This One
Thing
(2-15-04)
Philippians
3:7-15
In Paul’s discourse in Romans 7:14-25 concerning doing those
things that he truly does not want to do and the things he would really like to do he doesn’t do, I find a bird of a
feather, so to speak. I, like Paul, and like each of us I suspect, the common struggle is found in the stress between flesh
and spirit.
GAL 5:16 So
I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires
of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to
the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are
led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
If we are to conclude that we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, and a place in
eternity, then we must also conclude that Paul’s word also must find their resting place in application to each of us.
Therefore we each also are not yet a finished product. Phil.3:13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold
of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward
what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal..”
I hope that the one thing Paul desired to do was the one thing
he did do, and that it not be the very thing he wanted to do but fail to. Paul recognized something in regard to this that
is worth our grasping and holding on to with all our might: Rom.7:24 What
a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
25 Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! It is Jesus that we owe
our salvation to, not our own efforts. Left to our own efforts we fail. It is by reason of Grace that we each gain entrance
after death into that eternal paradise. Does that mean eat, drink, and be happy for tomorrow we die and go to heaven anyway?
Not at all! (God Forbid!) We are obligated by love to labor towards our own and each others maturity. With last weeks lesson
we looked at how a person comes into this redeemed relationship carrying the habit baggage of their past and how those habits
are attached to: the way we speak, the way we think, the way we value things, and the way we attach our hearts. (our desires)
Our maturity involves having success in the arena of our habit life, but how do we gain those victories? By shear will
power? By absolute control? By careful government of our lives? By determined obedience to law? The truth is these will not
do much more than bring regulated misery. To gain maturity one must look to the root of, the seat of, the foundational elements
of mans habit nature. Why are we creatures of habit?
In scripture we find enlightenment. (James 1:14-15) James tells us that habit is progressive. The word habit is used little inscripture but when it is
it is used in the sence of something that has been learned (1Tim. 5:13) The root word translated ‘habit’ is the same word for learn.
(Mat.11:29; Jn.6:45; Heb.5:14)
Another word that might be helpful but seen as stronger is ‘addicted’ (Titus
2:3) Notice what is offered as a defense against addiction. Being busy doing good and wholesome things out of love is
a shift in focus from self to others. A shift in heart then feet and hands.
Another word closely associated with ‘habit’ is custom. (some translate as habit) (Heb10:25) Ethos = ETHOL'OGY, n. [Gr. manners, morals,
and discourse.] A treatise on morality or the science of ethics. (Acts 15:1, 16:21, 21:21) What is visible here is the ‘learned’
part or side of custom. In order for custom to become a custom it must be 1st be learned / taught, then practiced
repeatedly.
If maturity is to be attained and the habit baggage of our past associations is to be overcome we must: 1st
let our new heart have its influence. 2nd let our new mind have free reign to develop. 3rd encourage
new habits/customs to be developed through learning and practice. (Rom12:2; 2Cor.3:18; Eph.4:23f)
