This morning I was reading from Barclay’s commentary on Romans 6:12-14: “We are faced with the tremendous alternative of making ourselves weapons in the hand of God or weapons in the hand of sin.”

It is a moment by moment choice we are faced with.

so true!

While there’s no absolute indication that it’s true, I’ve always loved the story of da Vinci using a model to paint Jesus. Years later, on the search for a model to paint Judas, he approaches someone he thinks looks evil and treacherous. It turns out to be the same guy.

We all have the capacity for all human traits, for good and for evil, within us.

But we only become capable of choosing….after recognizing that.
It all comes into the light.

im going to have to do some research on that da vinci story…that sounds amazing…thanks for sharing!

Right on. Can’t die to sin if we don’t admit we sin. can’t become who we want to become if we’re not aware of who we are now.

Wowow that’s crazy! something to look up now on my luncb break.

It sounds like he is saying, “being aware of our depravity helps us be aware of who we are and what saves us…grace”

I really think it comes down to admitting that we are capable of sin. No one wants to admit that they are flawed or even corrupt, but being able to grasp that makes going through life and accepting grace a whole lot easier (even though it is very hard) and giving grace to others.

A few years back during school I was exposed to a lot of learning/personality styles research. One intrigued me because it said we have a natural way of responding, and a secondary way or responding when under stress/pressure.

There are some generalized ways men and women respond, which are different. As much as I never want to think of myself as controlling or manipulative (generalized problem areas for women), I can see these tendencies in myself when I am under stress/pressure. It is rebellion? Is it lack of faith? Is it our genetic makeup? Doesn’t really matter to me. I just want to learn how to not be that person, and to pursue love, grace, unity, and truth.

so much of who we are now and who we are becoming comes down to choice. Because our choices determine our destiny… so much of choice is predicated upon whether we will “act” or “react” to a given set of circumstances. Will we simply allow our knee-jerk reaction to take over, or will we take a moment (and a deep breath if needed) and do what Paul says in Ph 4.8 to “think on” (concentrate, make a decision to focus on) these things… things that are lovely, good, true, etc…