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Archive for the ‘Fifty days with Jesus’ Category

On Virtue 5

Posted in Fifty days with Jesus, tagged , , , , on October 16, 2008| Leave a Comment »

This idea of recognizing good in order to “do it” is discussed in the Pastor’s blog today. Since we may fail in identifying good from within, another way may to model our behavior based on observation of another.

Certainly, our greatest model is Christ. In II Timothy 1:13, Paul tells Timothy to model his behavior after him, “What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.” During on of our bible study discussions, we talked about the people who were our first or stand-out examples of someone who walked out in authenticity as a Christian. These were people we can model after even today.

In acting school, we were taught many different kinds of acting styles, but generally, they all fall into two basic types, one is discovery of truth from within and the other is to create the outer appearance and behaviors and by doing so, discover truth. These two concepts can hold true here.

If you’re inner life and connection to Christ is not strong enough yet to guide you, then model your behaviors and choices on those whose journey reflects “moral excellence.”

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On Virtue 4

Posted in Fifty days with Jesus, tagged , , , , , , , , on October 15, 2008| Leave a Comment »

In order to “do good” or choose good over evil, one must first “recognize” what is good. That may seem obvious but I’m not so sure in today’s world that it is done so easily. The world has become quite complex and the “knowing” of what is good requires thoughtful and prayerful attention.

Certainly, the Word gives us a strong foundation for choosing good, but this element seems to fall under “knowledge” which is our 3rd step noted in our anchor verses, II Peter 1:3-10. Choosing the virtuous or excellently moral way comes first. So, if it is not based on our own knowledge, it must be rooted within and then tempered and fine-tuned with knowledge.

Let’s remember, the foundation was faith. If we have grounded ourselves in faith and communion and intimacy with the Lord, our ability to recognize “good” begins there. A key element then is hearing the Lord within our spirits. It is important to nurture that sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, our Teacher and Counselor, who is always speaking, whispering, and encouraging, “go this way, not that way.”

Touch the Spirit in prayer and the ability to identify and “choose good” grows from that seed of faith.

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On Virtue 3

Posted in Fifty days with Jesus, tagged , , , on October 14, 2008| Leave a Comment »

Am I virtuous?

Doubt it. I’d be hard pressed to call myself even close to virtuous. Why is that? Why is being virtuous or “morally excellent” such a high compliment that I’d be afraid to claim it as my own without feeling prideful as well … and probably, I’m guessing, others would think of me the same way.

And so, if it is true that we should be pursuing excellence and virtue, why does it feel nearly impossible to claim it or attain it? I know Proverbs 31 is one of the most popular discourses on being a “virtuous woman,” but I’m not sure it really resonants for me in this discussion. I find her more practical, clever, or wise than I do virtuous. (That is, until verse 30, where she is praised for her “fear of the Lord” or her faith, I would say.)

In fact, in today’s world, “virtue” (as a term) may carry a bit of a stigma. I can hear it now. “Oh, she’s so virtuous!” wink, wink. Or, it becomes synonymous with pictures of perfection that we tend to avoid putting such a label on anyone we know well, like a friend next door or an acquaintance across the aisle or a colleague at the coffee shop. We save up that designation for the “saints” like Mother Teresa.

We should be seeking the compliment, but it’s rarely heard. We should be giving the compliment, but it’s rarely spoken. That’s a sad commentary on our day and age.

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On Virtue 2

Posted in Fifty days with Jesus, tagged , on October 14, 2008| Leave a Comment »

More thoughts on moral excellence lead me to the inner self.

What is in your center? Every action, decision, or “doing of good” comes from within first, as a decision or idea. I believe moral excellence is a phrase that covers the “state of the heart” and manifests in doing good. Just “doing” without the right motive is “religiosity” and will eventually lead to a Martha mentality (a lot of anxiety, perfectionism, distraction, and “do-goodering”). See Wisdom Seekers on a Mary Heart.

Luke 6:43-45 says, “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.”

Our morality or character is based on our ability to assess what is right and wrong, what is a good choice or bad choice in the moment and then act upon our assessment. For those choices to be excellent, we must be ‘pursue’ excellence. We must desire it.

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On Virtue 1

Posted in Fifty days with Jesus, tagged , , on October 12, 2008| Leave a Comment »

In the Pastor’s Blog on this topic, he speaks of virtue as that of “doing of good” or “moral excellence.” It is the “second step” from II Peter 1:3-7 for sustaining our faith.

It’s interesting to me that the Pastor’s discussion somewhat mirrors my most recent bible study posting on “Kitchen Service” (chapter 7 of “Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World). We have also been looking at the importance of serving … but as an outgrowth of intimacy with Christ.

I would like to spend more time this week pondering “moral excellence” however. This definition does not speak so much to the “doing” as it does to the attitude or internal choice.

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On Faith 6

Posted in Fifty days with Jesus, tagged , , on October 10, 2008| Leave a Comment »

In my daily devotion, I am up to Luke 1:5-38, the conception stories of both John the Baptist and Jesus. In both cases, the angel Gabriel comes with the big news, first to Zechariah in the temple and then to Mary herself in Nazareth. In both cases, the human response is “How can this be?”

Things haven’t changed much in today’s world. If anything, they are worse when it comes to accepting the possibility that God could/can/will work a miracle in our lives. We are entrenched in the 3-dimensional world. We doubt the supernatural.

Belief … faith … are part of the supernatural world. To experience the fullness of faith, we must also be willing to accept the fullness of the supernatural.

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On Faith 5

Posted in Fifty days with Jesus, tagged , , , on October 9, 2008| Leave a Comment »

The Word: for me, it is a key ingredient for the foundation of faith.

And so, this is probably a good time to recount why the Word has been such a key in my life. Some ask me if I believe in the “inerrant” Word and I would have to say I do… but does that mean that I claim to understand it all or is there possibility that some of what is written is based on “story.” Does that make it less true? I don’t think so.

Anyway, it is through the Word that I came to the Lord. Back in 1979, a fellow student in acting school, “tricked me” into reading the New Testament as an acting exercise. Much as we were reading play scripts at that time, he challenged me to put these words, “if this were true…” before the first word and only decide at the end of the reading what is or isn’t true. I completed that task in less than 2 weeks over that Christmas break and ultimately, despite some things that were difficult to accept or understand, I could not refute the core of the Word. I believed it was true. That was my leap of faith.

And so, my Christian walk has been based on the revelations that God gave me, a virtually unchurched young adult, the foundation of faith through His Word.

In II Peter 1:10-11, we are told that if we “do” these things (that is build on our faith), we will never fall. This is the point. This is the journey of every believer. These elements that are examining in these 50 days with Jesus are roadmarkers along the path of every Christian. Where are you on that road?

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