St. Paul United Methodist Church

Jean-Pierre de Caussade said this (I find it very helpful):

“We will be perfect when we are in complete cooperation with God. The way toward this perfection is slow and hidden from our observation. There are many books written about these things. There are many theories and theological explanations. If we want, we can go to school and learn about all of this. We might even become competent to teach and write about it ourselves. Maybe we will even begin to give others some spiritual direction. To have only an intellectual understanding of our faith is to be like a sick medical doctor living among healthy people.

You don’t need to understand how medicine works in order to be cured. All you have to do is take it. You can be warmed and cheered by a fire without knowledge of combustion and chemistry. If we are thirsty, we want to drink of water rather than a book that explains thirst.  Holiness is not the result of study. If we have a thirst for holiness, reading about it will only make us thirstier!”

One of the things I like about this quote is the focus on a slow and sometimes hidden process of holiness. Sure, once a person is justified, they are holy according to God. It is a gift God gives to us via Jesus Christ. Romans says the righteousness of Christ is applied to us. Yet, there is the part of the salvation experience that is process-orientated, meaning it takes time—often a long time—a lifetime. It is good to be reminded of this.  Holiness is a lifetime pursuit. Therefore, settle in, give yourselves a little grace and trust God’s work in your life. You might not see the day-to-day change but over long periods of time, you definitely will.

 

This week’s reading:

• Monday – Colossians 1
• Tuesday – Colossians 2
• Wednesday – Colossians 3
• Thursday – Colossians 4
• ​Friday – 1 Timothy 1

 

Please Pray for:

• The people in need of help from the devastating damage from Hurricane Michael.
• Our nation and our leaders.
• Our families, homes, workplace, church, and community.
• Those that are suffering and grieving.
• Ongoing Building Renovations, Modifications, and Phase 3: Construction of New Youth Building and rear parking.
• The United Methodist Church.

“But sooner or later we must distinguish between what we are not and what we are.  We must accept the fact that we are not what we would like to be.  We must cast off our false, exterior self like the cheap and showy garment that it is.  We must find our real self…created to be a child of God, and capable of loving with something of God’s own sincerity and His unselfishness.” (Thomas Merton-No Man Is An Island).

Often we present one view of ourselves to others, and we withhold who we really are as if behind closed doors.  Perhaps it is fear.  Maybe we are scared of what people will think of us if they really see who we are.  The net effect is an inauthentic life.

What is interesting to me is that the message of the New Testament is one that recognizes the inconsistencies of what we are and what we are becoming.  To some degree it is a paradox.  We are both sinners and saints—at the same time.  God is aware of this and is not fooled by our inabilities to be authentic.  Therefore, at some point we must become more comfortable with the paradox of sinner and saint.  Perhaps the more we get comfortable with what we are and what we are becoming with the help of God’s Spirit, the less likely we are to live inauthentically.

 

This week’s reading:

• Monday – Ephesians 6
• Tuesday – Philippians 1
• Wednesday – Philippians 2
• Thursday – Philippians 3
• ​Friday – Philippians 4

Please Pray for:

• Our nation and our leaders.
• Our families, homes, workplace, church, and community.
• Our new year in Christian studies and activities.
• Those that are suffering and grieving.
• Ongoing Building Renovations, Modifications, and Phase 3: Construction of New Youth Building and rear parking.
• The United Methodist Church.