The Faithful Wanderer

What are Divine Tools?

Divine tools are 100% available to any Christian, at any time. Regular use of these tools transforms our character. We become more like our Master, Jesus. Yet many believers never pick up and use the divine tools God has given us.

Why?

Because each one is cleverly disguised as a command. Unfortunately, stubborn believers refuse to obey Jesus’ commands, so their life remains a mess.

The Mirror

The next tool I’d like to talk about is the mirror. The mirrors we own don’t lie. A mirror reveals to us what we can’t see. Standing before a dressing room mirror, I know instantly whether or not an outfit flatters me. In fact, I buy my clothes based on the insight the mirror provides. At home, I stare into my bathroom mirror before I comb my hair. Or wash my face. Or after I change my clothes.

Mirrors are valuable to us and in His wisdom, our Lord has given us a spiritual mirror.

Our God-given Mirror

What acts as our spiritual mirror? The Scriptures.  In the Holy Spirit’s hands, different verses speak clearly my heart and yours.

James describes the Holy Scriptures as a mirror. In the Holy Spirit’s hands they reveal things about ourselves, that we don’t know.

 ²³ Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴ and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.²⁵ But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. (James 1:23-25 NIV)

I’ve looked into this divine mirror countless times, and yes, it does bring freedom, if we act on what’s revealed.

Living Scripture

In the hands of the Holy Spirit, the Scriptures reveal the inner truth about each of us. The Bible’s not just an ancient book but a divine source of renewal and life. But only if we act on what we know. Many of the things Jesus commands us to do don’t make sense.

Pray for your enemies? Bless those who curse you? Return good for evil? Forgive people who’ve harmed you?

Almost every new believer screams “WHY?”

Resisting God’s Cripples Us

A Christian who childishly stomps his foot and whines,

“I won’t—and God, YOU CAN’T MAKE ME!” is allowed to go his or her own way—but what a tragedy! They stay stuck in quicksand of their own making, because they refuse to trust the Good Shepherd’s greater wisdom.

Broken, hurting Christians often beg God for inner peace. They yearn and pray to have a joy-filled life, like some mature believers.

But peace and joy aren’t divine gifts. Instead, peace and joy are fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23.)

I’ve had 35+ years of experience following Christ as an adult. In the areas where I’ve resisted Him, I find myself stuck in the same old struggles and discouragement.

But where I’ve consistently yielded to His will? Things turn out differently.

Dethroning the Flesh

Following Christ can be tough. It’s a real flesh-burner. The flesh is our selfish, sinful nature. So when we choose to to keep obeying God, even when our emotions are screaming at us, it delights God’s heart.

Also, because we are responding to what our divine mirror shows us, our obedience eventually frees us from entrenched sin. We become more Christ-like. In the long term, we also experience more peace and joy.

I call it “the thief principle.”

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his hands, so that he may be able to give to those in need. (Ephesians 4:28 RSV)

Soon, like the thief, we are set free of the sin which once held us captive.

What more can I say? Obeying Jesus works.

These images were downloaded from Pixabay.com

Resources

The Thief Principle is a post I wrote in October 2017. I wrote about this principle in more detail there.

Author’s note: I’ve continued to grow older and am committed to honesty, but have decided to use the phrase “35+ years” for the foreseeable future. I do have plans, however, to post a new image of myself in 2022.