A city girl in the Sticks

Striving, to stive

01:58, Friday, March 28, 2008 .. 1 comments .. Link

"This is a true saying, and by all means worthy to be received,
that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,
of whom I am chief"
1 Tim. 1:15 (Geneva Bible)

What does it mean to strive?

Does it mean that we in our own strength 'can'? If not, than what does it mean to strive?

For the last two weeks our family has had the flu. Not colds, but the can't get up or move flu. There is no greater example for me as to what striving is than being very ill and 'striving' to get better. There is almost nothing you can do; the flu shots would have had to have been given BEFORE we got this and antibiotics don't help. We just have to endure. We have to keep downing those fluids. We have to rest, A LOT! And maybe because I am bored

of sleeping and headaches and waiting to get better, I got to thinking about how similar this is to our Christian walk.

If we believe that God is sovereign (and I do), we know that our good deeds are dirty rags (Isa. 64:6) and (my personal fav) that we are foolish to try to attain our goals by human effort (Gal. 3:3) , what does it mean to strive?

Acts 24:16 - Speaks of "striving" (also translated as "endeavor") to keep our conscience clear before/ toward God and man.

I really liked 1 Tim 4:10, (I'm going to include 4:9 as well):

"This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of of all men, and especially of those who believe." (NIV)

The Geneva Bible translates these verses this way:

"This is a true saying, and by all means worthy to be received.

For therefore we labor and are rebuked, because we trust in the living God, which is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe."

So our striving is with or if you will, against ourselves. So often I want to pat myself on the back for "trying", but in this time of not being able to 'try' anything I find myself PRAISING God, from whom all blessing flow. I can't try hard enough, but I can fight, labor, endeavor and strive to have faith in my GREAT, WONDERFUL, AWESOME God who is 'the author and perfector of our faith" (Heb. 12:2). Yet, I must not forget the words of James:

"What availeth it my brethren, though a man saith, he hath faith, when he hath no works? can that faith save him?" James 2:14 (Geneva Bible)

So if I strive to have faith should i also strive toward the outworking (or fruits) of that faith? I would say, no. Jesus said:

"I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing." John 14 12 (NIV)

When I was pentecostal, I used to believe that that meant performing miracles and healing and such, (not that God is not capable of any of that), but now I know that is being 'about my Father's business'. (Luke 2:49) Whatever that is in this moment, in this time. What has my Father given me to do today? Love Him, my husband and children, get well, do some chores to keep the house going, Love Him, my husband and children...

And I aspire to the faith of these:

"All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not recieve the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.
If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country - a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them."

Hebrews 11:13-16 (NIV)

"God of wonders, beyond our galaxy, You are HOLY, holy.
The universe declares Your majesty, You are holy, holy!
Lord of heaven and earth, Lord of heaven and earth..."
(from the song 'God of Wonders')

Father, please increase my faith and forgive my unbelief. I love you, Lord.
Leave a Comment

Striving to be Well

09:52, Friday, March 28, 2008 .. Posted by toby0131
How I know your frustration and striving - we too have been sick and it seems like when one falls, the rest fall in domino fashion - my three year old and infant being the greatest fighters of all have just succumbed to this yuck. Thanks for the comment on my site. Of course you can repost whatever I post - I think that's the beauty of blogging - we can all gleam valuable advice from one another.
Blessings,
Michelle

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