I have a soul

Phil Wickham ~ Song In My Soul ft. Hollyn

One of the experiences that happens when I am in a place of solitude and silence is I discover I have a soul. That is a big deal, especially the first time as I am not too sure I knew I had one. My life is based on a sense of unity when I go through these moments.

For what can a man give in return for his soul? – Mark 8:37 ESV

What does it mean for my soul to be lost? I think it means that my life does not have a centre that organizes my activities. I cannot have that centre until my soul returns to God and God restores my soul.

Nothing in this world is worth exchanging my life for. That is where my life is. Why would I want to make anything in this world a priority for me? As a follower of Jesus, a disciple, faithfulness to Him and living for Him does not only richly reward my life now but for all eternity. What would lead a person to give this up?

I do not think that Jesus meant to threaten anyone with the loss of eternal life and the recipient of going into hell for all eternity. I think Jesus is revealing the wisdom of making a total commitment to Him. Following Him may begin with a rather simple commitment, but Jesus makes it clear that it ultimately leads to deeper commitments, even absolute surrender. I know it is my natural tendency to preserve my life, yet I cannot come away from Jesus’ words without knowing that I am committed to giving up my right in this physical world in light of the expectation of gaining a rich reward to cherish for all eternity.

There is a cost to following Jesus and Jesus reminds me of the value of my soul. It is the most valuable possession I have and there is nothing in this world worth the value of my soul.

Prepared for prayer

Chicago Mass Choir- “I Pray We’ll Be Ready”

When we are talking about knowledge, we are talking about learning what is the truth and living in that. Psalm 1 provides the positive direction to making that happen. There is direction for my roots to go down into the richness of the kingdom of God. It is here that my life produces fruit. The mark of a disciplined disciple is that they do what needs to be done when it needs to be done.

Psalm 1 provides the incentive to pray. It starts with happiness – do I want to be happy? As prayer is displayed as a pensive prayer (meditation), prayer starts with listening for God, not talking.

But his delight is in the law^[b] of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night. – Psalm 1:2 ESV

I am called, as one walking in a right relationship with God to continually run from the influence of wickedness and passionately embrace godliness. Happy people do not just do the right thing, they love the right thing.

A right relationship with God does not refer to having my sins forgiven so that I get into heaven when I die. Nor is it the minimum requirement for such salvation. Actually, there is no minimum requirement for salvation. A right relationship with God is becoming a disciple – someone who conformed their entire life to look like their master.

So the implied definition here is that I live dependent on meditating on the word of God. Kelly R Baker has some great thoughts in her blog – Thriving in Christ Together.

What a Thriving Disciple of Christ Does and Doesn’t Do

Being saturated in God’s Word is a mark of a disciple who seeks to know God better. Also included in that to ask Him to hear His voice, and long for Him to change my heart through His Word.

There is a rhythm – a disciple reflects and responds to God’s Word on a regular basis in order to live as God intends.

When I meditate, I simply chew on the Word of God.

Different

It’s Different Now

I am constantly reminded that as a disciple of Jesus, I pursue Him passionately. I am committed to being like Him, having the character of Jesus being formed in me. I grow with the evidence of the fruit of the Spirit and His priorities I am engaged in – love God, love people, make disciples.

Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. – 1 John 2:6 ESV

I also have learned that being a disciple looks differently for each of us. I have my peculiar arenas and duties as much as those which are common to all. Like everyone else, I start off being pardoned and walk in fellowship with others with the forgiveness of my sins. As I mature, I receive further advice and instructions. Children, young men and women, fathers and mothers, mature believers – they all receive special instructions.

I am writing to you, little children,
    because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.
I am writing to you, fathers,
    because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
    because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, children,
    because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers,
    because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
    because you are strong,
    and the word of God abides in you,
    and you have overcome the evil one. – 1 John 2:12-14 ESV

One thing that is the same – we are all little children of God and we have all been forgiven – love that part for sure.

Repent

Ryan Ellis – REPENT (Official Live Video)

I think we call out the need to repent as our goto when we come across individuals struggling through life. Job had such a friend – Bildad the Shuhite – that called it out in his life.

If your children have sinned against him,
    he has delivered them into the hand of their transgression.
If you will seek God
    and plead with the Almighty for mercy,
if you are pure and upright,
    surely then he will rouse himself for you
    and restore your rightful habitation.
And though your beginning was small,
    your latter days will be very great. – Job 8:4-7 ESV

As a follower of Jesus I know God has already forgiven me of all my sins the day I gave my life to Him. But like Job, I need to come before Him each day and present myself to Him. Job did this for himself and for his entire family.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:9 ESV

Just to make it clear – this prayer of repentance and forgiveness is not an issue of acceptance by God but rather fellowship with God. When I gave my life to God and decided to follow Him, let’s call it conversion forgiveness, I was made acceptable as a member of God’s family. Continual forgiveness enables me to experience intimate fellowship within God’s family.

Emotionally complex

At times I can think that I am brave and at other times the trait is nowhere to be found. Thomas reminds me of that. It was he who was faced with the possibility of dying should they return to Judea to see Lazarus that piped up and said, if we die, we die with him.

Put Thomas in the middle of persecution and somehow he lost a step. He was not in the room when Jesus first appeared to the disciples.

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin,^[d] was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” – John 20:24-25 ESV

I am sure that his moment of bravery and his moment of doubt should not define him. I have moments I am proud of and other moments that I wish I could forget. What I do know is that when I am walking with Jesus, He brings out the best in me and my faith is strong and sure. Conversely, when I am away from Jesus, it triggers doubt.

That is where David went – He knew God was the creator of the world. He knew that it was a foundational truth to rest his faith in. I am sure that as a disciple of Jesus I need to believe who He is as well as what He has done. He has the authority and power to save me because He is omnipotent and omniscient. He spoke and it existed.

Let them praise the name of the Lord!
For he commanded and they were created. – Psalm 148:5 ESV

I think that is why it is important and powerful to begin and end each day with thanks. In fact, it might be a radical way to live – because being thankful drives me into the world of hurt with a larger sense of hope.

He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his saints, for the people of Israel who are near to him. Praise the Lord! – Psalm 148:14 ESV

Where there are disciple-making movements we need to pray. Pray that those involved will delight and find comfort in Christ alone. Pray that there will be no deterring from continuing to fight the good fight. Thomas has been known to have shared the gospel with Persia and then India. In India he was martyred for his faith. Even if I am emotionally complex, in God’s hand I am His purpose for the world I live in and I am so thankful I can be what He wants me to be.