Victor Scott - Jeremiah's Vow

True Humility

True humility does not come from my actions, but from my relationship with God.

I recently had a conversation with someone about the nature of humility. The word itself seems a bit intimidating. I would like to think that I am humble, but in even trying to say it I lose the very thing I am trying to achieve. Or do we?

I have come to realize that true humility, not the stuff that makes you feel belittled or worthless, but true humility does not come from my actions, is seen in my relationship with God. The greater my understanding and acceptance of who God the closer I am to what God wants.

When I seek to grow in humility I am confronted with the awesome truth that I am unworthy of being in a relationship with Him at all.

God is holy. His holiness makes having a relationship with him impossible. But when I can appreciate the distance God had to travel to bridge the gap between my sin and His glory I am on the road to humility.

Humility is not a line to be crossed or a prize to be won. Humility is so much more than that. It is the final acceptance that God has chosen to come to this earth and provide a way for me to enjoy Him. And it is then when that vertical relationship is what it ought to be, then I can act toward those around me in a way that is both pleasing to God and beneficial to others.

Last Updated on March 4, 2023.

The Cross of Christ

There is within each of us a tendency to draw our attention inward. We are surrounded by a multitude of stimuli. Each voice calling us to become so immersed in our own perceptions and experiences that we have to work to consciously lay them aside to even try and connect to something other.

As I think of the cross of Christ I am confounded by the truth that Jesus exited heaven so that He could experience earth. Jesus relinquished eternal authority so that He could resurrect human frailty. Because of the chasm that exists between the world and the highest heaven, we find the bridge of divine love, built by God Himself. And it is Jesus alone who demonstrates the quality of life qualified to journey across its breadth.

Christ exemplifies the seriousness and determination required to lay aside what is familiar and comfortable for that which is foreign and burdensome. As I consider His example I utter this prayer:

Oh that I may follow in that line and reach the shores of glory; to hear the voice of God as he speaks, “Well done!” Amen.

Last Updated on February 10, 2023.

Jesus was a Human “Being”

What GOD is seeking in us as HIS children has very little to do with what we do.

Human Being vs. Human Doing

This post is not about the incarnation or the humanity of JESUS. Rather what I would like to explore is the idea that we as people, humanity as a whole, as created by GOD were not designed to be a “human doing.” What does this mean? The essence here is that what GOD is seeking in us as HIS children has very little to do with what we do. This is an important component of what salvation is. Salvation is not of works, but of faith. What this implies (and almost demands) to us is that there needs to be a clear distinction between what we do for others and what we are before GOD.

GOD wants us to be something with HIM and to do something for others. We can see how confused and confusing this gets when we try to be something, i.e., savior, lover, friend, confidant, whatever, for the people around us. GOD tells us to love our neighbors, that is an action. HE commands us to serve others, that is an action. But when it comes to what GOD wants us to be for HIM is HIS children (John 1:12; Romans 8:16; 1 John 3:1).

The Journey Home

The story of the prodigal son captures the essence of this most vividly. When the prodigal returns he never stopped being a son even though he felt unworthy of accepting the position. The FATHER never forgot who HIS son was. The FATHER even went a step further and reminded the entire house of who had returned “from the dead” (Luke 15:24).

The older brother had a similar problem to that of the prodigal. He never left the house, but he had never accepted the fact that he always had been the son and nothing he did would ever have changed that. “Son all that I have is yours, all you had to do was to ask” (paraphrase).

And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'” (Luke 15:31-32 ESV)

Be Transformed

JESUS helps us to better understand the transition that needs to take place in order for us to be what GOD wants us to be. Paul called this being transformed (becoming something we are not) into the reflection of JESUS (Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18). Paul also called this being conformed (pressed into a mold) to CHRIST and not this world (Romans 8:29, 12:2; 1 Peter 1:14).

There is a two-part process here. We must first acknowledge that we are children of GOD. This can be hard for some of us to do. But second, we have accepted that this puts us in a very special place within the family of GOD. There is nothing that needs to be done for GOD to be pleased with us. And there is nothing that we can do that will cause GOD to cast us out, if we are HIS children. Distance between GOD and me is a result of my activity to move away and not HIS.

Everywhere JESUS went HE was the truest manifestation of a Human Being. HE did not need to be reminded of the frailty of those around HIM. HE saw it and was moved with compassion (Matthew 9:36, 14:14, 15:32; Mark 6:34, 8:2; Luke 7:13). JESUS did not need to be told about the problems in the church. JESUS confronted them head-on even if that meant standing alone. When you know who you are nobody can deter you from your path.

When we learn “to be” and not “to do,” then we will begin to understand The Christian Way.

Last Updated on February 9, 2023.

Christian: What is that anyway?

What I have found out is that the world “out there” is very much a part of the lives of the people who make up the church “in here.”

Us vs. Them

As a preacher’s kid, I have spent my whole life as an insider looking out. I have, for many years, taken for granted the vocabulary and assumptions of the church about the world “out there.” What I have found out is that the world “out there” is very much a part of the lives of the people who make up the church “in here.” The adversarial nature of the church, the “us” versus “them” mentality that seems to find its way into (the minds of church people) and out of the church (through its methods and approaches) has done a lot to harm the ultimate mission and purpose of the church.

Hello Christians

It is interesting that the word CHRISTian was not even coined by followers of JESUS. It was first used to deride and make fun of disciples. The believers in Antioch, however, felt that the word CHRISTian captured what they were trying to be and embraced it; and so has every believer since.

Ancient Antioch was famous for its humor, especially the coining of jesting Nicknames. When an organized brigade of chanting devotees of Nero led crowds in adulation, this band of imperial cheerleaders with their ludicrous homage was quickly dubbed Augustiani. And earlier, when the devotees of the one called Christ came to public attention, they were named Christianoi, partisans of Christ (11:26). What may have been first coined by outsiders as a term of derision (see Acts 26:28 and 1 Pet 4:16, the only two other New Testament occurrences of the term–both on the lips of hostile unbelievers), the followers of the Way embraced it as a fitting label. [Source]

At The Core

In martial arts, the reason that you should train is to see what you are made of so that if there is anything that needs to be purged it will be through the process. The purpose of training is never to become a better fighter or learn how to hurt others, even though that will happen. We are taught to train to learn how to control our emotions, to redirect our energies into more productive and appropriate responses to the events around us.

I remember reading that those with no martial training do not have many options, if any at all, in a confrontation or fight. I wondered why. There are few or no options because you will react in whatever way “feels right.” The problem with this may lead to an overreaction, under-reaction, or no reaction at all. These are not really options because you do not control them. They are just reactions. A response is something you choose. Training, increasing our understanding of discipline helps us to better respond to circumstances and situations.

CHRISTianity, when seen from the point of view of GOD, it is a response to the problem of sin in the world and in each person. When seen from the point of view of man, CHRISTianity is a response to the problem of sin and the broken relationships that we have with GOD and one another. The word CHRISTian is more than a label, title, or description. This word is the remedy to the brokenness that exists in each of us. And it is also the path that we must travel if we are to honor CHRIST and glorify GOD with our lives.

What is CHRISTianity? It may not be what you think… IT’S ACTUALLY MORE!

Last Updated on February 9, 2023.

What is the way?

How can I be a little CHRIST to the world if I don’t take the time to understand JESUS, the one I am supposed to imitate?

The Way

One of the things I have discovered on my journey of faith is that there is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a CHRISTian. Many don’t know or don’t really understand that being a CHRISTian literally means being “a little CHRIST.”

How can I be a little CHRIST to the world if I don’t take the time to understand JESUS, the one I am supposed to imitate? I have done some training in different martial arts over the years and I have found myself learning more about what it means to be a CHRISTian disciple from this training than I have from any other thing I have done, read, or heard. And this includes what I have learned my entire life in the church!

I have two reactions to this.

I am thankful that I have been able to learn what discipleship is supposed to look like.
I am saddened that I have not taken the process of discipleship much more seriously.

The Call

JESUS commanded that we should go and make disciples of all the world. The question that I have is how do we do that? Many of us can’t just drop our jobs and walk around teaching or healing or going into churches interrupting services because Jesus said we were supposed to be doing something.

Are we supposed to do the same things that JESUS did? I know one thing for sure:

GOD wants me to obey the command of JESUS.
Make Disciples

The purpose of this blog will be to find ways to better understand and live out the life of CHRISTian discipleship in a way that is consistent with Jesus’s example.

Let’s pray:
Father, let us become CHRIST to the world. Let us incarnate YOUR SON so that others may come to know and understand that JESUS demands more than our love and allegiance. JESUS wants us to raise the white flash of unconditional surrender.

Last Updated on February 11, 2023.