Gospelising Our Conditions

Gospelising Our Conditions

Sister Miki Terayama - 29 August 2021

Weekend Devotion: Gospelising Our Conditions

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The other morning, before my kids went to school, my daughter was doing some drawing and she was distraught that her work was not up to par with her expectations for herself. Next to her, was her brother, drawing some unrecognisable lines and shapes. He looked over to her butterfly drawing and exclaimed that her work was really nice, in contrast to her perspective. Despite the compliment, she was obviously still upset. So I talked to her about the topic of conditions. You see, we live in a world where what we see holds great power. We are inclined to look at the good or bad conditions of people, their credentials or a situation. So much so that it dethrones the importance of the gospel, of restoring a godly perspective and seeing ourselves through Him. I am very much like my daughter on most days. I am quick to sulk over my weak conditions and it gets me down a lot when I let it overwhelm me. For you, it could be in school, at work, with relationships and such. Now, when men shift our eyes away from God and onto this worldly standards for self and others, our hearts will often be led into a miserable state. Why? Because no matter how hard we strive, no one can reach perfection. I mean, will a person always be emotionally strong? Will someone not ever have any weakness? Can a person be totally free from any sickness? Will one not be met with problems at times? Can we always be on the top of the list, always in the first place? No. Which is precisely why the Lord often calls us to the gospel to re-look at all things, lest we easily get swayed, proud or disappointed. Even though we may have many cracks and lack, but here is the thing, all of it can be used by and for the Lord. As I confirm with my daughter, even though she is so focused on how bad her drawing is, but God is actually showing her how He is using her seemingly bad condition so well. She has sparked her brother’s interest for drawing and she is also a role model for her brother who admires her, even though she cannot see it. She can use her drawing to influence and glorify God, even a “lousy” drawing in her eyes, is beautiful to those God put around her. As I said it, I felt a familiarity in how God could have convicted me or us, the same way before. Paul said in Philippians 3:3-4,6-7: “For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.”  Now Paul is saying this as he knows that his conditions may seem great in the eyes of people, even down to his zeal. Yet, he acknowledges that they are all considered loss. How so? Because the gospel and God’s irresistible grace has already cleared his vision to see that all that he has gained in the flesh are of no value in eternity. Therefore, if we feel miserable about the lacks in our conditions, that is because we have yet to gospelise our conditions like Paul has. What does it mean by “gospelising our condition” mean? This basically means to look at our conditions from the gospel POV, a blessed angle.

Christ’s definition of your conditions

Firstly, we have to internalise this truth: that in Christ, every one of our condition is precious. You know, I used to accept easily that God is using certain bits of my conditions but never in entirety. However, God is telling us today, not just our kindness, patience, meekness, being thrifty, sociable, but also the parts where we are sometimes timid, not trusting, easily triggered by anger, and so on. Not just picking those good ones but all of them, are precious and glorious. God has a plan for our lives and He will every bit of our condition. Even in parts where we are still unable, He can all the more magnify and reveal His grace and works. When we have this in mind, this is gospelising our conditions. Many times, we are tormented by ourselves, looking deep into our weaknesses, lack in character or situations that does not seem to be changing for the better. This grows in us self pity, accusations, and easily losing hope or direction in our daily lives. We have to test and approve that in Christ, we have already received grace. Therefore, all the conditions in us are but spiritual lessons, and will ultimately become great tools for God’s testimony.


Gospel helps us to put off the need to rely on “good” flesh conditions

As we continue receiving a gospel POV, our hearts will receive an irresistible transformation. We will no longer be influenced and easily affected by what we can or cannot do, our output and needs. Instead, we will find it less challenging to put down our desires and temptations. This irresistible transformation comes from the conviction and guidance of God’s grace, because grace tells us that we are made with a purpose, for a mission in this world, therefore, we can set apart that our identity in Him can never be compared to the definition of value in the world. However, are conditions still important? Yes they are. We still need certain conditions, skill set, nature to work, to study, to serve in church, to take care of our family and such. But we must see that all these are not done by us, but by God’s grace. So even if we fail in certain areas, we see God’s allowance and test and approve His purpose. If we do well, we do not boast of our efforts, but give thanks for His provision. Now the apostle Paul knew full well that one cannot rely on their flesh or the standards of men and the world, or else, they will lose freedom, joy and even become bounded and miserable within. So this transformation of our hearts must be done through God’s grace, so that we can put down our old self and pursue a God-centered view in our lives.


Keep receiving the gospel answers to act on all things

Brothers and sisters, we will find that it is true we cannot live out or do the good that we ought to do at times due to our weak conditions, but that is precisely why we need to seek and pursue the complete answer from the gospel. Every time we hear the word of God, we internalise a little, but if we still find that there are areas we cannot get past or we start feeling disappointed and guilty, we need to meet God at that area. This means, we need to bring it up to God in our prayers, apply the truth of God to it, and let God liberate us through His answers, not keep circling on our own thoughts and emotions. Sometimes, we may see that God does not allow for certain problems to be resolved and our hearts may struggle for awhile. However, through the process, we develop a greater need for His presence and experience the extent of His support, protection, mercy and even sending people to aid us. So, the Lord does not merely want to solve your problems, He wants you to fully understand what it means to be strengthened by grace and nothing else. As you do so, you will rely less on your usual go-to methods of solutions and worldly ways, but have wisdom in your judgment, choices and even minister to people with the same experience.

Brothers and sisters, we have to trust the Lord and let Him liberate us in His timetable, so that we may not merely be worry-free Christians, but spiritually matured ones. If you are stuck with some challenges and struggles, do not let our current conditions become a reason of despair, but have hope that there is a gospel reason for it. Gospelise our hearts and minds in Christ to see our conditions in a new light.

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Miki Terayama
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Miki is a full-time ministry staff at The Blessed Run Ministries. She is a sister who shares a natural, God-given affinity with children and youths. She is married to Randy (NET Group Youth Leader) and has two little ones of her own, Liora and Jude. She is involved in the children, youth and social media ministries.

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