Reciting biblical truths to oneself
[In email I was talking to someone about the power of reciting the truths of the Bible and biblical doctrine to oneself in everyday life...]
>I do that too actually [S. responded]. One line I often repeat to myself is "God created the heaven and the earth." I say it to myself, I think because its a foundational statement that there IS meaning in life, a purpose.
This is important. Because it's sooo easy to slip back into thinking the usual hazy nothingness about everything. Or falling into the temptations atheists try to mock everybody into thinking. Plus there is the ever-present embarrassment in believing the Bible. Or being 'ashamed' of faith, Jesus Christ, the Bible, all of it. That is the word the Bible uses. The apostle Paul even feels a need to say he is not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. Because that is something that sort of rides us. Fear of man. Fear of what others think of us. I also think there is a big fear (for me anyway) of other people losing their valuation for it all, so I am hesitant to sound too 'Christian-y'. I feel that way when I write emails to you guys too.
But overriding it all is not fearing man. That fear keeps me from being in the third state [a Fourth Way term, basically being consciously present in real time everyday life] as well. I've always said when you fear God alone you don't fear man. Then the other day I came across this quote which is similar: "The fear of God is the death of every other fear; like a mighty lion, it chases all other fears before it." —C.H. Spurgeon
- C.
2 Comments:
Spurgeon, also, somewhere expressed how he didn't have to defend the bible anymore than he'd have to defend a lion. just let the beast out of its cage and it will defend itself!
and yes, my beloved brother--perfect love casts out fear.
the first two letters of these words of scripture spell my gmail. send me an email, ct, i'd love to hear from you.
David
pelocaoufe@gmail.com
Determination in a single instance is an expression of courage; if it becomes characteristic, a mental habit. But here we are referring not to physical courage but to courage to accept responsibility, courage in the face of a moral danger. This has often been called courage d'esprit, because it is created by the intellect. That, however, does not make it an act of the intellect: it is an act of temperament. Intelligence alone is not courage; we often see that the most intelligent people are irresolute. Since in the rush of events a man is governed by feelings rather than by thought, the intellect needs to arouse the quality of courage, which then supports and sustains it in action.
Looked at in this way, the role of determination is to limit the agonies of doubt and the perils of hesitation when the motives for action are inadequate.
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