Today's writing is bit more than just kindness per se; it is based on last week's sermon (but contains kindness, so I am giving myself credit).
The basis of the sermon was Romans 8: 26-30:
"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches the heart knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that he might be the firstborn of many brothers. And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He also called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified." (ESV)
The point of the sermon was simply how do we pray when the world drops out from under us, when we do the metaphysical equivalent of collapsing on the couch in front of God, when things have gone so wrong or badly that we simply do not know what or how to pray.
The initial point - as listed above - is simply in those moments, the Holy Spirit prays for us in groanings. I do not know what that really means - maybe no-one does - but I do have a mental picture from a description of John Nelson Hyde, a late 19th and early 20th century missionary to India known as "Praying Hyde" due to frequency and intensity of his prayers. It is said he would pray for hours at at time, kneeling, silently, occasionally breaking into loud cries of simply "Oh Lord!", then bowing down and praying more.
What is The Spirit praying for? Ultimately, our conforming to the image of the Son. Because, deep down, what we really desire to be is like Christ.
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This thought floored me. Is that really the deepest desire of my heart?
The Jesus we read of in Scripture - not always the Jesus preached, sadly - is a model that anyone, even non-believers, consider worthy of emulation (thus the "I like Jesus but not His followers" that one sometimes hears). He is loving. He is compassionate. He is kind (thus, giving myself credit for today). He is direct. He has a message of hope. He is strong when He must be. He confronts evil.
And it hit me, sitting there at the back of the church taking notes: That is exactly what I want to be.
And that is what God wants too: to conform us to the image of His Son. The kindness of Christ, the compassion of Christ, the love of Christ.
When the Sprit groans then, He groans to God for us to have God's will in our life. Which is not always what we want, but is always in the service of conforming us to His Son.
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If being like Christ is the deepest desire of my heart - and likely it is, even if I do not always see that our admit that - what does that practically mean for me?
One thing, of course, is simply realizing and admitting that it is a thing. To paraphrase one of C.S. Lewis phrases, "And sort of a biggish thing at that".
The second, of course, is that we become that which we study and think on. So if I not reading and studying enough on Christ, I ought to fix that as well.
The third is asking the question regularly "Am I becoming more like Christ?" Am I becoming more loving, more compassionate, more kind (this year's project), more humble, more serving? That is what Christ - which Paul has the unashamed comparison of calling "Our Older Brother" - was like. It was what drew men and women to him.
Am I being kind like Christ?
Boy TB you hit the nail on the head with this post. I'll be thinking about this all day, those three words aren't hard to remember.
ReplyDeleteW. in CA
ReplyDeleteHe searches our hearts. When we don't know who we are or what we are feeling in a situation, especially how to pray...what a comfort. We don't have to have the words. Becoming like Christ is a journey, not a sprint. We ask for forgiveness when we fall short, whether by omission or commission. That acknowledgement is the beginning of the Lord sanding and molding us into His likeness. It can be gentle or painful. My very faithful grandparents on My Dad's side, had a look of sadness and a catch in their voice as they neared their final years. I think they wrestled with what more they could do at the same time trying not to say too much because my husband and I, newly married and later new parents had to learn for ourselves. I understand this now with our children and others I am drawn to. A sort of grief and hope all at the same time. How much wisdom do I share? Is it really wisdom or was it the hard knocks I personally was given and needed to stay faithful to Christ, in the little bit I am able each day. I can't take those lessons from someone else. I can't protect them or "fix it" for them. Or maybe, was all the hard knocks, Christ keeping me from loving people more than Himself? I'm thankful for His groanings because I am completely inadequate at everything. It helps me see my fellow man is also inadequate and therefore there is a kindness I feel for them that ordinarily would not result in my extending grace to them. That can only be Christ's kindness in me and working through me.
Thank you for the thoughtful sharing. In our struggles we help one another find His narrow path.
W.
ReplyDeleteYes, me again.
I think without Christ, the world struggles to be the hero or the victim now. There is no reward when unsuccessful and it seems to lead to apathy.