Today, President Obama will stand in from of Congress and present his view of the State of the Union. There will be lots of agreeing and disagreeing, as Mr Obama lays outs problems, goals, solutions and challenges for our country.
This makes we wonder, whats the state of my union? Whats the state of ME? And makes we want to ask you whats the State of You? Have you ever stopped and considered how things are really going with you, or what it would be like if you had to stand up tonight and review you personal state? I wonder if that is what is being referred to in Philippians where it states “continue to work out your salvation”. ( I never have really understood what that actually is saying.)
Anyway, I’m trying to do that. I am trying to examine the state of me and see whats good, whats bad, whats needs to be different. Its a tough thing – transformation, and one that takes time. But I thought I would share two verses that address “concerns” I am trying to focus on this year, as I try the address some of the humility and “frustration” issues that I deal with on a daily basis. These are the ‘political promises’ I am trying to make to myself. Maybe seeing these will help you as well:
31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32
and
9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. James 4 9-11
I know I will not be perfect in these things, but its is one of my goals for this year to allow these verses to transform me. (its part of the whole obsessed thing I mentioned at New Years) Not by my own actions, but by giving in to the Spirit that live in me. I’ll let you know right in these posts how it goes.
Whats the State of You?