Renovation of the Heart
Transforming the Will (Heart or Spirit) and Character (1|4)
Pages 145-149
• How the Mind Depends on the Will
• Identification of Our Will with God’s Will
• The Basic Nature of the Will
• Will and Human Dignity
TOGETHER read the devotional and the scripture.
INDIVIDUALLY take notes in your journal on what stands out.
John 8:29 (NIV) “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. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”
Galatians 2:20 (NIV) I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Colossians 3:9-10 (NIV) Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
Isaiah 53:11 (NIV) After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge, my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
Hebrews 12:2-3 (NIV) Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
TOGETHER pray for one another.
INDIVIDUALLY answer the questions in your journal - process your devotional notes and pray.
How the Mind Depends on the Will
”The thoughts and feelings that the will depends on in any given moment of choice cannot be changed in that moment. But the will or heart can change the thoughts and feelings that are to be available to it in future choices. It is because of this that we are responsible for our character.”
How can we be responsible for our character if in the moment of choice, we are always dependent upon the thoughts and feelings we have at that moment? (with God’s assistance, of course)?
Identification of Our Will with God’s Will
“Single-minded and joyous devotion to God and his will, to what God wants for us - and to service to him and to others because of him - is what the will transformed into Christlikeness looks like. That is the outcome of Christian spiritual formation with reference to the will, heart, or spirit. And this outcome becomes our character when it has become the governing response of every dimension of our being. Then we can truly be said to have ‘put on… Christ’ (Romans 13:14).”
What, in your own words, does it mean to have “put on … Christ,” to have put off the old person and put on the new? (Colossians 3:9-10)
The Basic Nature of the Will
“Will is the ability to originate or refrain from originating something: an act or a thing. It brings things into existence. Will is the capacity for radical and underivative (being or productive of something naturally fresh and unusual) origination of events and things. Therefore it is the core of who and what we are as individuals, for what arises from it is from us alone. It is that aspect of personality in virtue of which we have a likeness to God or are in his image. We are created to be creators - of good. ”
What does this mean and what is your response to this statement?
“It is the nature of the spiritual to be self-determined - but it is very limited, though still very real, in man. Its primary exercise in the human is the power to select what we think on and how intently we will focus on it - from which our other decisions and actions then more or less directly flow. ”
What in our makeup constitutes will?
“Will is not the same as character, but character does develop from it, as specific willings become habitual and, to some extent, ‘automatic.’ Character is revealed most of all in what we repent of after thinking and what we then do as a result of repenting. Thought, feeling, and will give rise to character. ”
What is your response to this statement?
Will and Human Dignity
“The centrality of will to personhood is what makes it immediately and strongly precious and gives the person dignity. Dignity is a worth so great that it disallows exchanging a person from anything else. The great worth of the person explains why Jesus Christ would die for the sake of individual human beings and be satisfied with the outcome (Isaiah 53:11, Hebrews 12:2).”
Have you had an experience that tested your dignity? If so, what was the outcome? Shame? Growth? Triumph?
“Choice, the exercise of will and spirit, is valued and carefully guarded throughout life; and at the end of life we want to think we uniquely ‘have made a difference’ - always for good, of course. But such an outcome is not automatically so - and certainly not so to the degree it could be and should be. For the human will in the individual is not only precious, it is a problem.”
What does this mean? Do you agree?
EXTRA READING:
A story by Anthony de Mello (1931 - 1987):
”A rich industrialist from the North was horrified to find a Southen fisherman lying leisurely beside his boat. ‘Why aren’t you fishing?’ asked the industrialist.
’Because I have caught enough fish for the day,’ replied the fisherman.
’Why don’t you catch some more?’
’What would I do with them?’
’You could earn more money,’ was the reply. ‘With that, you could fix a motor to your boat, go into deeper waters and catch more fish. Then you would make enough money to buy nylon nets. These would bring you more fish and money. Soon you would have enough money to own two boats … maybe even a fleet of boats. Then you would be a rich man like me.’
’What would I do then?’
’Then you could really enjoy life.’
’What do you think I am doing right now?’ said the fisherman.”