Reflect With A Purpose
Luke 15
KJV
17+ And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
This young man’s story is a well-known one and teaches us one lesson , patience! In a fast-moving society the word “ patience “ is not heard even if heard not many give heed
I love the expression “ and when he came to himself “ and it was this that caught my attention hence this article.
But what does the expression mean in practice? It simply means to give a second thought, to pause and think over a decision, a choice made resulting in an unpleasant consequence!
To “come to oneself “ is to reflect on an act, with the view to taking any corrective steps to right a wrong!
A self-examination with reference to something said or done. A deep introspection which takes time, it’s not an overnight affair, this is what the young man did.
Anyone who does these deserves to be credited with wisdom. It is only a wise person who can do this. , This is why this young man was received by his father without any query or rebuke.
Who will not forgive anyone who has made a wrong choice or decision and upon second thoughts ( coming to himself) realized the mistake and comes to seek forgiveness?
In fact, this young man puts some of us to shame in that “ when we come to ourselves “ we are unable to act on the conclusions! We would rather harden instead of softening our hearts.
Beloved, what the expression reveals which us true in life is this, that we all make mistakes when we are “ out of ourselves “! Yes! When we “are out of ourselves”.
Here are some major contributors to this state, instant joy, instant happiness, anger, hate, envy, and jealousy! These and a few others take us “ out of ourselves “as such we say or do things which do not reflect our true nature.
The young man made his demands when he “was out of himself” hence “when he came to himself “ he recognised how foolish he was.
To be “ out of oneself “ means to do things without giving thought to consequences, to say things without weighing or choosing the appropriate words, etc.
Anyone who walks this path is described as immature, a state we’ve all been in before or are still living It is to avoid this error that James sounded this word of caution.
Read it;
James 1
KJV
19+ Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
Old “Uncle” Solo also added ;
Ecclesiastes 5
KJV
2+ Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
Proverbs 10
KJV
19+ In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
Proverbs 17
KJV
27+ He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
We all at some point in time have “ been out of ourselves “ and so have said or done things that do not reflect our true nature. Fortunately “ when we came to ourselves “ we made corrections. I pray this will be said of you.
To “ come to oneself “ and not act is a self-condemnation, and is unpardonable since you’ve already judged yourself.
Sometimes the Holy Spirit helps us by bringing us “ into ourselves”. Indeed one of His works within us is to help “ put us in control of ourselves “through self-restraint.
Romans 8
KJV
13+ For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
As Paul said the Holy Spirit helps us put into the spiritual “mortuary” the deeds of the body! So seek the cooperation of the Holy Spirit in this matter of acting “ outside of yourself “
My thoughts to share!