Perspective
( Gen. 1:26 ; Matt. 7:1-5 ) Since God created us and we are His own invention, He is our means of life and existence, our only resource. Accordingly, we are accountable to Him and from Him, and we receive whatever we need from Him in order to fulfill His purposes through us on this earth. On the basis of God's word, we are to judge ourselves by and through our actions especially in the area of critically judging and condemning others. The criticizer is inconsistent, self-righteous, self-deceived, lacks love, a hypocrite, and abuses the Gospel by which our life is to be changed. We are to be an example to the world by expressing the love of God to others. ( Phil. 2:14-15 )
To judge yourself correctly, examine self in the areas of repentance, of renunciation, and of detachment. Life's effects are deposited in our memories. Our memories are connected to our emotions. Those areas that have not been dealt with biblically, Satan stimulates to bring forth guilt, shame, anger, bitterness, despair, and the like. Thus, keep your memory clean and fresh by being in a constant state of repentance (confess and repent immediately upon conviction), by renouncing all those things that hold you in bondage (vain thoughts, images), and separating oneself from the temptations and the false allure of the world's enticements ( Matt. 12:30 ; James 2:15-17 ). Now you can be a fit vessel of the Lord to accomplish His purposes on this earth ( 2 Cor. 6:16-18 ).
Hope
( Ezek. 18:20 ; Jer. 17:10 ) I cannot blame my background, my parentage, the circumstances of life to justify sinful actions nor am I controlled by them. God's grace is available to me from heaven to enable me to live righteously regardless of what others have done. Being free of horizontal controls, God's grace will break the hold of the past, and He will guide me and lead me to an abundant life.
( Ezek. 18:2-3 ; Eph. 5:18 ) I am not responsible for other's sins, nor do the actions of others have to unsettle me. Being free of the past, of blame shifting and defensiveness, this allows for the Presence of the Holy Spirit. The believer is to be filled continuously to be conscious of His Presence, of His leadership, and of His guidance. The Spirit's filling is the personal manifestation of Christ to the believer who walks obediently day by day. He is filled only as he walks in obedience to the word of God.
( John 14:21-22 ; Ps. 119:11 ; Acts 2:1-4 ) To be filled requires that we walk obediently to Christ, as we walk through terrible trials and severe crisis, God will manifest His Presence to provide a deep sense of His love and care: lifting and strengthening us to conform to His Son. Thus, the meaning of life is to allow God to be His fullest in our lives at every moment of the day and night. This consciousness is the believer's privilege in being aware of His presence, and of His leadership - moment to moment.
Change
( Rom. 12:9-10 ; 2 Pet. 1:5-7 ) To begin to love sincerely, the believer is to hate all forms of evil because evil destroys lives. A godly love desires the very best for people. He is to cleave to the good and to work for everyone to know and experience the good. He loves others in Christ by being kind and affectionate. He takes the lead in esteeming and expressing respect for others.
By faith, the power and provision to live a virtuous existence resides within the believer in the person of the Holy Spirit. But this faith must be worked out and demonstrated and experienced by one's responses to life. The believer is to add moral excellence, goodness of character, and moral strength and moral courage; he is to add practical knowledge and insight in knowing what to do and say in trials and temptations of life; and he is to master and control the body or the flesh with all of its lusts ( Rom. 5:3-5 ).
( 1 Cor. 1:10 ; 1 Pet. 3:10 ; Prov. 13:3 ; Luke 11:17 ) To reach any situation, one must refrain the tongue in stirring dissension, division, but to bring peace, love, and brotherhood. We are to be restored within ourselves and with others. Union in mind and judgments involves thoughts, reasonings, emotions, motives and intentions. Judgments involve conclusions, purposes, goals and objectives. Restorations begin in and around conclusions that bring unity within ourselves and with others.
( Phil. 2:2-4 ; Prov. 17:19 ; Isa. 14:13-14 ; 1 John 2:16 ) If we don't get our way or what we want, we are inclined to strive, to cause arguments and divisions. We are inclined to want attention, praise and honor. We are to deny these inclinations for the sake of Christ that we may help others. God works in us to offer ourselves in a spirit of submissiveness and lowliness, not to be high-minded, proud, haughty, arrogant, or assertive.
Humility must be developed which is learning of Christ - His disposition and His virtues - who placed everyone ahead of Himself. Humility reaches its height when we lose our lives in the cause of Christ to the benefit and welfare of others. This requires an honest evaluation of oneself because we are always at the center of all that we do. Self-centeredness weakens and limits relationships and achievements.
Work Out Your Salvation (Phil. 2:12-13)
BSAF for Luke 9:23-24 ; Rom. 12:16 ; Prov. 21:4 ; Prov. 26:12 .
Read Phil. 2:3-11 , then work out Section A.2, “Think And Do List” . Evaluate yourself to the extent you seek your own interest, using the following characteristics we habitually think about that keep us self-centered:
| • ambition |
| • being by-passed |
| • being ignored |
| • not being recognized |
| • desires |
| • position |
| • wants |
| • being neglected |
| • being overlooked |
| • not being honored |
| • not given a promotion or not selected |
For each item replace by what God wants you to think and to do, considering the needs of others before your own, such as: visiting, consoling, ministering, helping, sharing, feeding, clothing, transporting, listening, advising, counseling, teaching, etc.