The medical community is very concerned about the condition of your heart. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Someone dies of a heart related problem approximately every 39 seconds. Not surprisingly, there is a lot of talk about heart health and how to achieve it. Certainly, your heart matters. It keeps you alive!
There are other kinds of heart conditions that the medical community is not so concerned with. These conditions have to do with our relationships with God and others, our emotional needs, and the lives that flow from them (Proverbs 4:23). As a counselor, I see the effects of these matters of the heart every day. The implications are staggering. More than half of Christian marriages are ending in divorce these days. It is not usually a matter of not understanding that God wants our marriages to be committed, fruitful and fulfilling. Intellectually, we know this. Somehow, unresolved heart matters keep us from fulfilling what we believe to be right and best. Married or single, these heart matters are crucial.
The condition of our hearts is of primary concern to God. The words “heart” and “hearts” are found almost 800 times in the Bible. This does not include the numbers of times it talks about the BROKENHEARTED, DISHEARTENED, DOWNHEARTED, HARDHEARTED, HEARTACHE, HEARTLESS, KINDHEARTED, SIMPLEHEARTED, STOUTHEARTED, STUBBORN-HEARTED and WHOLEHEARTED. Clearly, to God, when it comes to heart matters, your heart matters.
I have felt drawn to a passage that is read at most weddings to show us God’s ideal for a loving heart. 1 Corinthians 13 is often called the “love chapter.” Paul felt it necessary to teach the Corinthian church about agape love, as they were arguing about the gifts of the Spirit. Let’s take a fresh look at this familiar passage:
1 Corinthians 13
“1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing."
So we see that love matters. Even ministry, service and self-sacrifice are meaningless unless given in love. When the New Testament was written, in Koine Greek, there were 4 words for love. The kind that flows from God is agape love. I think of agape as the outworking of grace in relationships. Paul goes on to say, love shows:
"4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails."
If you want to be challenged, read those verses again, and put you name where the word love belongs. I don’t know about you, but I would have a hard time reading parts of that with a straight face. We can all use more agape in our relationships.
My word picture for this kind of love is to imagine a parent with a toddler who is learning to walk. In the beginning, the toddler is falling on his bottom more than he is taking actual steps. A good hearted parent does not scream at the toddler for not being a perfect walker. The parent recognizes where the child is in his development, so is patient and kind, believing in the child. The parent protects the child from sharp corners of coffee tables, does not become angry and forgets about the falls, focusing on the progress the child is making. This kind of love perseveres, it hangs in there with the child, and never gives up until the child masters the first steps. Children are non-verbal at this stage, they are not talking yet. But the parent communicates all these things non-verbally by getting on the child’s level, making eye contact, open posture with hands outstretched, and tone of voice. All these things communicate: “I believe in you! You can do this!”
And that is what agape looks like. No matter how old we are, if we are growing emotionally and spiritually, we are toddlers at something. We thrive in an environment of accepting, nurturing love. Sometimes this love includes warnings, protecting us from dangers we may still be naïve about, the sharp-cornered coffee tables of life, so to speak. We respond positively because grace brings life. Agape is nurturing love.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Grateful Hearts
Having laid a foundation of the church’s identity in newness of life in Christ, having exhorted them to leave behind those things that will call down the wrath of God, to wear the qualities of the Spirit on their sleeves, and to teach and admonish one another through any and every means, including music, Paul now addresses their motivation: they are to do this with gratitude in their hearts.
“Let the word of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16
The close linking of this phrase to the musical themes in the same sentence imply that gratitude is to be at the center of our music, even as we use it to teach one another the mysteries of God. The previous paragraphs demonstrate they have much to be grateful for. They have been raised from spiritual death (apart from relationship with God) to newness of life. The peace of Christ now can rule in their hearts. It is now possible for them to clothe themselves in such qualities as compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Earlier, Paul added the brief sentence “And be thankful” (vs. 15), linking it to peace in the body of Christ.
So many things are looped through gratitude: peace with God and others, devoted service, generosity of spirit. Gratitude motivates a multitude of virtues and washes away our resentments. Resentment arises from not getting what we believe we are due, whether from God or others. Gratitude neutralizes resentment because in it we acknowledge that we do not deserve what we already have been given: we are “God’s chosen people, holy (set apart) and dearly loved” (vs. 12).
Would those who know you intimately describe your heart as grateful? As you look into your heart today, asking Spirit to illuminate it, what do you find there? Is it harboring resentments about the things you feel entitled to but do not have? Or is it nurturing gratitude for the grace God has extended to you, resulting in rivers of living water that splash on those around you? It is another fork in the road. Choose the path that leads to peace and blessing. We have taken the other path long enough. We have discovered where it leads. Press on. Don’t look back. Be grateful.
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” Colossians 3:15
“Let the word of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16
The close linking of this phrase to the musical themes in the same sentence imply that gratitude is to be at the center of our music, even as we use it to teach one another the mysteries of God. The previous paragraphs demonstrate they have much to be grateful for. They have been raised from spiritual death (apart from relationship with God) to newness of life. The peace of Christ now can rule in their hearts. It is now possible for them to clothe themselves in such qualities as compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Earlier, Paul added the brief sentence “And be thankful” (vs. 15), linking it to peace in the body of Christ.
So many things are looped through gratitude: peace with God and others, devoted service, generosity of spirit. Gratitude motivates a multitude of virtues and washes away our resentments. Resentment arises from not getting what we believe we are due, whether from God or others. Gratitude neutralizes resentment because in it we acknowledge that we do not deserve what we already have been given: we are “God’s chosen people, holy (set apart) and dearly loved” (vs. 12).
Would those who know you intimately describe your heart as grateful? As you look into your heart today, asking Spirit to illuminate it, what do you find there? Is it harboring resentments about the things you feel entitled to but do not have? Or is it nurturing gratitude for the grace God has extended to you, resulting in rivers of living water that splash on those around you? It is another fork in the road. Choose the path that leads to peace and blessing. We have taken the other path long enough. We have discovered where it leads. Press on. Don’t look back. Be grateful.
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” Colossians 3:15
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs
Having just exhorted the Colossians to teach and admonish one another, Paul then refers to a common teaching method of the day, saying “as you sing songs hymns and spiritual songs” (3:16). The early Christians had only the Old Testament, and did not have access to the New Testament (which was being written in various forms) or to other Christian books. The teachings and life of Jesus were memorized and passed on verbally, from person to person. Sometimes these verbal traditions were set to music. Thus, music became an important part of both education and worship. The purpose was to glorify God, but also to teach people truth in a way they could remember and pass on to others.
Part of our understandable confusion about such passages has to do with changing traditions and methods as well as the changes in meanings of words over time, including the English language. Today, for example, when we hear the word psalms, we assume it refers to a lengthy book of poetry in the Old Testament. In the original language, and when first translated into English, psalms was derived from a literal meaning referring to the striking of one’s fingers on the strings of a musical instrument (today we might refer to such similar things as “strum” or “pluck”). In the Bible, it refers either to the Psalms of the Old Testament, or, as in this passage, to sacred songs with musical accompaniment. Hymns now conjures more modern traditions in the church, accompanied by an organ or piano, with several verses, packed with teaching and doctrinal principles. Hymns as understood in this manner were the dominant singing tradition of the church in recent generations. When Paul wrote the word, it simply meant “a song of praise addressed to God.” The last words, spiritual songs, includes the generic word for song, ode, and a modifier, spiritual. So, in Colossians 3:16, Paul was referring to the common teaching methods of the time: psalms (sacred songs accompanied by musical instruments), hymns (songs of praises to God), and songs of spiritual nature and content. There was not one style or preference for music in the church, even in the first century.
What we can take from this phrase, is that a primary purpose of music in Paul’s culture was to teach. Style was not an issue, however, meaningful and doctrinally sound content (lyrics) are the common denominator of all these kinds of music. Just as we are to evaluate whether the teaching we receive tells the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, we should run the Christian music we hear through the same filter. If we are in a position to choose music to be sung in our local churches, we are responsible for running it through the filter before it reaches the congregation. We carry equal responsibility as those teaching. Music carries its message into the heart, soul and mind. It is a gift of common grace to all people, as it strikes chords in the soul. Use it wisely to “teach and admonish one another in all wisdom.”
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and as you sing songs, hymns and spiritual songs…” Col. 3:16
Part of our understandable confusion about such passages has to do with changing traditions and methods as well as the changes in meanings of words over time, including the English language. Today, for example, when we hear the word psalms, we assume it refers to a lengthy book of poetry in the Old Testament. In the original language, and when first translated into English, psalms was derived from a literal meaning referring to the striking of one’s fingers on the strings of a musical instrument (today we might refer to such similar things as “strum” or “pluck”). In the Bible, it refers either to the Psalms of the Old Testament, or, as in this passage, to sacred songs with musical accompaniment. Hymns now conjures more modern traditions in the church, accompanied by an organ or piano, with several verses, packed with teaching and doctrinal principles. Hymns as understood in this manner were the dominant singing tradition of the church in recent generations. When Paul wrote the word, it simply meant “a song of praise addressed to God.” The last words, spiritual songs, includes the generic word for song, ode, and a modifier, spiritual. So, in Colossians 3:16, Paul was referring to the common teaching methods of the time: psalms (sacred songs accompanied by musical instruments), hymns (songs of praises to God), and songs of spiritual nature and content. There was not one style or preference for music in the church, even in the first century.
What we can take from this phrase, is that a primary purpose of music in Paul’s culture was to teach. Style was not an issue, however, meaningful and doctrinally sound content (lyrics) are the common denominator of all these kinds of music. Just as we are to evaluate whether the teaching we receive tells the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, we should run the Christian music we hear through the same filter. If we are in a position to choose music to be sung in our local churches, we are responsible for running it through the filter before it reaches the congregation. We carry equal responsibility as those teaching. Music carries its message into the heart, soul and mind. It is a gift of common grace to all people, as it strikes chords in the soul. Use it wisely to “teach and admonish one another in all wisdom.”
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and as you sing songs, hymns and spiritual songs…” Col. 3:16
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Teach One Another
In Colossians 3, Paul encourages us to let the message (word) of Christ dwell among us richly. He then tells us how this is to happen: “as you teach and admonish one another in all wisdom”(vs. 16). He goes on to say some things about praise, but for today I want to meditate through the keyboard about the quoted phrase… teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom.
These are not necessarily attractive words in western culture these days. If someone invites us to be taught and admonished, we may have flashbacks of grade school where we were told to sit down, shut up and “behave ourselves.” We would much rather be entertained than taught, and we rather fancy ourselves as being above admonishment. After all, admonishment is for the unruly and we are good Christian folk. These cultural attitudes speak to our narcissism, our sense of already having arrived. We prefer to compare ourselves to the lost world around us. By comparison, we then feel smug and secure, patting ourselves on the back as we leave our local gatherings, thanking God that we are not like “those sinners” we encounter day after day.
The problem is we have not arrived, any of us. We do not yet fully grasp or comprehend the mind of Christ. We have not yet completely yielded ourselves, and every area of our lives, to the will of God. So we need desperately to be taught. Our default modes still gravitate toward the flesh, either in disobedience or pride. Admonishment is the loving hand of God’s Holy Spirit remodeling us from the inside out- the sledge hammer that takes down cracking walls and the crow bar that rips up moldy carpet. We are works in progress. He does not require us to be finished, cleaned up, fully redeemed (sanctified), before He loves us. But He does require that we undergo the process of redemption, not only from hell, but also from ourselves.
As I ponder this phrase, the risen Christ’s words to the Church in Laodicea come to mind:
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either one or the other! So because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your sinful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. THOSE WHOM I LOVE I REBUKE AND DISCIPLINE. So be earnest and repent. Here I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Rev. 3:15-20
At first glance this does not sound like much of a love letter. However, Jesus clarifies his motives: He rebukes and disciplines those he loves. He states his intentions: to persuade us to open the door so we can fellowship with him. There can be no intimacy without conflict. Conflict-free relationships are neither hot nor cold—they are lukewarm. Lukewarm relationships are not real, whether with God or people. Jesus is saying to the church (today?): “Get real or move on!”
So Paul’s reminder to “teach and admonish one another in all wisdom” fully aligns itself with the heart of Jesus for his church. Biblical wisdom keeps in view the holiness of God, and the brokenness of the world including those who dwell in it. It looks not to doom and gloom, nor to unrealistic optimistic denial, but focuses on the realities of a stumbling, bumbling band of vagabonds who need desperately to be taught and admonished on the road home to intimacy with God and others. Through these means, He will complete in us the good things He has started. And that’s an optimism we can count on.
“In my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:4-5
These are not necessarily attractive words in western culture these days. If someone invites us to be taught and admonished, we may have flashbacks of grade school where we were told to sit down, shut up and “behave ourselves.” We would much rather be entertained than taught, and we rather fancy ourselves as being above admonishment. After all, admonishment is for the unruly and we are good Christian folk. These cultural attitudes speak to our narcissism, our sense of already having arrived. We prefer to compare ourselves to the lost world around us. By comparison, we then feel smug and secure, patting ourselves on the back as we leave our local gatherings, thanking God that we are not like “those sinners” we encounter day after day.
The problem is we have not arrived, any of us. We do not yet fully grasp or comprehend the mind of Christ. We have not yet completely yielded ourselves, and every area of our lives, to the will of God. So we need desperately to be taught. Our default modes still gravitate toward the flesh, either in disobedience or pride. Admonishment is the loving hand of God’s Holy Spirit remodeling us from the inside out- the sledge hammer that takes down cracking walls and the crow bar that rips up moldy carpet. We are works in progress. He does not require us to be finished, cleaned up, fully redeemed (sanctified), before He loves us. But He does require that we undergo the process of redemption, not only from hell, but also from ourselves.
As I ponder this phrase, the risen Christ’s words to the Church in Laodicea come to mind:
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either one or the other! So because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your sinful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. THOSE WHOM I LOVE I REBUKE AND DISCIPLINE. So be earnest and repent. Here I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Rev. 3:15-20
At first glance this does not sound like much of a love letter. However, Jesus clarifies his motives: He rebukes and disciplines those he loves. He states his intentions: to persuade us to open the door so we can fellowship with him. There can be no intimacy without conflict. Conflict-free relationships are neither hot nor cold—they are lukewarm. Lukewarm relationships are not real, whether with God or people. Jesus is saying to the church (today?): “Get real or move on!”
So Paul’s reminder to “teach and admonish one another in all wisdom” fully aligns itself with the heart of Jesus for his church. Biblical wisdom keeps in view the holiness of God, and the brokenness of the world including those who dwell in it. It looks not to doom and gloom, nor to unrealistic optimistic denial, but focuses on the realities of a stumbling, bumbling band of vagabonds who need desperately to be taught and admonished on the road home to intimacy with God and others. Through these means, He will complete in us the good things He has started. And that’s an optimism we can count on.
“In my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:4-5
Thursday, May 3, 2012
The Message of Christ
In Colossians 3, Paul encourages his readers to allow the message of Christ to dwell among them richly. This is an interesting turn of phrase. If we have heard it for years, we may acknowledge how spiritual it sounds, without giving it much thought. I appreciate what it says, as well as what it does not say. It does not give us an option of marginalizing Jesus’ message of grace and truth in our lives. He wants to dwell among us richly. This is the way of peace with God and one another, though not necessarily with the world. The message (logos) is technically the written word, so here refers to what we have in scriptures about the life, purpose and teachings of Jesus. The logos of Jesus is his recorded heritage (lineage of David), his purpose (to bring grace and truth), his sacrificial example and atonement (see Philippians 2), and his redemptive power over our lives and eternal destinies.
A community of believers who remain focused on and thankful for such things will not be divided by controversy and power struggles. The peace of Christ will rule (umpire) their interactions with one another. They will be clothed and draped with the qualities Paul emphasizes in the previous verses: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. They will bear with one another, forgiving each other. They will, above all, wear their love on their sleeves. And they will be thankful.
How often do we stop to acknowledge and appreciate the logos of Jesus for us? A friend of mine recently asked a startling question, rather out of the blue: “Remember when we were nothing?” Because of the logos of Jesus we are now sons of God. We have full access to the throne of God to find grace to help in time of need. We are no longer motivated by fear, knowing we are saved by grace. Our hearts respond with willing obedience, and find ready forgiveness when we stumble. We are also freed from the bondage of sin in its obvious (overt) forms and in its more insidious (hidden) forms, especially pride and self-righteousness. Peter links qualities of kindness and perseverance (among others) to remembering our redemption (see below). The gospel is about far more than saving us from hell fire and damnation. It saves us from ourselves.
I for one am so grateful for the logos of Christ in its entirety. We are indeed set free. Our chains are gone. We are free to love God and others, as we cooperate with the Spirit of God to remove any obstacle to His work in and through us. Let’s let the logos dwell among us richly. It is the guide map and the destination on the road home to intimacy with God and others.
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly …” Colossians 3:16
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance, and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that the has been cleansed from his past sins.” (2 Pet. 1:5-7)
A community of believers who remain focused on and thankful for such things will not be divided by controversy and power struggles. The peace of Christ will rule (umpire) their interactions with one another. They will be clothed and draped with the qualities Paul emphasizes in the previous verses: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. They will bear with one another, forgiving each other. They will, above all, wear their love on their sleeves. And they will be thankful.
How often do we stop to acknowledge and appreciate the logos of Jesus for us? A friend of mine recently asked a startling question, rather out of the blue: “Remember when we were nothing?” Because of the logos of Jesus we are now sons of God. We have full access to the throne of God to find grace to help in time of need. We are no longer motivated by fear, knowing we are saved by grace. Our hearts respond with willing obedience, and find ready forgiveness when we stumble. We are also freed from the bondage of sin in its obvious (overt) forms and in its more insidious (hidden) forms, especially pride and self-righteousness. Peter links qualities of kindness and perseverance (among others) to remembering our redemption (see below). The gospel is about far more than saving us from hell fire and damnation. It saves us from ourselves.
I for one am so grateful for the logos of Christ in its entirety. We are indeed set free. Our chains are gone. We are free to love God and others, as we cooperate with the Spirit of God to remove any obstacle to His work in and through us. Let’s let the logos dwell among us richly. It is the guide map and the destination on the road home to intimacy with God and others.
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly …” Colossians 3:16
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance, and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that the has been cleansed from his past sins.” (2 Pet. 1:5-7)
Thursday, April 26, 2012
And Be Thankful
It appears almost as an afterthought. It is one of those points you wish you could ask him to clarify: Why there? Paul has just reminded the Colossians to clothe themselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving just as the Lord forgave them. Over all these virtues they are to put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. They are to let the peace of Christ rule in their hearts (for they were called to peace). And there it is, a three word sentence: “And be thankful.” Col. 3:15
It is not the only time Paul linked gratitude to peace. In his letter to the Philippians, he reminded them:
“Do not be anxious (do not go on being anxious), but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:6 (parentheses mine).
The Holy Spirit inspired these appearances of thankfulness (gratitude) and peace in the same context for good reasons. In the Philippians passage, Paul elaborates that when their minds dwell in the place where they are focused on things that are right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy, and act accordingly, the God of peace will be with them. Of course, God’s presence in our lives is not contingent upon our behaviors, or even our attitudes. He has promised to never leave us or forsake us. Paul is here underlining the fact that our God is a God of peace, and when our hearts are aligned with his heart, we are unified with him in intent and purpose. What a place to be!
The reverse point is worth visiting. When we are dwelling on the negative, focusing on the things that are wrong, impure, ugly, disreputable, gossip-worthy, etc., there is no room for the peace of Christ. We are not “with” the God of peace. We are working at cross-purposes with him. In this sense, we are not “with” him. We are against him.
No wonder negativity drains us so! Our minds, hearts, souls and spirits are not working in accordance with the heart of God. You can only move a refrigerator so far from its power source before it becomes unplugged. Similarly, when we dwell in the negative and drink in the dark, we can unplug ourselves from the empowering Spirit; he will not enable us to do the things that are not in accordance with his will. And that is an exhausting place to live. The negative ripple effect can devastate our horizontal relationships as well. Whatever is not of the Spirit is of flesh. Life in the flesh is selfishness, and the fruits of selfishness are disharmony, separation and resentment.
The three word phrase, “And be thankful,” is no accident. Paul did not add it as an afterthought as if to say, “Oh yeah, remember to thank God,” before moving on to more pressing matters; not at all. He was slipping us an important key. One of the main ways we can let (God is a gentleman; we have a choice) the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, is to be thankful.
Whatever is happening in your life right now, it’s a pretty fair bet it is a mixed hand. You are probably looking at some good cards and some… you would rather trade in. It’s not that the “bad cards” are not there. It’s that we are so easily focused on them that we can forget to play our hand constructively.
Remember where you have come from, and who has brought you this far. Remember where you are going. To say that, if you are redeemed through faith in Christ, your future is bright is a laughable understatement! Someday, sooner than we think, the negatives will be wiped away. The things that are right, pure, lovely, excellent, and praiseworthy will endure forever. And you will live in his loving presence forever. Dwell on these things. And be thankful.
It is not the only time Paul linked gratitude to peace. In his letter to the Philippians, he reminded them:
“Do not be anxious (do not go on being anxious), but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:6 (parentheses mine).
The Holy Spirit inspired these appearances of thankfulness (gratitude) and peace in the same context for good reasons. In the Philippians passage, Paul elaborates that when their minds dwell in the place where they are focused on things that are right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy, and act accordingly, the God of peace will be with them. Of course, God’s presence in our lives is not contingent upon our behaviors, or even our attitudes. He has promised to never leave us or forsake us. Paul is here underlining the fact that our God is a God of peace, and when our hearts are aligned with his heart, we are unified with him in intent and purpose. What a place to be!
The reverse point is worth visiting. When we are dwelling on the negative, focusing on the things that are wrong, impure, ugly, disreputable, gossip-worthy, etc., there is no room for the peace of Christ. We are not “with” the God of peace. We are working at cross-purposes with him. In this sense, we are not “with” him. We are against him.
No wonder negativity drains us so! Our minds, hearts, souls and spirits are not working in accordance with the heart of God. You can only move a refrigerator so far from its power source before it becomes unplugged. Similarly, when we dwell in the negative and drink in the dark, we can unplug ourselves from the empowering Spirit; he will not enable us to do the things that are not in accordance with his will. And that is an exhausting place to live. The negative ripple effect can devastate our horizontal relationships as well. Whatever is not of the Spirit is of flesh. Life in the flesh is selfishness, and the fruits of selfishness are disharmony, separation and resentment.
The three word phrase, “And be thankful,” is no accident. Paul did not add it as an afterthought as if to say, “Oh yeah, remember to thank God,” before moving on to more pressing matters; not at all. He was slipping us an important key. One of the main ways we can let (God is a gentleman; we have a choice) the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, is to be thankful.
Whatever is happening in your life right now, it’s a pretty fair bet it is a mixed hand. You are probably looking at some good cards and some… you would rather trade in. It’s not that the “bad cards” are not there. It’s that we are so easily focused on them that we can forget to play our hand constructively.
Remember where you have come from, and who has brought you this far. Remember where you are going. To say that, if you are redeemed through faith in Christ, your future is bright is a laughable understatement! Someday, sooner than we think, the negatives will be wiped away. The things that are right, pure, lovely, excellent, and praiseworthy will endure forever. And you will live in his loving presence forever. Dwell on these things. And be thankful.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Sovereign Peace
The process of selecting a leader for our country surrounds us. Over the next several months candidates will bombard us with messages about their character and competence, and the lack of same in their opponents. Their goal is to become the supreme leader of our country, to exercise control and influence, presumably for the good of the people.
In our hearts, a similar campaign emerges. Priorities and goals jockey for position. Some are obvious: jobs, marriages, families, houses and cars. Others go unnoticed unless one has been trained, as Paul is training his readers in the third chapter of the book of Colossians. He has laid a foundation, reminding us that we who follow Christ are to take off the old self and its practices, and are to set our minds on spiritual things, not the things of this world. We are to get rid of the things of the old self, many of them attitudes and resulting emotional states: anger, malice, slander, sexual immorality, impurity, lust evil desires and greed. In saying that we should get rid of “all things as these” that Paul is giving these as examples, and not an exhaustive list. The point is there are many attitudes that compete for the leadership of our hearts. Most of them are expressions of the old selfish self.
Having given so many examples of these competing priorities and motivations, Paul now crowns his persuasion with these words:
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.” Colossians 3:15
There is a throne in your heart and someone reigns there. The natural by default ruler is the old self with its selfish motivations (greed, lust, malice, impurity, etc.) Paul assures us there is a better way and a better Ruler. If we let Christ rule there, peace results and we are able to wear the qualities of Christ on our sleeves, so to speak. Paul has given us examples of these qualities in verses 12-14: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, perseverance, forgiveness, all bound together with agape love.
At any given moment we are letting one or the other of these ways of being rule in our hearts. As I meditated on this verse over the course of weeks and months, I asked myself: What if I REALLY believed this? What if, rather than passing over the verse and calling it a beautiful thought, I actually let the peace of Christ rule in my heart? As trying circumstances presented themselves, I had opportunity to allow the old self (malice, anger) to rule in my heart. The other option became increasingly clear as the Holy Spirit asked me:
“What if the peace of Christ ruled in THIS situation? What would be different in your thoughts, motivations and actions? How would these change the way you feel and act right now?”
This single verse has been life changing. It has freed me from the bondage of an old way of life that I had allowed to share sovereignty (rule) in my heart. By first imagining what the rule of the peace of Christ would look like in my life on any given day, longing for it, seeking and cooperating with it, I have been able to experience and share the peace of Christ more consistently than ever before.
There is a throne in your heart. There is room for only one there. Today, who will it be?
In our hearts, a similar campaign emerges. Priorities and goals jockey for position. Some are obvious: jobs, marriages, families, houses and cars. Others go unnoticed unless one has been trained, as Paul is training his readers in the third chapter of the book of Colossians. He has laid a foundation, reminding us that we who follow Christ are to take off the old self and its practices, and are to set our minds on spiritual things, not the things of this world. We are to get rid of the things of the old self, many of them attitudes and resulting emotional states: anger, malice, slander, sexual immorality, impurity, lust evil desires and greed. In saying that we should get rid of “all things as these” that Paul is giving these as examples, and not an exhaustive list. The point is there are many attitudes that compete for the leadership of our hearts. Most of them are expressions of the old selfish self.
Having given so many examples of these competing priorities and motivations, Paul now crowns his persuasion with these words:
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.” Colossians 3:15
There is a throne in your heart and someone reigns there. The natural by default ruler is the old self with its selfish motivations (greed, lust, malice, impurity, etc.) Paul assures us there is a better way and a better Ruler. If we let Christ rule there, peace results and we are able to wear the qualities of Christ on our sleeves, so to speak. Paul has given us examples of these qualities in verses 12-14: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, perseverance, forgiveness, all bound together with agape love.
At any given moment we are letting one or the other of these ways of being rule in our hearts. As I meditated on this verse over the course of weeks and months, I asked myself: What if I REALLY believed this? What if, rather than passing over the verse and calling it a beautiful thought, I actually let the peace of Christ rule in my heart? As trying circumstances presented themselves, I had opportunity to allow the old self (malice, anger) to rule in my heart. The other option became increasingly clear as the Holy Spirit asked me:
“What if the peace of Christ ruled in THIS situation? What would be different in your thoughts, motivations and actions? How would these change the way you feel and act right now?”
This single verse has been life changing. It has freed me from the bondage of an old way of life that I had allowed to share sovereignty (rule) in my heart. By first imagining what the rule of the peace of Christ would look like in my life on any given day, longing for it, seeking and cooperating with it, I have been able to experience and share the peace of Christ more consistently than ever before.
There is a throne in your heart. There is room for only one there. Today, who will it be?
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