This was sent to me by my good friend Isidore, it was an online devotional. Its also a great modern lesson on an ancient truth. And while the author's name is Dave, I'm pretty sure I could insert my name just as easily. How about yours?
Thursday, August 30, 2007
My laptop is a Macintosh G3. The G3 is unique in that it can run on two different operating systems. It can run the new improved versions of OS X, but it can also still work in "Classic Mode" for software written for OS 9. My worklife is like my Mac G3; it must decide between two operating systems. This morning I had to think about how I was going to approach my week. According to the Apostle Paul, I can face the day in "Dave" mode or I can choose to work "in Christ."
"In Dave" mode is my default software. Paul called it my "flesh." If I just get up and go, I'm running in Dave. Dave is an old operating system I learned long ago. It feels comfortable. It gets me by.
Unfortunately, Dave is dysfunctional. It has many systems conflicts. It has its own protocols, so it is not very compatible with other computers. It is riddled with viruses that cause all kinds of problems. Dave worries about what others think and that bogs down its processor. Dave gets angry when a problem frustrates its path. Dave tries to run too many programs at once, opening up future issues and attempting to continually reprocess them. When Dave gets overwhelmed it locks up and goes into screen saver mode papering over its problems with a series of daydream scenes of a different imagined present. I don't recommend Dave as a system software. But I know you already have a unique corrupt version of your own.
"In Christ" is a new operating system that I own. In Christ, however, has none of Dave's issues. It is completely de-bugged and virus free. In Christ works because it was designed by my hardware manufacturer. It is what I was wired to run on. It is based on several radical applications.
The first is "Grace." Grace means a scrubbed hard-drive and the promise of unlimited future support. Grace is such a refreshing change from guilt-ridden and resource-strapped Dave.
Grace comes bundled with "Life." Life came to me through a complete inner restoration. It is a completely new processor. Life is what Dave lacked as an isolated unit. Life has spiritual connectivity.
Another is "forgiveness." Forgiveness is a utility that allows me to interface with other infected computers. It intercepts and absolves their faults. Dave could never do that. It always used other's flaws against them. Forgiveness extends to others the grace that it has received.
My favorite application of the "in Christ" office suite is "Adoption." Adoption is my God-given new identity. It is a completely new username and password. It gives me direct access to my designer. It means I can IM him any time I want. It means He IM's me when He's thinking of me. I no longer work alone. I have the ultimate ally with unlimited computing capability. I am eternally connected.
"In Christ" does not have the problems of "in Dave," but it must be manually installed. Sometimes I am just too lazy to go through the boot-up, and I run in Dave even though I know its hazards. So, which will it be today? What system will I choose to operate in?
This morning, as I logged onto my day, I was encouraged by something Paul wrote. Perhaps it will encourage you too:
"In Dave" mode is my default software. Paul called it my "flesh." If I just get up and go, I'm running in Dave. Dave is an old operating system I learned long ago. It feels comfortable. It gets me by.
Unfortunately, Dave is dysfunctional. It has many systems conflicts. It has its own protocols, so it is not very compatible with other computers. It is riddled with viruses that cause all kinds of problems. Dave worries about what others think and that bogs down its processor. Dave gets angry when a problem frustrates its path. Dave tries to run too many programs at once, opening up future issues and attempting to continually reprocess them. When Dave gets overwhelmed it locks up and goes into screen saver mode papering over its problems with a series of daydream scenes of a different imagined present. I don't recommend Dave as a system software. But I know you already have a unique corrupt version of your own.
"In Christ" is a new operating system that I own. In Christ, however, has none of Dave's issues. It is completely de-bugged and virus free. In Christ works because it was designed by my hardware manufacturer. It is what I was wired to run on. It is based on several radical applications.
The first is "Grace." Grace means a scrubbed hard-drive and the promise of unlimited future support. Grace is such a refreshing change from guilt-ridden and resource-strapped Dave.
Grace comes bundled with "Life." Life came to me through a complete inner restoration. It is a completely new processor. Life is what Dave lacked as an isolated unit. Life has spiritual connectivity.
Another is "forgiveness." Forgiveness is a utility that allows me to interface with other infected computers. It intercepts and absolves their faults. Dave could never do that. It always used other's flaws against them. Forgiveness extends to others the grace that it has received.
My favorite application of the "in Christ" office suite is "Adoption." Adoption is my God-given new identity. It is a completely new username and password. It gives me direct access to my designer. It means I can IM him any time I want. It means He IM's me when He's thinking of me. I no longer work alone. I have the ultimate ally with unlimited computing capability. I am eternally connected.
"In Christ" does not have the problems of "in Dave," but it must be manually installed. Sometimes I am just too lazy to go through the boot-up, and I run in Dave even though I know its hazards. So, which will it be today? What system will I choose to operate in?
This morning, as I logged onto my day, I was encouraged by something Paul wrote. Perhaps it will encourage you too:
"And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging in the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were children of wrath, even as the rest.
But, God being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved) and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we would walk in them." (Eph. 2:1-10 NASB)
Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging in the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were children of wrath, even as the rest.
But, God being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved) and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we would walk in them." (Eph. 2:1-10 NASB)
2 comments:
sandy, i liked it better when you had this post up twice. it made me re-read it and i think i understood it better the second time.
so, in the future, can you double post all of your entries?
Well...if its worth saying..i guess its worth saying twice... Still waiting to read YOUR blog Matty P!!!!
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