1 - Introduction - Living like a real Christian City - The World That Is | Page 5

devastated,because it is critical that I
think of myself as a“good person.”
Threats to that self-image must
bedestroyed at all costs.
My prayer life consists largely of
petition, and itonly heats up when I am
in a time of need. My mainpurpose in
prayer is control of the environment.
My self-view swings between two poles.
If and when I am living up to my
standards, I feelconfident, but then I am
prone to be proud andunsympathetic to
failing people. If and when I amnot living
up to standards, I feel humble but
notconfident—I feel like a failure.

My identity and self-worth are based
mainly onhow hard I work, or how
moral I am—and soI must look down on
those I perceive as lazyor immoral.

it is notessential for me to think of
myself as a “goodperson.” My
identity is not built on my recordor
my performance but on God’s love
for mein Christ.
My prayer life consists of generous
stretchesof praise and adoration.
My main purpose isfellowship with
God.
My self-view is not based on my
moral
achievement. In Christ I am
simultaneously sinful and lost,
yetaccepted in Christ. I am so bad
that he had to diefor me, and I am
so loved that he was glad to die
forme. This leads me to deep
humility and confidenceat the same
time.
My identity and self-worth are
centred on the onewho died for me.
I am saved by sheer grace, so Ican’t
look down on those who believe or
practicesomething different from
me. Only by grace am Iwhat I am.

Tuesday
Galatians 2 v 16
Galatians 5 v 4
Charles Spurgeon,used the following illustration:
‘Once upon a time there was a gardener who grew an enormous carrot. He
took itto his king and said, “My lord, this is the greatest carrot I’ve ever grown