Madre
06-10-2009, 01:06 PM
The enemy has persuaded many to believe that if they surrender totally to the Lord, their lives will be filled with abuse and misery as others afflict and use them. Satan gains such a foothold because few believers have learned the blessing that comes from receiving the cruelty that the world casts on them--of being a sponge to those around them.
A sponge is used to absorb. Rather than letting anger, frustration, or bitterness bounce off him to afflict someone else, the believer absorbs it and stops its progress. Anger is like the ball in a tennis match. As each opponent is able to return it, the speed of the ball increases until someone loses. When the manifestations of the self-life are volleyed, there is one major difference: There will never be a winner, for in the Christian life there are no winners, but only "loser/losers" and "loser/winners." When manifesting the flesh, or when another persons flesh is revealed and a believer responds in kind, he is a "loser/loser." If he absorbs the ugliness coming from others, however, he will find that the whole matter can come to a stop. The common lie we fall for is that he has lost, but in reality he has won: He is a "loser/winner," having apparently lost on earth but won in the kingdom of God. Just so, Christ absorbed to the death what mankind dished out, and He has won forever riches, power, honor, and glory. He appeared to be a loser when He was crucified; He is a complete winner.
Are you willing to bring the conflict within your home, within your relationships, and within your own heart to a conclusion? Then simply be a sponge. Throughout the day absorb all that is from the carnality of man around you and watch as the peace of Christ prevails.
Being a sponge is a blessed life, one of true strength and character. "When we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world" (1 Cor. 4:12-13). Paul was a man of great fortitude because he was a sponge for those around him.
There are three ways to view the command to love. The first is from the perspective of the law, which teaches, in essence, to love or God will punish you. The second is from the desire to be happy through obedience to Scripture by loving as you love yourself. The third and highest view flows from the life of Christ, which actually enables you to love your enemy. The first is a good way, the second is an excellent way, but the third is God's perfect way. It is the way of being a sponge, of denying yourself, not the Lord within you.
~ Michael Wells, Problems, God's Presence, & Prayer
A sponge is used to absorb. Rather than letting anger, frustration, or bitterness bounce off him to afflict someone else, the believer absorbs it and stops its progress. Anger is like the ball in a tennis match. As each opponent is able to return it, the speed of the ball increases until someone loses. When the manifestations of the self-life are volleyed, there is one major difference: There will never be a winner, for in the Christian life there are no winners, but only "loser/losers" and "loser/winners." When manifesting the flesh, or when another persons flesh is revealed and a believer responds in kind, he is a "loser/loser." If he absorbs the ugliness coming from others, however, he will find that the whole matter can come to a stop. The common lie we fall for is that he has lost, but in reality he has won: He is a "loser/winner," having apparently lost on earth but won in the kingdom of God. Just so, Christ absorbed to the death what mankind dished out, and He has won forever riches, power, honor, and glory. He appeared to be a loser when He was crucified; He is a complete winner.
Are you willing to bring the conflict within your home, within your relationships, and within your own heart to a conclusion? Then simply be a sponge. Throughout the day absorb all that is from the carnality of man around you and watch as the peace of Christ prevails.
Being a sponge is a blessed life, one of true strength and character. "When we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world" (1 Cor. 4:12-13). Paul was a man of great fortitude because he was a sponge for those around him.
There are three ways to view the command to love. The first is from the perspective of the law, which teaches, in essence, to love or God will punish you. The second is from the desire to be happy through obedience to Scripture by loving as you love yourself. The third and highest view flows from the life of Christ, which actually enables you to love your enemy. The first is a good way, the second is an excellent way, but the third is God's perfect way. It is the way of being a sponge, of denying yourself, not the Lord within you.
~ Michael Wells, Problems, God's Presence, & Prayer