SENSE & SENSIBILITY

SENSE & SENSIBILITY; Relativity and Receptivity; Seen, Heard and Heeded

Monday, July 18, 2016

Ephesians [ESV] 2:1-10 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, 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 coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

James [ESV] 1:5-8; 3:13, 17-18 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. … Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. … the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

  Today’s title string shows what you normally don’t see: Inside my mind -- one of the methods I was taught and use to advantage in writing what people do see. I was advised decades ago that using thesaurus may be more helpful than a dictionary as it makes some think a bit differently. For me it does, sometimes forming couplets as those above and then pondering them. I am thankful for my nonstandard teachers that considered individual relativity and receptivity. It wasn’t until after age 27 that I discovered God is first and foremost doing this. (Isa.55:8) Knowing, accepting, and working at application continue to be profitable within established blessed assurance as ongoing maturation.

  In ministering, especially with those behind the hard walls that imprison, I’ve discovered that as was I most stumbling double-minded people have sense, but are not interested in the redeeming repentance of receptivity unto personal application.  (Yes, moving from knowing to applying is repentance! Rom.12:1-3)

  Let us first know and accept that God is not the withholder of wisdom. It is we that built, build, and maintain gates holding His life-quickening generosity at bay.

  I’m giving you 24 hours to joyfully ponder that you already have, do expensively resist, or blessedly accept these truths unto repentance. Tomorrow I will share what I’ve learned of the HOW TO in gathering God’s wisdom.

EBB4