Category Archives: Christian Walk with God

If you pay any attention to the political landscape, you know how opinionated people can be. Great divides exist even among Christians over politics, doctrine, moral issues, and church practices. A plethora of denominations and church splits testify of how opinionated we can be.

A Christ-like Response to Differences of Opinion

Different opinions are not the problem. We can become better, as His Church, if we learn how to respond with Christlikeness as described in Philippians 2.

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Phil. 2:1-4)

1) We must all be willing to learn from one another.

Notice this phrase in Philippians 2: “common sharing in the Spirit”

While at the end of the day we are all personally accountable to God for where we stand on issues and must assume responsibility for our own actions and reactions, we can learn from and grow because of one another.

2) We must not let our personal preferences, politics, and practices divide.

Notice these phrases in Philippians 2: “united with Christ” and “in the Spirit”

There’s a bigger picture — the cause of Christ. As individuals and as a Church, let’s keep the focus on HIM and who we are in Him, not on ourselves.

3) We must be considerate of one another and continue to love one another even when we disagree, responding with Christ-likeness.

Notice this part in Philippians 2: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Let’s remember the exhortation of Philippians 2:2-7 where the Apostle Paul wrote of his joy being complete if they would be “like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.” If it would cause that kind of reaction in Paul, imagine how the Lord must feel when believers come together in unity despite our diversity!

4) We must keep an attitude of love and humility, that of servanthood seen in Christ, no matter how right we may feel we are.

Notice Philippians 2:5-7: “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”

Let’s express and even celebrate our individual differences and learn from one another, doing “nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves” (Phil. 2:3).

When we come together this way, despite our differences, the world around us sees the life of Christ flowing through us, not a people all fragmented and dysfunctional. That is something they would want to be a part of, not something to mock and run from!

As a church, we are more than a mere organization. We are a living organism, the Body of Christ. Similar to the human body, the Church has many different parts with varying ways of doing things. Yet, those parts come together to form a coordinated whole under the leadership of the Head. Imagine the difference we, the Church, could make in this world if we would function the way God designed us to be.

May God help each of us live out the oneness we have in Him.

Previously we noted that who we are can affect the way we serve. Consequently, it’s important that in nurturing our inner being that we look to God to change us from the inside out. God not only is our standard but He also is our means of changing. His glory should be our intent. Notice how the psalmist’s prayer in Psalm 139:23-24 gets beyond merely asking God to unveil the “true me” to submitting to His leading to bring about the necessary changes in our lives.

Ask God to Search Your Heart

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Ps. 139:23-24)

When the Psalmist asked God to search his heart, he didn’t requesting a casual look but rather a deep, penetrating investigation. The Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon suggests that the “primary idea is perhaps that of searching in the earth by digging” which means uncovering that which is below the surface.

• What will God see if He searches your heart? Are there things you have been trying to hide that need to be rooted out and dealt with?

Ask God to Test Your Thoughts

When the psalmist asked God to test His thoughts, he wasn’t requesting God to merely mark off a check list of what was or wasn’t there. Rather, as Strong’s Concordance suggests, the idea is testing our thoughts like metals which means putting them through fire, of sorts, to identify any that are not strong enough to endure.

• What will God find if He tests your thoughts? Are there strongholds of doubts, insecurities, stress, and anxieties that need to be purged from your mind?

Result of God’s Searching and Testing

Through the searching and testing process, God becomes thoroughly acquainted with who we are on the inside — “search … and know my heart” “test … and know my anxious thoughts”. The prayer of the psalmist wasn’t, however, that God simply knew his inner being but that He acted based on what He saw. The psalmist wanted God to take him from where he was to where he should be, to root out offensive ways in him and then transform him from the inside out.

• Are you willing to submit to God in these ways?

Let’s be honest with ourselves. What’s truly on the inside does have ways of showing itself outwardly, even if subtly. We need to ask ourselves what really is inside of us. Who we are from the inside out affects how we serve either propelling us forward, positively affecting our ministry, or holding us back, negatively impacting what we do.

A Look at Who We Are

attitudes:

We can say we love people but in reality hold grudges, biases, or bitterness. As a result, we don’t truly accept or trust people which affects our fellowship with them and ability to serve together as a team.

beliefs:

We can say we believe certain doctrines but not really hold onto those beliefs in our heart. As a result, we may put emphasis on certain truths over others and skew God’s character and ways.

character:

We can say we are Christians but not actually walk in the Spirit and consequently not be very Christ-like. As a result, we may lack the integrity and humility essential to God-honoring ministry.

motivations:

We can say we want to serve but don’t want to be inconvenienced or taken out of our comfort zone. As a result, we make one excuse after another on why we can’t get involved or perhaps quit shortly after beginning.

thoughts:

We can say we are trusting God but be filled with all sorts or doubts and insecurities. As a result, we take a cautious approach in ministry, not living up to the full potential of what God wants to do in and through us.

Ask God for Help to Be Who We Should Be

When was the last you prayed similar to Psalm 139:23-24?

The next post will take a closer look at the above prayer.

Remember this: No matter how big the gap may be between who we truly are and who we should be, change is possible as we rely on God’s power. We are not hopeless. We are not helpless in Him. We have a God who is able to transform us from the inside out.