I've been convinced that like Stuart Briscoe said, the will of God is like a playing field, with boundaries, and within those boundaries, free choices are allowed. Or like the garden of Eden, with one tree fenced off, and from the rest "you may freely eat." (Gen. 2:16) But recently I've been considering the various "not on my own accord" sayings of Jesus in John, perhaps the clearest being:
"So Jesus said, 'When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.' " (John 8:28)
So if Jesus, our example (and the Holy Spirit, see John 16:13), would not even speak of his own accord, how much more should we imitate this, and not choose our own way, even in allowed matters?
"The self is given to us that we may sacrifice it: it is ours, that we, like Christ, may have somewhat to offer--not that we should torment it, but that we should deny it; not that we should thwart it, but that we should abandon it utterly: then it can no more be vexed. 'What can this mean? we are not to thwart, but to abandon?' It means this: we must refuse, abandon, deny self altogether as a ruling, or determining, or originating element in us. We are no more to think 'what should I like to do?' but 'what would the Living One have me do?' " (George MacDonald)
Blessings,
Lee
"So Jesus said, 'When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.' " (John 8:28)
So if Jesus, our example (and the Holy Spirit, see John 16:13), would not even speak of his own accord, how much more should we imitate this, and not choose our own way, even in allowed matters?
"The self is given to us that we may sacrifice it: it is ours, that we, like Christ, may have somewhat to offer--not that we should torment it, but that we should deny it; not that we should thwart it, but that we should abandon it utterly: then it can no more be vexed. 'What can this mean? we are not to thwart, but to abandon?' It means this: we must refuse, abandon, deny self altogether as a ruling, or determining, or originating element in us. We are no more to think 'what should I like to do?' but 'what would the Living One have me do?' " (George MacDonald)
Blessings,
Lee
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