July 31, 2009

What is the Principal Exercise of Faith?

Pastor Ian Hamilton writes a brief contemplation to stir our affections for Christ. His reference to Paul in Philippians applies to our current series walking through that letter.

It is part of our humanity, and of our redeemed humanity, that we give our minds and affections to the people and places and 'things' that have most captured our imagination and impacted our lives. Think of how obsessive many men (and women) are today about football. They even talk about their favourite players as 'gods' and 'messiahs'. They cannot stop thinking about, speaking about, singing about their heroes. Their hearts rise and fall depending on the success or failure of their 'first love'. When you read the New Testament and especially Paul's Letters, you cannot help being struck by his obsession with Jesus Christ. He tells the Philippians, 'For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.' He tells them that he is 'a one thing I do man': 'One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind . . . I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus.' He tells the Corinthians that Jesus is God's 'indescribable gift'. He tells the Ephesians that God the Father has blessed believers 'with every spiritual blessing in Christ'. Is it any wonder Paul was obsessed with his Saviour?



You can read the full article here.

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