Mastering God's order
Martial arts is an important part of life in asian cultures. The Korean version is called Tae-kwon-do. Most children learn some form of it as they are growing up, and I did the same. You start with a white belt, that signifies what level you are. You move on to various colors about 5 or 6 of them, until you reach the black belt. At each color you must pass a test to prove you have mastered certain skills in order to progress to the next level. When you have finally reached the level of a black belt, you will have a broad understanding of the art, and have mastered skills that will make you a “proper” person in the world.
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
We Christians are on a journey. We are in the most important journey of our lives. We have a final destination, and that place is called heaven. What some people misunderstand is this, heaven is not the reward for our time in this world, but rather it is the result. Let me explain. Some have thought, if we “live right” on this world, if we just bear with the cross just a bit longer, we can finally escape from this world and live in a place of eternal peace and pleasure. This is a faulty view of heaven. We will go to heaven because of what has happened to us on this world. What happened? We have learned to be like Jesus. Trials and temptations are not hurdles that we must overcome, no, rather those same trials are the mechanisms in which we develop the character that Jesus had.
God is a God of incredible order. For everything and to everything there is prescribed order to how it functions. God has big plans for us. Becoming like Christ is of the tallest order, and there is nothing short of it that God wants from us. Why? Not to test us, but rather fit us for eternity. God is working in everyone one of us everyday to produce the fruits of life. There is much discipline and effort that must go to make the person God wants us to be. We still don’t know yet, what we shall be, but we know God has a plan for each of us. We all have a lot of work to do, I see my life today, and see how much more I need of Christ. Jesus gently guides me everyday, and I learn from the Master, what a true Christian is. The book is called “Steps to Christ”, how true is that title. We are taking steps everyday, to the fuller knowledge of Christ, to the salvation of our souls.
Connected to the Vine
-Pastor Danny