7 replies to this topic

[Lori Smith]

I was watching a family on TV last night that had chosen to separate themselves from the world completely. The parents were very disciplined and they devoted their lives to ensuring that their children grew up and honored God. They were certainly a beautiful family.

It made me think: What does a proper walk in the Lord look like? Exactly where should we draw the line between what happens in the world and how we live? I was a bit concerned that we not embrace legalism as a means for holiness, but then again, we shouldn’t live like the world either.

I believe the Lord answered my question by showing me a few comments by the apostle Paul. He stated to the Philippians: “And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God” (RSV).

What this says to me is that when we grow in the knowledge of Christ, and His love, we will choose rightly how to live. This is a better approach than the one chosen by the Pharisees who did all of the right things, but had hard hearts. How then do we grow in the knowledge of Christ and His love?

I think A.W. Tozer, in The Purpose of Man: Designed to Worship, tells us rightly how to do this. He writes, “The heart must be empty before God can enter ... Your soul is a God-shaped garment, and God wants to clothe Himself with it. But He cannot enter because there is rubbish in it” (p. 142). Tozer then tells us what this rubbish is: “moral rubbish,” “intellectual rubbish,” “rubbish of habit, or custom, of things you do and do not do, think and do not think. We must empty it all out” (p. 142).

We then make our heart and soul supremely that which is God’s home. We live in communion with God and walk by the Spirit of God. Our souls become a place where God can live comfortably. Indeed, Tozer states: “The Holy Spirit wants to come into your soul and live in it. Not weekending there, not a houseguest for a while, but making your soul a permanent habitation” (p. 143).

This prepares the way for us to truly grow in the knowledge and love of Christ, for we can then follow Tozer in “practicing the presence of God. [Says Tozer] this is not merely an exercise in imagination but the ecstatic joy of fellowship. Once you lose yourself in rapturous prayer, you will never go back to prayer by routine” (p.181).

Some feel this focus is too individualistic. Tozer answers this accusation in his book The Pursuit of God. He writes, “Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which one must individually bow” (p. 90). Indeed, and I believe were we to all follow Tozer’s advice, we would grow supremely in the love of Christ, and we would then choose rightly the way we should live in our society. I want to add that this is not a critique of the family above; instead, it is merely some thoughts about how to position our hearts.

[Living water]

I really enjoyed the way you balance the gospel. It is no easy task to explain holiness without being dubbed a legalist. I believe this is why so many have thrown holiness out the window. When we have a broken contrite heart there is no desire for sin, in this moment we recognize only God can fill that place. I love you children of God.

[chipped china]

I agree with Living Water you have a gift for explaining truth in a loving, logical and wise manner. And I do believe that the Holy Spirit is moving his servants of the Most High back to Himself to rekindle the fire. And learning how to empty ourselves for the Lord to fill is so necessary.

I too love you children of God, my hearts desire.

[Lori Smith]

Thank you both so much! To be filled with God's love that we might love each other is a beautiful thought.

[Travis Richey]

Thank you for these comments. I believe that the question you chose as your title is one that every Christian has struggled with, is struggling with or will struggle with. How do we live seperated from the world and for God while still living in the world? You touch on total surrender, which is a topic I have spent the last several days in study of. I believe that is exactly what God calls us to....surrendering oursleves, putting to death the flesh, the old man, and choosing to live by the Spirit. If we are filled with the Spirit, led by the Spirit and bearing the fruit of the Spirit, then we can live in this old sinful world and still be "seperated unto God" by the Power of the Spirit.

Your quotation from Tozer about the pianos is one of my favorites, and speaks a strong message to the Church today. We each need to allow God to tune us. The Master's Hand will guide us, and He has promised to work in us to will and to act according to His purpose. As Andrew Murray states in his book Absolute Surrender (http://www.ccel.org/...urray/surrender), "If there is anything holding you back, or any sacrifice you are afraid of making, come to God now, and prove how gracious your God is, and be not afraid that He will command from you what He will not bestow."

I'm running long in this response, but one more thing please. Your comment from Tozer about practicing the presence of God reminds me of a little book I read by a 17th century monk named Brother Lawrence. The book is titled The Practice of the Presence of God. I would recommend it, and now find myself in need of rereading it. It is available free at the CCEL website. http://www.ccel.org/...wrence/practice

Thank you again for your post, and may we each one be filled to the measure of the fullness of God,
Travis

[Lori Smith]

Travis,

Thank you for your response! I am quite excited about the links you have provided to both Andrew Murray and Brother Lawrence. Thus far I have only had access to a few quotes but always had in my mind that I would love to read much more. So thank you for sharing the free access. Many blessings to you!

Lori

[Charles Miles]

I so love the story and life of Brother Lawrence. The very act of concentrating upon the Lord and seeking His will for just a few minutes daily makes a huge difference in one's life. There was another book by another gentleman(I forget his name now), who read about the life of the 17th century monk and began to practice the thoughts about God and His will. The story becomes very interesting. As I try the meditation on God for a few minutes each hour, I do find it a challenge to find time and consistency, but I will persist. I know the result is worth the effort.

Charlie