My Tool Box

I spent the majority of the twenty years that I worked for Hewlett Packard and after they split off their instruments divisions, Agilent Technologies, as a Production Supervisor in the fabrication areas of their two Santa Rosa locations.  Throughout that time, I spent many a day’s attending Leadership training classes.  The company offered a vast array of training and education courses and encouraged their leadership teams to take advantage of the different skill development classes.

As it turned out, these classes not only helped me to become a better leader in my secular job but also with my responsibilities at the various churches we served in!  One of the many things that I remember from these classes was the idea of learning new and or improved skills that we could add to our supervisors “Tool Box” for the daily management of and interactions with the individuals we worked with… and that idea or term of our “Tool Box” popped up once again, as I continued my study of Romans 14:17-18.  If you recall from our last blog post,* the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Rome concerning the Kingdom of God and stated,

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of rules about food and drink, but is, in the realm of the Holy Spirit, filled with RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE and JOY.  (& by) Serving the Anointed One by walking in these KINGDOM REALITIES, you please God and earn the respect of others.” (TPT) 

As I studied these verses in different translations, I especially liked the way The Remedy New Testament explained verse eighteen by saying,

“For anyone who COOPERATES with Christ IN this way pleases God and is admired by people.” 

The first thing that caught my eye as I studied and combined both of these translations was that the key to Paul’s teaching centers around the need for us to COOPERATE with Christ** IN THE REALM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.  So, we immediately understand that as Christians, we are dealing with two different realms within the course of our daily lives.  And in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Paul tells us which realm is more powerful than the other by declaring,

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.  For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty by God to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (EMTV)

The word “carnal” is defined in the original Greek as “being governed by mere human nature, temporal (or temporary) and low in spiritual knowledge and frame.”  Therefore, Paul is teaching us that the spiritual weapons that we have at our disposal in the Word of God, are much more powerful or “mighty by God” than the temporary situations and circumstances that come against us in life.

The second point that arrested my attention as I studied Romans 14:17-18, was the little preposition “IN” that connects or relates COOPERATING with Christ** to the KINGDOM REALITIES of RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE and JOY in the Holy Spirit.  Another peek into the original Greek informs us that “IN” as used here, means “to be equipped or furnished with.”

So, with that added revelation, I can literally translate and apply these verses into my everyday life with the understanding that,

“Anyone who COOPERATES with Christ and the truth of His Word, by being EQUIPPED or FURNISHED with the KINGDOM REALITIES of RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE AND JOY in the Holy Spirit, pleases God and is admired by people!”

And that my dear reader, is how these verses directly relate back to my HP/Agilent concept of the “TOOL BOX.”  For you see, Paul is telling us to view the KINGDOM REALITIES of RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE and JOY as “TOOLS” (or weapons in relationship to 2 Corinthians 10:3-5) for us to keep in the “TOOL BOX” of life that we can use to work through the various situations and circumstances that arise in the course of our daily lives.

It all makes clear sense, especially when we understand that our RIGHTEOUSNESS or as I like to say, “OUR STANDING RIGHT THERE WITH GOD” gives us the ability and strength to stay in His PEACE and be filled with His JOY… in the midst of anything that tries to come against us.  Then, as we begin to utilize these TOOLS… as well as all the others that are available to us in His Word… we can’t help but to eventually come out on top of any situation that comes across our path!

Pretty cool… wouldn’t you say? 

I’m always looking for new spiritual TOOLS to add to my personal TOOL BOX… HOW ABOUT YOU? 

Have a great weekend… and as you do… go ahead and share some of the Righteousness, Peace and Joy that you carry with you… with those around you!                                                                                                                                                                                                       

 

*5/25/24 – Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood  https://pjberruto.blogspot.com/2024/05/mr-rogers-neighborhood.html

**To cooperate with Christ or with His Word, for He and His Word are one. (See: John 1:1, Revelation 19:13