Author: Ben Bourland

What a nice quiet morning! This morning I let Marianne sleep in, and I got up with the little ones. Throughout the week, Marianne is so faithful to get up, get the ‘Littles’ fed, dressed and off to school. She gives me the extra 15-30 minutes to sleep before I get up and take the ‘Bigs’ to school. I fixed the ‘Littles’ some oatmeal and toast, got their waters, gave them their vitamins, and then after breakfast read them a story from their picture bible (Do not suffer the little children to come to me). Even though the ‘Littles’ still have colds, they are so upbeat and pleasure to spend the morning with.

7 However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves.
8 We are hedged in (pressed) on every side [troubled and oppressed in every way], but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair.
9 We are pursued (persecuted and hard driven), but not deserted [to stand alone]; we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and destroyed.
10 Always carrying about in the body the liability and exposure to the same putting to death that the Lord Jesus suffered, so that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be shown forth by and in our bodies.
11 For we who live are constantly [experiencing] being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be evidenced through our flesh which is liable to death.
12 Thus death is actively at work in us, but [it is in order that our] life [may be actively at work] in you. 2 Corinthians 4:7-12 [AMP]

I know this passage above is longer than normal, but it conveys a particular message that is not easily split into pieces. Remember from yesterday that God said, “Let the light shine out of the darkness” and Paul saying that God has given us the “light of knowledge” of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus. What Paul is now admitting, is that this light of knowledge has been put in vessels of weakness to bear it. Because we are earthen vessels, it is obvious that the power and greatness that come from our message is not from us but from the Almighty God of creation.

This passage also talks about the immortality of our spiritual selves; that we can be hedged in from all sides by the oppression of what we face here on earth but we [our spiritual security] cannot be crushed. Our minds can be confused and embarrassed, but our hearts remain strong and not driven to despair. He goes on to say that we can even be pursued, persecuted, and struck down but we are not alone, and our spirit is never snuffed out or destroyed.

What is crazy is that then Paul likens our condition to that of Jesus and being susceptible to the death of the cross, a liability and potential to being put to death yet God pulls us through this adversity and emulates the resurrection of Jesus as we subject ourselves to these risks yet endure. On the one hand Paul is daily subject to forces which lead to death, but on the other he is continually upheld, caused to triumph, and made to be more than a conqueror by the experience of the risen life of Jesus in his mortal body.

Daily exposure to forces leading to death is Paul’s experience but accompanying that is a continual manifestation of the life of Jesus in the apostle, here not only to sustain him, but to work through him, bringing life to others.

Application:

Jesus came to this earth to live a human life [although a perfect one], be subject to the ridicule/persecution of this world, give himself in death, and then ultimately rose again to be forever in our hearts through the Holy Spirit and physically in Heaven at the right hand of the Throne of the Father interceding for us.

So, I need to think of this applied to my life. I should live in the way Jesus did, doing what needed to be done (teaching the gospel and growing God’s Kingdom) even though the risks are always present, and the dangers of persecution are always there. At the same time having an internal peace and confidence that either the Lord will resurrect me out of the situation or that if I should die proclaiming the Son the God, I will assuredly rise and return with Jesus when He comes back to claim the earth for Himself.

Simply put – My confidence is in the immortality of my Spirit which is secure in the hands of the Almighty God, Lord of lords, and King of kings. My work is in the proclamation of the gospel and the life of Jesus Christ my Savior no matter the earthly risk since my security is beyond the capability of this world to remove/destroy it.

Well, if it’s not work life, it is personal life. Today was a day we needed to address a family issue within our home and that discussion ended up causing us to cancel a dinner with my cousin and his family that I was very much looking forward to. Lots of prayer covered what transpired and I am confident in the Lord that He is in control and as long as we are following Him and asking for His wisdom, I can trust that we will receive what we need, and He will see His will and purposes out in our lives and the lives of our family.

5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:5-6 [ESV]

I love this statement by Paul that what he and his posse have set out to do is not promote themselves but to promote Jesus Christ as Lord. In doing so they also position themselves as servants for the sake of the One they call King. Paul says he regards himself as the servant of those to whom he preaches. But this must not be misunderstood to mean that they are his masters. Paul acknowledges only one Lord, and it is in obedience to him that he serves humanity.

I really appreciate how Paul talks about how God has shown in his heart the light. I am going to directly quote something I read out of the Tyndale commentary on verse 6 -> “this [verse] appears to recall Genesis 1:3 (‘And God said, “Let there be light” ’), and if this is the case then Paul likens the revelation of the glory of God in Christ to the creative act of God whereby the darkness of the primeval world was banished by the light. Thus, the darkness of ignorance in which people are held by the god of this world is banished when, by a new creative act, God shines into their hearts the light of the gospel; an illumination which reveals the true nature of Christ as the one in whose face the glory of God is seen. Paul’s own conversion may well have prompted him to think in this way.” Isn’t that awesome?!?

Application:

I must consistently remember that Christ alone is the point and purpose of my life now. I was obedient in Baptism and in that act, I publicly stated that I had died with Christ and rose out of the water to walk a new life with Jesus as the object of that life. It is in that obedience that I must serve others; in serving others, I am serving Christ.

Things are about to get crazy…at work that is. There are just so many moving parts with planning, customer face-2-face meetings, budget discussions, test planning, and 1600 other things. Last night before Marianne and I went to bed, we prayed for all of the work craziness; how it affects me, our family, and asking the Lord for patience, perseverance, and wisdom as we wait on His instruction or movement of His hand to force what is next. I love the work that I do, I just wish it was in a better managed organization.

16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 [ESV]

It was really hard for me not to power on into this set of verses yesterday but the verses from yesterday had their own goodness and depth. I love passages that start out with BUT…! Remember yesterday we were talking about the veil that hides the eyes of one seeing the splendor of the Old or New Covenants; well now we get to see what it takes to remove that veil…

…when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.

2 Corinthians 3:16

Turning to the Lord is usually not a 20′ or even 90-degree turn; nope, it’s almost always a 180-degree turn. It takes turning away from one’s sin and to the open arms of the Father in brokenness and repentance (repentance is always a 180-degree turn).

This next verse is such a good one and even provides the lyrics to one of the songs we sing at church -> “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” How amazingly beautiful is that??!! I read somewhere that the waterfall of God’s blessings and grace do not stand still. You must be searching and discovering where the Lord is and what He is doing to stand in this waterfall of blessing. This blessing, grace, and peace is what I see this ‘freedom’ being, wherever the Spirit of the Lord is.

Paul goes on to say that we with our unveiled faces, we are being transformed from one degree of glory to another when we behold the glory of the Lord. You can also reflect the glory of the Lord when you become more like His Son in your actions and deeds but here Paul is talking about an internal transformation into His likeness. This is not an overnight or immediate transformation; this is a transformation that happens over time as we (with unveiled minds; are able to absorb the knowledge of the truth) gaze on the glory of God in the face of Christ.

Finally, “For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” The Spirit’s activity is the major characteristic of the new covenant, and our transformation is wholly attributable to the work of the Spirit of the Lord in our lives.

Application:

1. Have I removed the veil from my face through confession, brokenness, and repentance?
2. Am I seeking to be where the Spirit of the Lord is? (psst – the Spirit of the Lord is in every genuine believer who has surrendered their life to the King)
3. Am I being transformed by the knowledge of the truth (sanctification) as I gaze upon the glory of the Lord with my unveiled face?
4. Do I fully grasp that I am indeed free in Christ; that even though I have business leaders, local/state/federal government, and a culture that is always looking for a way to cancel me…I am free in the Kingdom of Christ…an everlasting Kingdom that measured up against this life, makes this life seem so insignificant.

My goal is to glorify God in all that I do; that while I gaze (unveiled) upon His perfect knowledge in Truth, I can reflect His glory through my behavior, actions, and attitude.

A normal day today with a good night’s sleep, a great conversation with our customer this morning, and a good set of meetings in the office on campus. Brooklyn is slowly getting better but still has a cough as do I.

12 Since we have such a hope (a permanent hope in eternity because of the new covenant), we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains un-lifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts.  2 Corinthians 3:12-15 [ESV]

Paul could be bold because he ministered under the provisions of a permanent covenant, whereas Moses lacked boldness because the covenant under which he ministered, and its splendor, were fading away. We know that Moses veiled his face because he did not want the Israelites to be scared of the brightness of his face from seeing the Lord’s back as He turn away so that Moses could see Him on the mountain. When you read Exodus 34:33-35 you will read no inference that Moses veiled his face ‘so that the Israelites might not see the end of the fading splendor‘. Paul seems to have drawn two inferences of his own from the text: 1) that the brightness of Moses’ face did fade after a short while; and 2) that the reason Moses veiled his face was to conceal the end of the fading splendor from the Israelites. Paul saw in the fading brightness a symbol of the transitory character of the Old Covenant, and inferred that Moses, lacking boldness because he was the minister of a fading covenant, veiled his face so that the Israelites might not see its end.

“Israelites minds were hardened” – Remember that while Moses was on the mountain, the Israelites made a golden calf to worship, and it was likely the effects of that sin that resulted in their being unable to look upon the brightness of Moses face. This removes any impression that it was Moses fault that the Israelites could not see the splendor of the Old Covenant reflected in Moses’ face.

What Paul then goes on to say is that he could see this veil still in effect in his present day; he finds in the idea of the veil, a way of describing that hardness. Just as the veil prevented the ancient Israelites from seeing the brightness of Moses’ face, so too the same veil, as it were, remained un-lifted when the Jews of his own day read the Old Testament. They could not see that the old covenant had come to an end and the new had already arrived.

Application:

I have always thought of my sin a veil between myself and the Lord that I allow to exist. When I sin, I throw up a veil between myself and God. As I continue to sin, those become additional veils that more and more prevent me from seeing God’s hand and/or hearing His voice. It is only through brokenness, confession, and repentance that these veils are once again removed. This is why my life must be so closely nestled into my Savior that I 1) joyfully follow His commands in obedience and 2) when I do sin, the separation from Him causes me to dive back to His feet for forgiveness. Through His Love and Grace, I am then once again restored to a clear earshot of His will and purposes in my life. I think a lot of people think that this cycle is a remote thing that happens…but no, it is a daily cycle as we live this life in the flesh.

I am crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but He Who lives in me; and this life I now live in the flesh [a life wrought with failures, distractions, and sin], I live by faith in the One Who loves me and gave Himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

First day back to work…Mixed emotions. Glad to be back with my team who had a rough run up to the Christmas break but didn’t feel like I got enough time with the family during my break after all of us suffering the FLU for half of it. I started last night off drifting off to sleep only to be woken up by my oldest (Bella) carrying our youngest (Brooklyn) who was coughing and appearing to have trouble breathing. Brooklyn and I left the house at 11:45pm and headed to the hospital. After arriving at the hospital Brooklyn was doing noticeably better but after talking to the triage nurse, decided to stay and see the doctor. Diagnosis -> The Croup. The Dr gave Brooklyn a dose of steroids that should knock down (and did) the tightness in her throat and set off back home at 3am.

7 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? 9 For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. 10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory. 2 Corinthians 3:7-11 [ESV]

Paul starts out with an exposition on the passage in Exodus 34:29–32 which describes Moses’ descent down from the mountain with the two tablets in his hands and fear struck in the hearts of the Israelites upon seeing the brightness of Moses’ face. Paul calls this the ‘ministry of death’ which is best understood in the light of Romans 7:10 -> “the very commandment which promised life proved to be death to me”. Although Leviticus 18:5 may promise life to those who keep the law, Paul knew that no-one does so in fact, and that the law can only pronounce the verdict of death over the transgressor. Unlike the law carved into the stone, which could not enable a person to fulfil its own demands, the Spirit given under the new covenant actually causes people to walk in the way of God’s commandments (Ezekiel 36:27 & Romans 8:3-4). So as Paul says, isn’t the dispensation of the Spirit far more splendid than the dispensation of death?

Old Covenant (Carved Letters in Stone)	New Covenant (Jesus/Holy Spirit)
Death through Identification of Sin	Life in Jesus
Condemnation and Needing a Blood Sacrifice	Righteousness in Jesus
Fades Away as New Sin is Committed	Permanent in Jesus

This very cool exposition of Paul of the Law (Old Covenant) and the Spirit through the Messiah (New Covenant) adds the weight of splendor to the latter.

Application:

The attention drawn by Paul to the amazing gift that God has given us in His Son Jesus is overwhelming. Why do I complain at all? I have access to the Spirit of God on a daily basis through Jesus Who stands at the right hand of the Father in the throne room of heaven, representing me and my needs. I cannot take for granted these gifts and access to the Lord I have right here on earth. This has to be a daily recognition and gratefulness of what I have been ‘gifted’.

JAN 2, 2023 [New Year’s Day Observed] – Today we will be heading to my brother’s house to have a family tradition dinner and football. Sauerkraut, Pulled Pork, and Mashed Potatoes. This is something my grandmother (my mom’s mom) used to do, and we have carried it forward. This is, however, the first time since COVID that we have been able to get together to do it, so we are all looking forward to this time together. I am covering the Mashed Potatoes and am baking 2 loaves of bread as well. It was ‘hair day’ for little Primie and quite a production but she had the most beautiful head of hair, so the payoff is always amazing.

4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:4-6

For today’s quiet time I spent a little more time on verses 4-6 in chapter 3. Since this is an anchor passage I plan to use throughout this next year as guiding set of principles for giving up my own self-sufficiency.

SUCH IS THE CONFIDENCE THAT WE HAVE THROUGH CHRIST TOWARD GOD

This confidence Paul is talking about is the credentials he just got done telling the Roman church is to him. Remember, no need to a letter of recommendation, the fruit of the church that Paul started is his recommendation letter. In that same way, Christ is our recommendation letter to God. When God the Father looks at us, He sees the accomplishments and greatness of His Son. So, Paul goes on…

NOT THAT WE ARE SUFFICIENT IN OURSELVES TO CLAIM ANYTHING AS COMING FROM US, BUT OUR SUFFICIENCY IS FROM GOD

How much clearer can this be? What Paul is saying that none what has happened is because his actions. These changes and growth of God’s Kingdom is God’s alone, and he cannot lay any claim to having made it happen. We are but instruments to be used in the hands of God.

WHO [GOD] HAS MADE US SUFFICIENT TO BE MINISTERS OF A NEW COVENANT, NOT OF THE LETTER BUT OF THE SPIRIT. FOR THE LETTER KILLS, BUT THE SPIRIT GIVES LIFE

So, what has God done? He has made us sufficient to spread the word of His gospel -> the new covenant. The ‘letter’ in this instance is the Old Law [or old covenant]. But now we have the new covenant of salvation in Jesus Christ Who has paid in full the price of sin for all who will believe. The law existed to show you your sin and the Spirit exists to give the gift of eternal life.

Application:

So, lets sum it up: I have confidence in my King that He is all the recommendation I need to the Father and more (notice that the target of my worth is not here on earth). There is nothing within me that is not given by God to do his will. All that I am able to do for Him that is good, can only come from Him. Finally, one place that God has given me sufficiency is to spread the good news about His Son…that’s it -> spread. God is the only One Who can do the rest.

First Day and great start! I love it when Sunday is the first day of the year. I get to start of the year with praise to my King and message from God through our pastor fit for the day. We got home, had some lunch, and then when Brooklyn got up, we went on a hike at the Paradise Valley conservation area. All six of us and Charlotte (our dog) too. I also baked bread today which is always a treat.

Pastor Steve took a small break from our verse-by-verse study of Acts to preach on Psalms 1 today. If you know my posts then you know that my Life Passage is Psalms 1:1-3 which I use as a guiding passage for my life. So, when Pastor Steve asked us to open our bibles to this passage, I was so ecstatic. The Lord is doing something this year in my life, and I cannot wait to be a part of it no matter what it requires of me. Pastor Steve’s coverage and teaching on this passage as a way to find ‘True Happiness’ this next year was spot on.

There were a couple of things he did not call out today that I have learned as nuances of this passage.

1. The passage does not say that this ‘Blessed’ man’s life would be easy, only that he would be blessed and happy in it.
2. ‘… yields fruit in its season’ meaning that there are sometimes that are not in season. I feel that this a ‘grace of God’ moment where God calls us into action and there are times when He doesn’t. The goal of those is to always being prepared to have results at the time when we are called into season. When we are not in season it is no less of a call to be aligned with God’s will and purposes.

Pastor Steve’s Sunday Sermon (Sermon starts at 26:37)

​1 Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish. Psalms 1 [ESV]

Last day of the year!! [updated] We went out for a wonderful dinner at one of our favorite restaurants in Woodinville and then had a quiet night together watching episodes of the office before catching the ‘New Years at the Space Needle’ on TV to welcome in the New Year.

The first and second passages sum up how I want to be better this next year. The Post Title says it all “Stand Firm | Down to Self-Sufficiency”. First, I want to stand firm in my faith and rest assured on the path the Lord has me on. That the winds of disappointment, potential job instability, illness, or anything else will not affect my certain hope in eternity and confidence in the relationship I have with my King. After some searching, this is scripture I am going to use as an anchor for this goal.

13 Be alert and on your guard; stand firm in your faith (your conviction respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, keeping the trust and holy fervor born of faith and a part of it). Act like men and be courageous; grow in strength!
14 Let everything you do be done in love (true love to God and man as inspired by God’s love for us). 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 [AMP]

Second, I want to have God be the first place I turn for the answer to every question. It also means not getting in front of God thinking I know better or am impatient in waiting on His hand to move in a situation. I also cannot sit back and assume that God will just solve my problem; I must beseech Him through prayer, His word, and the counsel of Godly men and women (my wife) in my life. What is awesome is that this was my next passage for today’s quiet time so I don’t think it is any mistake that it is what I will use for this second focus item for the year.

4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:4-6 [ESV]

Today we had our ‘make up Christmas Night Dinner’ dinner. Remember that we were all so sick last week, but we had already purchased everything to make the traditional Christmas Dinner meal like we do every year with my brother, his fiancé Jax, Hannah, Brie, my mom/dad, and the six of us. So, they all came over tonight and we had Beef Tenderloin, mashed potatoes, ginger carrots, sautéed mushrooms, salad, and to top it all off, Crème Brûlée. It was a wonderful evening of togetherness, good food, football, and gift exchange. Love this family!

17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ. 2 Corinthians 2:17 [ESV]

So, yesterday I warned that some of my stated passage yesterday might slip a day and here we are. This will be short as it is just one verse but it is a powerful one.

The first thing I asked myself was, “who are these many peddlers of God’s Word”? After doing a little study, ‘peddlers’ was a negative connotation (as I assumed) give for the market sellers at the gates that would do things like water down their wine or use phony weights for their scales for purchases. What Paul is talking about here are the preachers of God’s Word who tamper with scripture to make it more palatable for the hearer…that he and his companions are not like these peddlers of God’s Word. They speak Christ crucified; they do not remove the offense of the gospel. At some point in the life of the church at Corinth, there would be Jewish Christian Intruders who came to prey upon the Corinthians. It is possible that they might have already been in the background at Corinth *during the writing of chapters 1-7) and it may will be that Paul is alluding to them here in the letter.

Paul then contrasts this with the sincerity that they carry themselves as God’s servant, being commissioned by God as an apostle, and Paul knows all too well, nothing is unseen by the perfect Judge, so their speech is IN CHRIST.

Application:

This is such a reaffirming confidence to step out and not be afraid of speaking the TRUTH of God’s Word. As I continue to walk in service to God in my church role, my role as a Life Group Leader, I must never tamper with God’s Word; being above reproach in sincerity and integrity of representing the Living Word to others.

What a wonderful night with Bella! Tonight, we had our ‘Daddy and Daughter’ date where I planned the date and dinner and treated her with all the respect and courtesy, she should expect from any man that gets the privilege to date her. Opening car doors (in and out), walking on the side of danger, taking care of all of the details, ordering for her, buttering her bread, pulling out her chair, guy pays for everything (can’t believe this needs to be taught, but it does), and much more. We even discussed table etiquette and manners; even the waitress helped by correcting when Bella said “sure” when asked if she wanted another sparkling water…”It’s ‘Yes, Thank you’ Bella” :-). It was truly a magical evening with her.

14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ. 2 Corinthians 2:14-17 [ESV]

Wow! There is so much here to unpack! Let’s just go verse by verse. [Psst – this will likely bleed over into tomorrow’s…just too much to be covered in one sitting]

“Thanks be to God, Who IN CHRIST ALWAYS leads us in triumphal procession.”

Verse 14a

Picture that -> God in His Son Jesus leads us on parade together in victorious celebration. People lining the streets…those saved and those not.

…and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.

Verse 14b

We become the Sowers of the fragrance of the gospel as it is spread…everywhere.

For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?

Verses 15 & 16

So, keeping this vision in your mind of God In Jesus leading us in this parade where the aroma of the gospel and glee on our faces are seen by the parade watchers of whom are those who have been saved and those who are perishing. Those who are saved smell a sweet scent conjuring thoughts of gladness and hope in the coming day where we will reign with God forever in Eternity. Those who are perishing smell and see it too but their thoughts are of denial, hatred, and guile at the spectacle that goes against what it means to be their own god and see getting the most out of this life as the ultimate prize.

Application:

Not so much an application as a realignment to what it means to be a child of the Most High. My life should constantly be reflective of the spectacle I define above. There will be those who reject Jesus, but the way God sees my impact and testimony of Him is the same sweet aroma that fills His throne room whether that impact and testimony fall on open eyes/ears or closed eyes/ears. My obedience and serving Him are what are important; not the success metrics of conversions I have been a part of. Obviously desiring to be a part of growing God’s Kingdom is righteous, but I am not defined by my earthly bean counting in this area. Simply striving to glorify God in all that I do, never being ashamed to share the Gospel of His Son and staying obedient to God’s Word are all that matters. In fact, most of our experience in staying true to these 3 listed things will be more suffering than smooth sailing…so, our victory is secured through our suffering.