This week we will examine Chapters 16-20 (pp 143-186) of You Who? Why You Matter and How to Deal With it, by Rachel Jankovic.
How does knowing that God does not change (Hebrews 13:8) affect how we see the different seasons of our lives? Where should our focus actually be?
“We cannot know the limits of our God, because there are none. We can rest–rest–in Him no matter the uncertainty of our own circumstances.” (p148)
Read: Philippians 1, and notice verse 6. Is that declaration “static” or is there a process?
Personality tests can be helpful, but nothing can replace obedience to God. Nothing. Can you think of some examples in Scripture of people who obeyed God in spite of it not being in their “personality?” I’ll start:
Moses stuttered and was insecure from his past failures. God called him to lead Israel out of slavery, and into the Promised Land.
Have you considered that obedience to God can actually change aspects of your personality? Notice we are not speaking of DNA traits (eye color, dominant hand), but of leanings, tendencies — short-tempered, shyness, depression, critical, etc. Whom or what do we worship? Do I put qualifiers on obedience? “The great temptation is to start categorizing yourself outside of Him. . .” (p.159)
Romans 6:15-18 ESV – 15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
And let’s not forget the whole “princess mentality” . . . what does the Bible say are the “rights and responsibilities” of a “daughter of the King?” Read 1 Peter 2 and note the “so that” of being royalty . . .
From princesses . . . to monkeys . . .and Jeremiah 17:9, 10. What is the inherent failure in “follow your heart?”
“But Christians should be far more inclined to view our feelings like a bunch of monkeys that we are responsible to keep in cages, train, and disregard completely when they are acting up.” (p181)
2 Corinthians 10:5; Proverbs 3:5-7
This may seem a bit scattered: rather than a long editorial, I am just trying to get a conversation started. What impressed you in these chapters?
Plea for Grace 