July 17th “Whose Standard Really Counts?”

“AlwaysThere”

BLOG BURST:
"Paintings make you ponder. As I was looking over some of my files I noticed some out takes I had collected from John MacArthur’s book, “The Fullfilled Family”. If you have one, had one or are looking to have one, it’s a great revealing read. A lot of it won’t make you comfortable, but it will point out a few of your flaws which will bring you to your knees. It will also give you some clear insight into a lot of where we are today. Here’s just part of one of the chapter’s introductions:

“The Christian standard of living is different from that of the world. As believers we are to be salt and light in a decaying and dark society. God calls us to be different. Unfortunately, that isn’t easy when we become victims of society. Sometimes, we become so deeply engulfed in the world’s system that even though God’s Word speaks clearly on certain issues, we have a difficult time hearing, understanding, and applying its teachings.

Over and over, the New Testament calls us to another level of living, another style of life, another dimension of existence. It calls us to new thinking, new talking, new acting, and new ministries. For example we are to “set [our affections] on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:2); we are to “put on the new man” (Eph. 4:24; cf. Col. 3:10); we are to “walk worthy of the vocation to which [we] are called” (Eph. 4:1); and we no longer walk as the Gentiles walk or function as the world functions (Eph. 4:17). In other words, we have been translated from the “power of darkness” into the “kingdom of [God’s] dear Son” (Col. 1:13).

We don’t think as the world thinks; we don’t act as the world acts; we don’t talk as the world talks; we don’t set goals that the world sets; and we don’t do the things that the world does. We are called to be distinct. Our distinction is our identification with God. The hope of humanity is that in seeing the distinction they would be drawn to Jesus Christ. The whole objective for the believer is to be unique, different, set apart. And the key is in Ephesians 5:18: “Be filled with the Spirit.” The only thing that will separate us from the world is to be filled with the Spirit of God. If we’re filled with the things of the world, there will be no difference.”


POETIC PONTIFICATION:
“Breaks and cracks and decay always needs attention
Roles we play and what we’ve done we don’t mention
So often we see things from one point of our very doing
With the worldly ways and influences we end up suing
We throw life away without ever really talking in kind
All is said and done, presumption has taken our mind!”

“Put a painting on each wall, the love of God in your heart, and be filled with His Spirit! Have a great week!”

"Find my paintings, or may my paint-tings find you!"
Douglas Auld
Copyright MMXI Auld, Ltd