OCD (Omni-Caring Deliverer)

S
(1 Timothy 4:15) “Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.”

O
"These things” that Paul instructed Tim to practice and immerse himself in could have referred to this whole letter or they could have referred to Paul’s more immediate instructions:

Train yourself in godliness (verse 7)

Toil and strive to achieve godliness (verse 10)

Exemplify godliness to holiness (verse 12)

Devote yourself to public readings of Scripture (verse 13)

What Paul did not instruct was perfectionism. Progress towards godliness, or even the right target of Christ-likeness, instead of perfection—successful behaviorism—was the measurement that Paul used.

A (Personal)
In light of that understanding, here are four questions I am asking myself:

1. Do I know Jesus better today than I did yesterday, a year ago or a decade ago?


2. Or more accurately, do other believers recognize my progress? (I could delude myself, so that’s why I should value the church’s measure of whether I’m progressing.)


3. Am I that humble, that submitted to the Body of Christ?


4. Do I know how the church measures me?

A (Psychological)

Hargrave and Pfitzer describe an over-developed will to control (others, self, circumstances) as one response to relational pain (violations of love and trust). That desire to be in control (i.e., perfectionism) is on the opposite spectrum of behavioral reactions to relational pain. Chaos is on the opposite end of that spectrum--life is chaotic so I might as well eat, drink, and be carelessly merry. On the emotional side of reactions to relational pain is rage on one end of the spectrum and shame (inward rage) on the other end. This is why accepting the Holy Spirit's more fair evaluations of us is so healing and helpful.

P
Jesus, I have so much to learn about Your love! You're my Holy Judge and my Personal Savior, I safely cast my life before You. I know I stand alone before You without you accepting other people’s judgment … without even my own judgment. But even in my aloneness before You, I’m never alone. You are my rock, my advocate, my champion, my deliverer. Help me, therefore, to practice being like You. Help me to truly learn to think like You and to become Your creation as You intend.

Restoring Love and Trust

S

(Jeremiah 50:20) In those days and in that time, declares the Lord, iniquity shall be sought in Israel, and there shall be none. And in Judah, and none shall be found, for I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant.

O

Those days and that time describe God's restoration of Israel and Judah after His judgment and anger were fully vented--exhausted--on them for their sins (Lamentations 4:11). This is a picture of what Jesus absorbed for us on the cross. The result is complete amnesty, total exoneration for the remnant of people that choose to receive Christ's substitutionary sacrifice and His unmerited restoration.

A (Personal)

Wow! I want to be like this remnant in whom God Himself found no wrong: "In those days and in that time, declares the Lord, the people of Israel and the people of Judah shall come together, weeping as they come, and they shall seek the Lord their God. They shall ask the way to Zion [God's kingdom], with faces turned toward it, saying, 'Come, let us join ourselves to the Lord in an everlasting covenant that shall never be forgotten' " (Jeremiah 50:4,5).

A (Psychological)

Hargrave and Pfitzer (The New Contextual Therapy, 2003) have documented that the disastrous effects that come from violations of love and trust include psychological and relational pain. Specifically, as those violations remain untended (productively) and unresolved, the individuals move deeper into unhealthy feelings and actions. As the feelings become more extreme, the individuals experience rage or shame (or both). As the actions decompensate, the individuals grasp more desperately for control or surrender more deeply to chaos. The only way out of these prisons is through legitimate restorations of love and trust in relationships (pp. 36-37).

P

Thank You, Heavenly Father, for venting Your wrath onto Your Son so I might be accepted. Restore us to Yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored! Renew our days according to Your original images so we might live with strength and peace, with love and trust, in Your eternal kingdom (Lamentations 5:22,23).