Post by Josh on Feb 15, 2007 17:01:47 GMT -8
Originally posted 1/4/06:
Most of you guys know the penchant I have for fantasy stories. I recently had occasion in our group, to reflect on something I realized a while back. I remember remarking to my sister after watching the Return of the King in the theaters that it was our responsibility and our joy to realize that that life we live in Christ is more vivid than even the most compelling fantasy story. That all the heroism, struggle, horror, and hope of a story as brilliant as Lord of the Rings is but a pale comparison to the reality of the Kingdom of God. That's often been hard to realize, the world we live in often seeming so humdrum. But I just wanted to say that recently I have been catching glimpses of that reality in the community we are sharing- glimpses of the deeper mystery we are all emarked upon- the prophetic, the spiritual struggle, the incredible love of Christ, etc..
Here are some verses to jar us out of typical complacant reality. This is the kind of reality we are to embrace in Christ:
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Ephesians 6:10-18
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Most of you guys know the penchant I have for fantasy stories. I recently had occasion in our group, to reflect on something I realized a while back. I remember remarking to my sister after watching the Return of the King in the theaters that it was our responsibility and our joy to realize that that life we live in Christ is more vivid than even the most compelling fantasy story. That all the heroism, struggle, horror, and hope of a story as brilliant as Lord of the Rings is but a pale comparison to the reality of the Kingdom of God. That's often been hard to realize, the world we live in often seeming so humdrum. But I just wanted to say that recently I have been catching glimpses of that reality in the community we are sharing- glimpses of the deeper mystery we are all emarked upon- the prophetic, the spiritual struggle, the incredible love of Christ, etc..
Here are some verses to jar us out of typical complacant reality. This is the kind of reality we are to embrace in Christ:
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Ephesians 6:10-18
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.