The One Thing We Have Control Over

#1 · July 11, 2003, 7:59 am

Quote from Forum Archives on July 11, 2003, 7:59 am
Posted by: forthright <forthright@...>

Forthright Magazine
www.forthright.net
Going straight to the Cross

----
For every action, there may be a superior
reaction.
----

COLUMN: Hands-on Faith

The One Thing We Have Control Over
by Barry Newton
sjchurchofchrist.org

"The race is not to the swift
nor the battle to the warriors,
neither is the bread to the wise,
nor wealth to the discerning,
nor favor to men of ability
for time and chance happen to them all."
Ecclesiastes 9:11

Anyone who has been an innocent victim in an
automobile accident, lost employment because of
the economic downturn, inherited a debilitating
disease, or suffered the effects of a malicious
unfounded rumor knows full well that none of us is
truly in control of his circumstances. Our
situation can change dramatically in an instant
without regard to whether we have done anything
wrong.

While willful sin will sow those seeds which can
later produce disaster, we cannot eliminate
hardship by doing what is right. We are not in
control of our situation.

• In one pounding wave after another, Job
received the news how various disasters had
decimated his household and possessions. And
then his body broke out in boils.

• Joseph found himself in prison.

• David saw king Saul hurl a javelin from across
the room toward his body.

• The Jews awoke one morning to learn that by
Haman's edict they were to be destroyed on a
particular day.

When we strip away the illusion of "I'm in
control," we discover that actually we are only in
command of one item -- how we choose to respond to
our situation. And this one aspect of our lives
makes all the difference!

Managing our lives through the one true power we
possess is nothing new. Several decades ago, the
popularization of the power of positive thinking
tapped into this fundamental resource. As people
resolved to think positively regardless of their
circumstances, they found that they would act
accordingly. This then often led them to reap
great benefits.

While there can be some temporary benefits to a
secular philosophy of positive thinking,
ultimately, it is shortsighted, since all people
die. It can also be unreliable, since it can
short-circuit our natural warning signals of
genuine danger.

On the other hand, to choose to consistently
respond to life's situational roller coaster based
upon God and the positive foundation of that
victory procured through Christ is the most
reasonable and healthiest way to live.

• We can choose to overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:17, 21

• We can choose to demonstrate love where hatred
has gushed forth. Matthew 5:43-44

• We can choose to have faith in the midst of
trials. James 1:2-3

• We can choose to serve God and righteousness
regardless of our circumstances. Romans 6:11-14,
18, 22; 1 Corinthians 10:12

Why would anyone make the decision to live for God
regardless of what life has served up?

First, through Christ, all of humanity's true foes
have been conquered. Death and condemnation lie
strewn in the valley of the vanquished. Romans
6:23; 8:1 God and the slain Lamb are worthy of our
allegiance and worship. Revelation 5:12-13

Second, receiving eternal life is contingent upon
our remaining faithful in spite of whatever
situation might arise. As Paul wrote, "he has now
reconciled you in his physical body through death,
in order to present you before Him holy and
blameless and beyond reproach -- if indeed you
continue in the faith firmly established and
steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the
gospel." Colossians 1:22-23

To continue in the faith describes maintaining our
allegiance and service to God. God in turn beckons
us to live in a manner worthy of the calling we
have received. Ephesians 4:1

As God's servants we can choose to respond to life
grounded upon to Whom we belong, instead of the
roller coaster of how we feel about our situation.
We are responsible for what we choose to do. It is
the one aspect of life which we truly do have
control over.

---
You can help us get the word out. Here's how:
forthright.antville.org/stories/340415/

---- Please read below

Interested in receiving a brief, thought-provoking
devotional article once a week? Then subscribe to
mercEmail (pronounced: "mercy mail"), a weekly
devotional from Steve Higginbotham, minister for
the South Green Street Church of Christ in
Glasgow, KY.

To subscribe send a blank email to either of the
following addresses:
[email protected] (HTML Version)
[email protected]
(Plain Text Version)

Archives can be viewed at
www.glasgow-coc.org/mercEmail.htm

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Posted by: forthright <forthright@...>

Forthright Magazine
http://www.forthright.net
Going straight to the Cross

----
For every action, there may be a superior
reaction.
----

COLUMN: Hands-on Faith

The One Thing We Have Control Over
by Barry Newton
sjchurchofchrist.org

"The race is not to the swift
nor the battle to the warriors,
neither is the bread to the wise,
nor wealth to the discerning,
nor favor to men of ability
for time and chance happen to them all."
Ecclesiastes 9:11

Anyone who has been an innocent victim in an
automobile accident, lost employment because of
the economic downturn, inherited a debilitating
disease, or suffered the effects of a malicious
unfounded rumor knows full well that none of us is
truly in control of his circumstances. Our
situation can change dramatically in an instant
without regard to whether we have done anything
wrong.

While willful sin will sow those seeds which can
later produce disaster, we cannot eliminate
hardship by doing what is right. We are not in
control of our situation.

• In one pounding wave after another, Job
received the news how various disasters had
decimated his household and possessions. And
then his body broke out in boils.

• Joseph found himself in prison.

• David saw king Saul hurl a javelin from across
the room toward his body.

• The Jews awoke one morning to learn that by
Haman's edict they were to be destroyed on a
particular day.

When we strip away the illusion of "I'm in
control," we discover that actually we are only in
command of one item -- how we choose to respond to
our situation. And this one aspect of our lives
makes all the difference!

Managing our lives through the one true power we
possess is nothing new. Several decades ago, the
popularization of the power of positive thinking
tapped into this fundamental resource. As people
resolved to think positively regardless of their
circumstances, they found that they would act
accordingly. This then often led them to reap
great benefits.

While there can be some temporary benefits to a
secular philosophy of positive thinking,
ultimately, it is shortsighted, since all people
die. It can also be unreliable, since it can
short-circuit our natural warning signals of
genuine danger.

On the other hand, to choose to consistently
respond to life's situational roller coaster based
upon God and the positive foundation of that
victory procured through Christ is the most
reasonable and healthiest way to live.

• We can choose to overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:17, 21

• We can choose to demonstrate love where hatred
has gushed forth. Matthew 5:43-44

• We can choose to have faith in the midst of
trials. James 1:2-3

• We can choose to serve God and righteousness
regardless of our circumstances. Romans 6:11-14,
18, 22; 1 Corinthians 10:12

Why would anyone make the decision to live for God
regardless of what life has served up?

First, through Christ, all of humanity's true foes
have been conquered. Death and condemnation lie
strewn in the valley of the vanquished. Romans
6:23; 8:1 God and the slain Lamb are worthy of our
allegiance and worship. Revelation 5:12-13

Second, receiving eternal life is contingent upon
our remaining faithful in spite of whatever
situation might arise. As Paul wrote, "he has now
reconciled you in his physical body through death,
in order to present you before Him holy and
blameless and beyond reproach -- if indeed you
continue in the faith firmly established and
steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the
gospel." Colossians 1:22-23

To continue in the faith describes maintaining our
allegiance and service to God. God in turn beckons
us to live in a manner worthy of the calling we
have received. Ephesians 4:1

As God's servants we can choose to respond to life
grounded upon to Whom we belong, instead of the
roller coaster of how we feel about our situation.
We are responsible for what we choose to do. It is
the one aspect of life which we truly do have
control over.

---
You can help us get the word out. Here's how:
forthright.antville.org/stories/340415/

---- Please read below

Interested in receiving a brief, thought-provoking
devotional article once a week? Then subscribe to
mercEmail (pronounced: "mercy mail"), a weekly
devotional from Steve Higginbotham, minister for
the South Green Street Church of Christ in
Glasgow, KY.

To subscribe send a blank email to either of the
following addresses:
[email protected] (HTML Version)
[email protected]
(Plain Text Version)

Archives can be viewed at
http://www.glasgow-coc.org/mercEmail.htm

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