Daily Thought for Friday, May 20th

May 20, 2011

A Spiritual Application of the Fish Bowl Theory 

“We are the children of our landscape: it dictates behavior and even thought in the measure to which we are responsive to it.”

-  Lawrence Durrell

Today’s Thought:

“In God’s wilderness lies the hope of the world.” – John Muir

Today’s Question

Have you ever pondered this possibility:  “Men are like plants; the goodness and flavour of the fruit proceeds from the peculiar soil and exposition in which they grow?” – Michel Guillaume Jean De Crevecoeur

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

“Man has been endowed with reason, with the power to create, so that he can add to what he’s been given.”

- Anton Chekhov

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”

- The Bible (Ephesians 6:10)

“I am I plus my surroundings; and if I do not preserve the latter, I do not preserve myself.”

 – Jose Ortega y Gasset

Yesterday we examined the idea that we all have choices.  This reality is also true in relationship to the choices we make about the environments to which we expose ourselves to and the things we choose to surround ourselves with.

“I confess that when I first read that smog is particularly hazardous to children, senior citizens, and physically active people, for a brief moment I thought, I’m in the clear for at least ten years.”  - Paula Poundstone (Comedian)

Sadly, many of us have that same attitude when it comes to things of a sinful nature.

The Fish Bowl Theory for Spiritual Growth simply states this: You will grow in relationship to the environment in which you place yourself.  Spiritually speaking if you place yourself in places where there are no other Christians and no means of nurturing your faith, you will not grow towards spiritual maturity.  That is why scripture admonishes us as such:  “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” – The Bible (Ephesians 10:24-25)

We need to be conscientious and careful about the things we allow into our lives and the things we surround ourselves with. But at the same time, we need to be willing to go out into the world and expose ourselves to the ocean of God’s possibilities rather than trying to stay secure in a little tank of comfort and self-preservation.

We cannot do all God wants us to do and become all He wants us to be by staying in a little glass bowl.  Neither can we become as effective for God as we should be if we do not constantly surround ourselves with His word, prayers and the fellowship of like-minded believers.

 It is important to be heavenly minded, but we need to also be useful on Earth to do the work and the will of our Heavenly Father.

Today’s Verses:

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

2 Peter 3:18

Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:  

1 Peter 2:1-2

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

                        Ephesians 4:13-15

Today’s Prayer:

Father, as I swim, figuratively speaking, in the rivers, streams and oceans of life, may I be bold and courageous to allow you to take me to the places where I can do the most for your, but in so going help me to always be prepared equipped and surrounded by those things that are of you and which you can use in me to accomplish your work and your will.