'They must not only
rid themselves of whatever they know to be harmful but also yield to the cross
whatever is humanly legitimate—such as affection—in order that they may be
entirely under the authority of the Holy Spirit.
Our Lord’s demand is
most meaningful, for is it not true that human affection is tremendously
uncontrollable? Without consigning it to the cross and losing it, affection can
become a formidable obstacle to spiritual life.
Human feelings
change as the world changes. Their easy excitement can occasion a saint to lose
his spiritual balance. Their constant disturbance can affect a believer’s peace
in his spirit. Do not sorrows, moanings, sighs and tears usually result from hurt
feelings? If the Lord is not pre-eminent in our affections He can hardly be
Lord in other respects.
This is a test of
spirituality and a measure of its degree. We must accordingly hate our soul
life and refuse its affections to have free rein. The Lord’s demand differs
completely from our natural desire.
What was previously
loved shall now be hated; and even the organ which generates love, our soul
life, must be abhorred as well. Such is the spiritual way. If we verily bear
the cross we shall be neither controlled nor influenced by soulical affection
but shall be fit to love in the power of the Holy Spirit. Even so did the Lord
Jesus love His family while on earth. '
The Spiritual Man-
Watchman Nee
*******
Why do we assume our
affections are good things, simply because we have them? We enjoy happiness- so
when we aren't happy we are longing to be happy. When we are filled with sorrow
it makes us feel awful and it's something we despise. There are so many different emotions we have
and we truly believe they are all legitimate because they exist.
There is a popular
show 'Star Trek' and on that show there is an alien whose race tries to control
all their emotions so they don't rule them. They never claim not to have
emotions, but rather they've learned to set them aside in favor of pure logic.
Clearly God does NOT want us to set aside all our emotions- there is much talk
of happiness in the Bible, there is talk of sadness, of anger and so. When Watchman Nee talks about our feelings
he's not talking about doing away with them either, but rather NOT letting them
control our lives. The LORD needs to be preeminent in our affections. We are not to be like the Star Trek alien
race of Vulcans who go so far in their control of their emotions to never even
show them- they shun smiling, crying, and so on. We should however give the control of our
emotions to the Holy Spirit at every opportunity.
When we feel happy,
sad, angry, depressed, when we feel any emotions so much so that we recognize
we are caught up in it, we need to surrender it to the Holy Spirit and seek the
Holy Spirit's guidance. When we are caught
up in happiness- we are laughing and perhaps even giddy, we need to make sure
it is acceptable to God. It's just as
important that we do that with happiness as it is to do it with anger, sadness,
etc. We need God to rule our lives, all our lives not just the part we set
aside to seek Him, and study His word, but all day, every day, every minute of
our lives are to be God's. We don't
have to become pastors, or missionaries, not unless we are specifically called
to do so. Paul was a tentmaker even as He was an Apostle. Jesus didn't ask us to give up our
occupations, or even our families- as long as they both are in their places,
not above God. We are asked to walk in
the spirit, not in the flesh, not in the soul-self.
Truly recognizing
all aspects of our lives- affections, feelings, emotions all of it and
comprehending that if allowed they will be filled with the selfishness we are
to hate, is a good thing. May God let us
recognize all that would keep us from Him, from walking in the Spirit. And
then, please God, please lead us in Your way everlasting!
By Your mercy, Your
love, Your grace!
All in the name of
Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior!
Amen!
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