Comfortable or Conformable

At a recent event I attended, several people were given Bible verses to read.  Nervously, one person, read the King James Version of Philippians 3:10 this way:  "That I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made comfortable unto death."    Having memorized that verse years ago, I recognized the mistake.

I chuckled to myself because it is SO easy to seek comfort.  
To be comfortable with comfortability (if that's a word).

Then came this morning's devotional thought from My Utmost for His Highest:.  "The proof that we have the vision (a vision of God Himself) is that we are reaching out for more than we have already grasped.  It is a bad thing to be satisfied spiritually....We are apt to look for satisfaction within ourselves and say, 'Now I've got it!  Now I am completely sanctified.  Now I can endure.'  Instantly we are on the road to ruin.  Our reach must exceed our grasp.  Paul said, 'Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on...' (Philippians 3:12).  If we have only what we have experienced, we have nothing.  But if we have the inspiration of the vision of God, we have more than we can experience.  Beware of the danger of spiritual relaxation."
 
By the way, Philippians 3:10 actually reads:  "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death."

...my "flowery bed of ease"...

There IS such a thing as "holy discontent". 
Being conformable to Jesus' death is a far cry from being comfortable!

"Must I be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize,
And sailed through bloody seas?
"
(From "Am I A Soldier of the Cross")

 

9 comments:

  1. We used to sing, "I'm pressing on, the upward way; new heights I'm gaining every day." Somedays it doesn't seem like I'm gaining much, but my heart says "keep pressing."

    Someone put a lot of work into the flowered pillow. Beautiful!

    With joy,
    Pamela

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  2. That's a beautiful and comfortable looking bed! Thanks for the thoughts!

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  3. Hi Rebecca,
    Yes, the excitement truly is building!! and thanks so much for being excited with me, that is a blessing sweet friend.

    Concerning your post I have heard it said there is no such thing as standing still in the Christian life....you are either moving forward or going backwards, I tend to agree!!

    Hope you have a wonderful week ahead hon,
    Blessings to you and yours,
    Nellie

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  4. I don't want to ever be satisfied
    spiritually! There is always more
    where Jesus is concerned. I don't
    think we even scratch the surface
    when it comes to living the life
    He has in mind for us.

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  5. I always liked the version of the Bible that refers to the Holy Spirit as the Comforter. Sometimes that is exactly what I need - to be wrapped in the Comforter of His love. (John 14:26 - the Amplified Bible) And your beds do look so inviting!

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  6. At one of the churches we pastored in CA, a lady told me, "I've grown all I'm going to." That scared me, for her sake. We must be uncomfortable in our present state, always longing for more of Jesus and His life in us.

    Great post!

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  7. True words, Rebecca. Everyone is hungry and thirsty; the difference is - what for?

    I want to hunger and thirst after Jesus. (But I did think that was a pretty funny slip of the tongue you shared, and all too true of me many times.)

    Waving and smiling,

    Rhonda

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  8. Wow, challenging post! Thanks for sharing these words.

    Beautiful site you have here. :)

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Writing a Song a Week #3

Writing a Song a Week #3
♪ I wait for the Lord; my soul waits and in his word I hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning ♪ (Psalm 130:5-6)