Remonstrance

There is a kind of tired I’m sure only Christians experience. Theologically, I say it because it is a spiritual tiredness, and foreign to the unregenerate mind:

But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 1 Corinthians 2:14 (NASB)

The unregenerate mind is dead:

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins…even when we were dead in our transgressions…
Ephesians 2:1,5 (NASB)

When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive… Colossians 2:13 (NASB)

And “coming alive” spiritually is that incident when the lights go on:

For this reason it says,
“Awake, sleeper,
And arise from the dead,
And Christ will shine on you.” Ephesians 5:14 (NASB)

At the heart of this change is a newness of life. The verses are endless on this point, and it’s a settled issue: before Christ, there was a spiritual life we never knew.

This newness of life also brings a different kind of tiredness unknown before. I have worked construction, landscaping, painting, bussing, waiting, and crossed a littany of fields and settings from the loading dock to the multibillion-dollar corporate boardroom. Throughout all these, including all my education experience, I have never seen this kind of tiredness.

Here’s an interesting description:

Immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My garments?” Mark 5:30 (NASB)

Consider Paul’s strange tiredness:

So death works in us, but life in you. 2 Corinthians 4:12 (NASB)

…I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith…Philippians 2:17

I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls… 2 Corinthians 12:15 (NASB)

“the dying of Jesus…” It’s a combination of: victory, and sheer exhaustion, like coming off an intense roller-coaster ride with wobbly knees.

Filed under: worthy Purpose by kmcc
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Tags: maturity, sacrifice, sanctification

I was compelled to stay up last night, engrossed with talking to Sean. I’ve always heard of these “man-to-man” talks fathers should have with sons — my dad tried it so many times I can’t even count them — but now at age 52 with three boys, I think maybe I get it. A “man-to-man” with dad always meant a lecture, which isn’t a terribly earth-shaking event since parents can dish out lectures at a-dime-a-dozen. Still, it’s the curse of parents, I suppose, to dish it out, knowing it probably won’t get heard.

But now I understand the “man-to-man” quite differently. I don’t believe it’s a lecture. It can’t possibly be. Men can’t really lecture men, in my experience. The male ego and machismo is the original “Clash of Titans” in which nobody really wins, but perhaps one gets more “beaten-down” in the end.

What proved so illuminating was to understand “Man-to-Man” means something more like, “Well hello there, son! You made it after all!” And there’s something sobering but still wonderful to see when your son is suddenly standing there fully grown and standing eye-to-eye, adult-to-adult, “Man-to-Man.”

It’s a breathtaking experience. It’s not at all like the sad-but-beautiful face we parents try put on the truly-tragic realization that “they’re all grown up now, dear.” That one comes as a rude shock, I think, because it means the kids aren’t so wonderful and sweet any more, and their delightful laughter and high-pitched voices have cracked and croaked and dipped into teenage bass tones. What a heartbreaking transition that is! Yuck!

But the “Man-to-man” is quite different altogether. You only realize it when it’s already in-motion. A real “Man-to-Man” talk can’t be contrived.

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Filed under: family by kmcc
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Tags: maturity, parenting