PrincipledMom™

Along with the latest writings from Shannon, God has been revealing to me what it means to be internally governed. I have been listenening to a seminar by Ms. Katherine Dang and also going through the Rudiments of America's Christian History and Government with Mrs. Smith from Pilgrim Institute. They have meshed together so well for me. God is using both of these women to speak into my life in such a profound yet practical way. What I am talking about here is what God has revealed to me as I spend time in His word.

Shannon did a fantastic job of breaking down internal and external. For that I will leave you to her entry. What I want to deal with is specifically Christian self-government, which is the intent and the expression of Christ's government.

God moves progressively with His people. First we had the Old Covenant, with it's commandments, ceremonies and celebrations. God sent the Law to help man. Adultery, sabbath rest and dietary restrictions were all external government that man needed. But God had a more excellent way.

In the fulfillment of the Law, Jesus came with His government--Christian self-government. He fulfilled the Law and he established a New covenant, one that requires more than simple behavioral compliance. Now He requires an internal control. In the Old Covenant man was not to commit adultery. In the New to look on a woman with lust was to commit adultery. In the Old Covenant one was not to have any other gods before Him. In the New we are to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Grace, internal government, is much more difficult to maintain than mere outward obedience. Now He is looking on the heart.

This new Kingdom Christ came to establish is that of Christian self-government, or self-government under the Lordship of Christ. He rules from our hearts, from the inward to the external. And since God is love, the more we become like Him the more love constrains, controls, rules us.

Mar 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all
thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first
commandment.
Mar 12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love
thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

When He said that there were the two great commandments, they were both love. So that love, the love that is Christ, will control us. We will put God first, share the Gospel freely, care for the poor and orphaned, pray for the sick and more. Our needs will become irrelevant to us (and liberally met by God) as we seek first His kingdom.

Self-government will increase when we apply these love commands. If I view everything in the light of these two commandments, then I will always be exercising Christian self-control. It has to be the love of Christ that helps me because in myself I have no love to give. I am selfish and self-seeking. I must have His love to control me, to restrain me.

If I can show my children how those two commandmants hold the keys to Christian self-government, they can increase Christian self-government in their own lives and see the fruit of self-control flourish in their hearts.