Book 4 of Musings Poise
To be abiding in Christ is to be poised.
All of us are driven by various fears and desires. When these are expressing themselves through us we may have lost our poise.
The life of abiding in Christ is one of poise. We are in control of ourselves. Our emotions do not drive us.
Let us take anger, for example. We are being made in the image of God. Does God ever become angry? Indeed He does. Does Christ ever become angry, indeed He does: "Make not My Father's house a den of thieves!"
How does God handle His anger? He keeps it absolutely under His righteous control.
For example, God's wrath has been smoldering since Satan rebelled against Him. But the Day of God's Wrath has not arrived as yet. The demons reminded the Lord Jesus of this.
Here is this unbelievable anger, and yet it has not been expressed all this time.
It is as though when God becomes angry He puts His anger in a drawer. When the appropriate time comes, He opens the drawer and uses the anger to fulfill His own purposes.
God is never driven by His own anger. God controls His anger.
The same is true of the Lord Jesus Christ, because Christ does only that which He sees His Father do.
This is the way God wants us to be. He wants us to remain perfectly poised, never being driven by anger, lust, pride, fear, ambition, jealousy, or any other emotion.
God is capable of anger. So are we.
There is no physical lust in God, but there is intense love.
God is humble of spirit, but He is aware of His awesome majesty.
God fears nothing. He is never moved by fear.
God has plans that He accomplishes, but His ambition is always under His righteous control.
We know God is capable of jealousy, from what the Bible says.
Being made in God's image we are capable of anger and jealousy. In addition to these we are subject to a number of other emotions that have been inflamed by Satan until what at one time may have been legitimate is now uncontrollable.
The Lord has told us our strength will be in quietness and confidence. As His children and His image we are not to be driven by any emotion or passion. We are to be as He is-in perfect rest at all times.
There is a time for anger. There is a time for jealousy. There is a time for pride. There is a time for ambition. There is a time for love. When we learn to abide in Christ we refuse to be driven to action by anger, or jealousy, or pride, or ambition, or love. We maintain our spiritual poise. Because we are always looking to Jesus in every situation, we become aware when an emotion seeks to move us.
Someone treats us unjustly or perversely. Anger arises in us and seeks to control our tongues or our attitude. Instead of giving in to the emotion we immediately seek the Lord to find out what our proper response should be.
Sometimes an angry response is in order. But it always must be expressed when we are in complete control and are conscious that this is the behavior Christ approves of.
We do not gain such poise, such control over ourselves, overnight. It takes considerable experience before we learn the quietness and confidence of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The adamic nature loves the excesses of the emotional nature. Shouting, screaming, swearing, acts of violence, lying, threatening, revenge, are dearly loved by the adamic personality. Such behavior composes a great part of television presentations. Have you noticed?
Contrast these actions with the poise of the Lord Jesus. You would not find Him shouting, screaming, swearing, acting violently, lying, threatening, seeking revenge. We are being made in His image.
If I am correct, God is raising the bar in our day. What used to be acceptable is acceptable no longer.
While I am writing (March 24, 2003) the United States is at war with Iraq. Many of the servicemen and their families are looking to God for help. Unless I am mistaken, the need for God's help will increase in the future.
God wants us to invite Him into our heart so He can live in us and we in Him. This always has been true; but as the Bible says, "Many who are last shall be first." This expression tells me that God's opportunities and demands change from time to time. We have to know what God wants today.
Well, if I am hearing the Lord correctly, God is looking for people like you and me to lay down our old life and walk in the newness of Kingdom life. Kingdom life is that of living entirely in the Presence of the Lord Jesus Christ, not just in church but during every moment of every day.
I enjoy this walk. I would far rather live in quietness and confidence than to be raging about, out of control, saying and doing things that are certain to bring harm to me sooner or later.
I enjoy green pastures and still water.
How about you?
This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it. (Isaiah 30:15)