Renovation of the Heart
Radical Goodness Restored to the Soul (1|3)
Pages 63-67
• Pulling the Whole Self Together
• Dead to Self
• Some Sensitivity to Self Will Remain
• Standing for the Right without Egotism
• Beyond Anger, Retaliation and Unforgiveness
TOGETHER read the devotional and the scripture.
INDIVIDUALLY take notes in your journal on what stands out.
John 12:24-26 (NIV) “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.”
1 Thessalonians 5:15 (NIV) Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
Matthew 5:38-48 (NIV) “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
TOGETHER pray for one another.
INDIVIDUALLY answer the questions in your journal - process your devotional notes and pray.
Pulling the Whole Self Together
”Only love of God frames and supports love of neighbor, giving it right direction and the power to carry out its aim of goodness with the kingdom. And love of God and neighbor gradually pulls the entire structure of the person into proper alignment.”
What does this mean? Do you agree? What does this look like for you in your life?
Dead to Self
“Being dead to self is the condition where the mere fact that I do not get what I want does not surprise or offend me and has no control over me. - The one who is dead to self will not even notice some things that others would - for example, things such as social slights, verbal putdowns, and innuendos, or physical discomforts. But many other rebuffs to ‘the dear self,’ as the philosopher Immanuel Kant called it, will notice still, often quite clearly. However, if we are dead to self to any significant degree, these rebuffs will not take control of us, not even to the point of disturbing our feelings or peace of mind.”
Is being “dead to self” a realistic goal of growth in Christ? Is it the same as being nothing? Is it healthy?
Some Sensitivity to Self Will Remain
“Mere sensitivity to self is not itself is not wrong or sinful, so long as we do not welcome it or allow it to ‘take over’ our actions and lives.”
What is your response to this statement?
Standing for the Right without Egotism
“It is the controlling principle of the renovated heart and the restored soul. Its radical goodness progressively subverts and replaces the radical evil in the fallen human heart, mind, body, soul, and social and other environment.”
Can we avoid egotism (pride of will) in standing for what is right and good? How would we do that - beyond anger?
Beyond Anger, Retaliation, and Unforgiveness
“To step with Jesus into the path of self-denial immediately breaks the iron-clad grip of sin over human personality and opens the way to a fuller and ever fuller restoration of radical goodness to the soul. It accesses incredible supernatural strength for life.”
While this sounds great in theory - do you believe this is possible (practically possible for you)?
EXTRA READING:
“One thing, however, is sure: unless Christians fulfill their prophetic role, unless they become advocates and defenders of the truly poor, witness to their misery, then, infallibility, violence will suddenly break out. In one way or another, ‘their blood cries to heaven’ and violence will seem the only way out. It will be too late to try to calm them and create harmony.”
- Jacques Ellul (1912 - 1994) French philosopher and sociologist