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Tuesday, July 8, 2008

the passions of your former ignorance

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:14-16 (ESV)

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? Jer 17:9 (ESV)

So I read that verse in 1 Peter today, and thought of the verse in Jeremiah. I think they are connected. I am doing some research and reading on classroom management. Kids misbehave when the motivation is greater than the fear of punishment. When they want something more than they don't want to be in trouble. I think we keep that motivation as we get older. We often don't consider the consequences of our actions.

We know that God tells us to stay away from things that will harm us. I know that God wants me to avoid things for my good, just like when I tell my kids no cookies before dinner. It's because I don't want them to fill up on junk food, I want them to eat good food to help them grow. So why don't my kids listen to me, and why don't I listen to God. I just think about the cookie, not the long term ramifications of the cookie. As I get older, the ramifications of the cookie are more and more . . . pronounced.

Thanks Peter for showing me the answer. So often I let myself be conformed to my passions, to the desires of the flesh. When Jeremiah talks about the heart being deceitful and desperately wicked, he is referring to the center of the human, to the seat of the flesh. This is where emotions, passions and desires are born.

The un-regenerate heart is self focused. Often the heart of a believer focuses on emotions and passions that are not fully focused on God. How often do we "follow our hearts" and act on our emotions? I have looked in the scripture, I've never see it say to follow your heart. It says that God will grant you the desires of your heart, but that's only if you lean not on your understanding. . . . which is often not what we do when we "follow our hearts". Let me know what you think, I am wondering about how to be spirit led vs. emotion led. How do you know the difference? How do you decern?

My thoughts? One is it's always scriptural. Two, it more moral centered than emotion centered. The difference between conscious and guilt. I think it's only learned by spending time with Jesus and knowing the shepherd's voice. What do you think?

2 comments:

  1. ilovemykidsiI think that when we are led by our emotions, "we" are the center of the desire. We are the focus and it's all about us.
    But when we are led by the Spirit, others or Christ is the focus o center.
    It is hard to not be led by our emotions. If it were easy, everyone would be doing it.

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  2. I think everyone likes to push the envelope(standard) in there life,the question is who/what is there standard.
    If Christ is the standard then we raise that bar.

    ReplyDelete