“To be in Christ -- that is redemption; but for Christ to be in you -- that is sanctification!”
― W. Ian Thomas
EZEKIAL 1-3
1He said to me, “Son of man,a stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.” 2As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.
3He said: “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day.(2:1-3)
JOURNAL
After watching the "Social Dilemma"years ago. I was overwhelmed by the simplicity but pervasive objective that social media companies have to influence behavior. My eyes were definitely opened to my own behavior and attitude and how I'm really just a pawn in a greater objective to sell influence. I can really see how my own behavior and emotions have been manipulated. It reminds me how years ago I read numerous books, articles etc. regarding the ancient ceremonies of rights of passage. While these were mainly done for boys becoming men...there definitely is a noticeable absence of this in our culture. While I do believe baptism is way of formally acknowledging our salvation and emergence as followers of Christ, I know that at least for me...there has been a missing element.
The missing element is that this emergence is to symbolize a change in objective and pursuit of the believer. Life is no longer to be about mere survival to fit into society and community. Life is to take on a new objective which is to live life pursuing God's call and in obedience to him. This is radical. The call itself has to be a turning from seeking the world and instead seeking God and his direction. It can no longer be about what we get but rather what we can give. It can no longer be about righting wrongs for ourselves but rather about righting wrongs for others. It can no longer be about our individual achievement but rather the collective redemption of others.
This process first starts though with the self in our own mind and heart. It is here that God calls and it is here that we must choose and answer that call. It is here that we must first surrender to the spirit. From the internal comes the pouring out of the spirit to others, into our community and world. However the spirit and the manifestation of that comes first within our own soul. For me that is the missing element over these last few years. I can clearly see how my emotions, opinions and behaviors have been subtly influenced. I can also feel the pull to go to my phone and get my fix of a daily information dump. I just never realized that information dump is unique to me and my own behaviors and temptations. It tempts me into becoming a seeker and fulfiller of myself rather than a giver to others.
The missing element is that this emergence is to symbolize a change in objective and pursuit of the believer. Life is no longer to be about mere survival to fit into society and community. Life is to take on a new objective which is to live life pursuing God's call and in obedience to him. This is radical. The call itself has to be a turning from seeking the world and instead seeking God and his direction. It can no longer be about what we get but rather what we can give. It can no longer be about righting wrongs for ourselves but rather about righting wrongs for others. It can no longer be about our individual achievement but rather the collective redemption of others.
This process first starts though with the self in our own mind and heart. It is here that God calls and it is here that we must choose and answer that call. It is here that we must first surrender to the spirit. From the internal comes the pouring out of the spirit to others, into our community and world. However the spirit and the manifestation of that comes first within our own soul. For me that is the missing element over these last few years. I can clearly see how my emotions, opinions and behaviors have been subtly influenced. I can also feel the pull to go to my phone and get my fix of a daily information dump. I just never realized that information dump is unique to me and my own behaviors and temptations. It tempts me into becoming a seeker and fulfiller of myself rather than a giver to others.
23Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
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