Nov 8
Here is where to begin reading Daily Doses 11-20 in order.
Answering the contentment question honestly, particularly when the answer is, “No,” frees us to see the situation the way the Lord does—and that leads to the next question, the direction question: “What should I do to make [whatever] more satisfactory to the Lord?” The answer to THAT question opens up the world of stewardship action steps. Read more
Are personal spiritual disciplines, then, the only priorities with which we must be concerned? To answer that question, we need to ask another right question: Are you a man or a woman?
The answer to this second definitive question blossoms into a clear set of biblical priorities. While the Scripture unites male and female before God in salvation, it has just as clearly outlined distinctive responsibilities and roles for our daily lives. Read more
Allowing value verses to roll around in our minds for a bit, we (or at least I) sense an underlying theme of being transformed into the image of Christ, becoming Christ-like, making Christ known in every aspect of my life, and having Christ’s holiness, wisdom, and character replace the fleshiness of me.
These ideas, in turn, lead directly to, “How can I do that?”, our go-to generator question for helping our minds translate an inspiring, but vaguely actionable value into a more practical priority for life. So, how can I do that? How can I become more Christ-like? How can I have His wisdom and character replace me? Read more
How, then, does a Christian set about to discover his personal values? For this, we need another question:
When we turn to Scripture and seek from it the responsibilities we are to fulfill, expectations we are to meet, commands we are to obey, ambitions and cautions we ought to possess, we search on solid ground. Scripture is big enough to address any notion we might have, to assess any desire we are fond of, and to challenge any prejudice we hold. It is, as needed, encouraging, consoling, pointed, and confrontational. Read more
Answering, “Yes,” to “Are you a Christian?,” sets a course that recognizes life values are not only personal choices grounded in whim, fancy, desire, or ambition. Instead, values reflect submission to the Someone who knows better than we the course our lives should travel. Biblical Christians do not choose values as much as discover them, a process that includes embracing and submitting to any particular constraints and/or challenges any given value might impose on the living of life. Read more
Priority Stewardship 