I did this one ten days ago actually. It seems interesting reading back on my thoughts on it. I think my mind was in other places, pretty low, because I don't think I was quite connecting to the passage or devotion here. My affections weren't into it. LOL. Let me try again.
Two statements stick out to me along with the scripture passage:
-How can our affections restrict us? It’s simple really. We don’t do anything we don’t want to do. We only ever do what we want.
-
The only way to do this is with the Gospel. Only the Gospel is beautiful enough to change our hearts and produce in it all the affections that will cause us to live new lives.
But reading some commentaries on the scriptures given, it reads quite different (well you said unique) as Hidden points out.
Here is a portion of one commentary I found:
biblehub.com/commentaries
Barney's Notes on the Bible: Our heart is enlarged - We have deep feelings, which naturally vent themselves in fervent and glowing language. The main idea here is, that he had a strong affection for them; a heart which embraced and loved them all, and which expressed itself in the language of deep emotion. He had loved them so that he was willing to be reproached, and to be persecuted, and to be poor, and to have his name cast out as evil. "I cannot be silent. I conceal or dissemble nothing. I am full of ardent attachment, and that naturally vents itself in the strong language which I have used." True attachment will find means of expressing itself. A heart full of love will give vent to its feelings. There will be no dissembling and hypocrisy there. And if a minister loves the souls of his people he will pour out the affections of his heart in strong and glowing language.
While not what the study suggests, I think openness is very important with God and others in fighting sin.
I think my thoughts at the time was outward environment. People and things. The point of the study is to look into OUR hearts though. LOL.
I think this is the scripture the author should have used here. :) I agree that whatever we want to do is what we will do. It is why it is important to transform our minds in the Word of God, so that we will delight in Him. Circumstances are constantly changing, but God never changes.
Thanks for the input.
Two statements stick out to me along with the scripture passage:
-How can our affections restrict us? It’s simple really. We don’t do anything we don’t want to do. We only ever do what we want.
-
The only way to do this is with the Gospel. Only the Gospel is beautiful enough to change our hearts and produce in it all the affections that will cause us to live new lives.
But reading some commentaries on the scriptures given, it reads quite different (well you said unique) as Hidden points out.
Here is a portion of one commentary I found:
biblehub.com/commentaries
Barney's Notes on the Bible: Our heart is enlarged - We have deep feelings, which naturally vent themselves in fervent and glowing language. The main idea here is, that he had a strong affection for them; a heart which embraced and loved them all, and which expressed itself in the language of deep emotion. He had loved them so that he was willing to be reproached, and to be persecuted, and to be poor, and to have his name cast out as evil. "I cannot be silent. I conceal or dissemble nothing. I am full of ardent attachment, and that naturally vents itself in the strong language which I have used." True attachment will find means of expressing itself. A heart full of love will give vent to its feelings. There will be no dissembling and hypocrisy there. And if a minister loves the souls of his people he will pour out the affections of his heart in strong and glowing language.
While not what the study suggests, I think openness is very important with God and others in fighting sin.
I think my thoughts at the time was outward environment. People and things. The point of the study is to look into OUR hearts though. LOL.
I think this is the scripture the author should have used here. :) I agree that whatever we want to do is what we will do. It is why it is important to transform our minds in the Word of God, so that we will delight in Him. Circumstances are constantly changing, but God never changes.
Thanks for the input.
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