Much About Nothing

[stephen]

Arithmetic is a valuable branch of mathematics. To add, subtract, multply and divide are basics in life. Commerce would not be possible without a method of counting. Earliest calculations would have been made upon the fingers. Giving way later to the counting frame of the abacus.

"Ancient peoples were not able to do calculations without using apparatus until the invention by the Hindu's of the sign '0' to stand for an empty rod on the abacus. This was one of the most important inventions in the history of mathematics" Childrens Britannica, Article "Abacus"
The sign for nought freed calculation from the bondage of mechanicle counting and made possible the abstact equations of higher mathematics.

Nothing is the Basis of Salvation "Blessed are the poor in spirit" said Jesus "for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" New testament Greek uses two words for poverty. Penes means needy, not having anything to spare; ptochos means destitute not having anything at all.

The word here is ptochos So we may paraphrase "Blessed are those who are spiritually destitute, for theirs is the fulness of God" The beginning of Salvation is to realise our utter emptiness of spiritual good, our total inadequency to save ourselves.

God did not choose us Christians because we had rank, or status, fame or fortune, elegance or education. In the eyes of the world we may be rated as boorish, illiterate nonentities.

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things wich are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought the things that are; that no flesh should glory in his sight. (1Cor. 1 :27-29) Salvation is Gods fulness for my emptiness.

Nothing is the basis of Christian Service "The one who plants, and the one who waters really do not matter. It is God who matters, for he makes the plant grow". (! Cor.3:7 ) Paul nothing. Apollos nothing. God everything.

What an equation! May faith in God quicken us, as we live and serve Him.

The musical "Sound of Music" sings "nothing comes from nothing...nothing ever did...." These word are incorrect.....Men and women in the Christian faith have risen from the nothingnes of self, to become mighty in the service of the Master.

Amen

 

[Snowrose]

Hello Stephen,

I just wanted to thank you for this article. I can't really add to what you say for it speaks truth.

What is going through my mind is that dying to self is difficult but like the birthing process - what joy there is after the pain. Today I have been looking at Philippians 3:7-9:


But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.

Praise God for His infinite wisdom and unconditional love. God bless you, Stephen.

Best wishes,
Snowrose

 

[stephen]

What is going through my mind is that dying to self is difficult but like the birthing process - what joy there is after the pain. Today I have been looking at Philippians 3:7-9:


But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. quote from Snowrose

Amen Snowrose. John Baptist said "He must increase and I must decrease"

Dr F.B.Meyer said that at one time he thought that God's gifts were on shelves rising higher, one above another, and that as he grew in Christian character and stature he would reach up to the best gifts on the top shelf. But he learned later that it is just the other way round. The shelves go down one under the other, and God's best gifts are reached not by growing taller but by stooping lower.

God Bless

 

[Snowrose]

Thank you Stephen. It is funny that you mention shelves for I work with them everyday (Mon-Fri) in a library. The bottom shelves are the least used and there are some good books there that are not used or read.

Another lesson learned. Please correct me if I am wrong. In Hebrews 2: 9 it says "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone".

He has given us so much - would it hurt us to die (or stoop lower) so that He may live in us. So Amen - "He must increase and I must decrease". God bless you.

Snowrose

 

[Rick S]

Thank you for this observation. Having a math an engineering background, I was immediately drawn to your analogy. It made me think of Christ's example in Philipians 2:5-7.

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Verse 7 in the NIV translates "of no reputation" as "nothing". These both come from the greek verb kenoo which is: 1) to empy, make empty, 2) to make void.

This exhortation is to have the same mind as that of Christ which was to empty Himself, to make Himself void. As the rest of this verse tells us, the result was that God exhalted Christ to name above every name, that every knee should bow and every tongue confess.

We can only follow in the manner of Christ, to empty ourselves!