15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in 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. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3
We are not merely offered peace or suggested to accept it as followers of Christ, but rather we are called to peace. It is not optional. And this is not just a peace with fellow believers but a peace that should resonate within our souls. Yes, it is important that we forgive as Christ forgave, and thus maintain a peaceful relationship with others, but just as imperative, we are to let the peace of Christ dwell within our hearts.
To be thankful, to do everything in the name of Jesus, to let His word abide in us, are steps to allowing this peace to enter in our lives.
Thank you, Jesus, for everything.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Saturday, June 16, 2007
reason.
19 "Give me your son," Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed. 20 Then he cried out to the LORD, "O LORD my God, have you brought tragedy also upon this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?" 21 Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried to the LORD, "O LORD my God, let this boy's life return to him!" 1 Kings 17
Elijah is helped by a widow, and despite her faithfulness, tragedy befalls her family. Elijah feels responsible; the widow finds fault in him; the story seems to be confusing. Elijah even questions why God would even allow the widow to suffer.
Despite any doubt Elijah might have, regardless of any uncertainty he might feel, and overlooking any questions that seem unanswered, Elijah takes a step of faith, sheer, unadulterated, complete, and magnificent faith. He takes the boy and prays that God would resurrect him.
God answers his prayer, and the boy lives...once again. In all the tragedy, the heartache, the pain, and suffering, there was a reason. The purpose was hidden beneath the uncertainty, but it was there all along:
24 Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is the truth."
Finally, the woman believes, truly. Even though she was obedient to Elijah, even though she accepted him and helped him, even though she had witnessed the miracle of the never-ending oil, God knew that in her heart, she still reserved doubt. Now, through her tears of hurt and then through her tears of joy, she realized who God was and how much she needed Him in her life.
There's always a reason. Always.
Elijah is helped by a widow, and despite her faithfulness, tragedy befalls her family. Elijah feels responsible; the widow finds fault in him; the story seems to be confusing. Elijah even questions why God would even allow the widow to suffer.
Despite any doubt Elijah might have, regardless of any uncertainty he might feel, and overlooking any questions that seem unanswered, Elijah takes a step of faith, sheer, unadulterated, complete, and magnificent faith. He takes the boy and prays that God would resurrect him.
God answers his prayer, and the boy lives...once again. In all the tragedy, the heartache, the pain, and suffering, there was a reason. The purpose was hidden beneath the uncertainty, but it was there all along:
24 Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is the truth."
Finally, the woman believes, truly. Even though she was obedient to Elijah, even though she accepted him and helped him, even though she had witnessed the miracle of the never-ending oil, God knew that in her heart, she still reserved doubt. Now, through her tears of hurt and then through her tears of joy, she realized who God was and how much she needed Him in her life.
There's always a reason. Always.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
thinking.
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philipians 4)
I've been conflicted lately, well actually, for the last couple of years with a certain circumstance that is rather painful. I think I carry the burden of its dismay with me every day, and even though I want to let it go, it seems to hold me down anyway. I walk and stumble; I cry and mumble; I want things to be different; I want change for this day, but it just doesn't work that way. Life is not that clear or easy.
Yesterday, I wrote about forgetting everything in the past, looking ahead, and fixing my eyes on Jesus. Really, it needs to go in that order. But I think I try to mix it up sometimes. For instance, I look ahead and then think about ALL the damage my past is going to cause the future. Looking ahead, therefore, is rather bleak, and oft times it just makes me want to crawl back into bed.
Today, however, Paul discusses the necessity of thinking about true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy things. That definitely excludes things from the past...suffering, betrayal, hurt, jealousy, hate, bitterness, abandonment, fear, anxiety, and all the like. I can't really expect things to look brighter if I keep thinking about such things! Honestly.
And as Paul's finale: "put it into practice." I just have to, got to, really try to think about everything holy and perhaps I can finally let go of everything that is not...
I've been conflicted lately, well actually, for the last couple of years with a certain circumstance that is rather painful. I think I carry the burden of its dismay with me every day, and even though I want to let it go, it seems to hold me down anyway. I walk and stumble; I cry and mumble; I want things to be different; I want change for this day, but it just doesn't work that way. Life is not that clear or easy.
Yesterday, I wrote about forgetting everything in the past, looking ahead, and fixing my eyes on Jesus. Really, it needs to go in that order. But I think I try to mix it up sometimes. For instance, I look ahead and then think about ALL the damage my past is going to cause the future. Looking ahead, therefore, is rather bleak, and oft times it just makes me want to crawl back into bed.
Today, however, Paul discusses the necessity of thinking about true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy things. That definitely excludes things from the past...suffering, betrayal, hurt, jealousy, hate, bitterness, abandonment, fear, anxiety, and all the like. I can't really expect things to look brighter if I keep thinking about such things! Honestly.
And as Paul's finale: "put it into practice." I just have to, got to, really try to think about everything holy and perhaps I can finally let go of everything that is not...
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
forward.
12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Phil 3
It is hard to forget the things that have been done to me. And even when the daily routine of life distracts me momentarily, there is always a tugging pain upon my heart, a distant, but distinct memory of tragedy and destruction. Here, Paul tells us he looks ahead, forgetting everything behind, in order to become perfected.
I will myself to forget. I busy myself. I try to dream and hope for better days. However, Paul doesn't merely forget. He doesn't simply look ahead. He presses toward a goal, meaning his eyes are fixed on the prize of Jesus Christ.
This devotion was important to me because in the depths of my despair, God blessed me with this very verse nearly two years ago. Yesterday night, I went through some definite doubts about whether or not I made the right decision. And lo and behold, this morning He used this verse to remind me that this life is not about the immediate, the present. It is about heaven; it is about Jesus. And, I need to be confident that God will perform His work in me as long as I fix my eyes on Him.
It is hard to forget the things that have been done to me. And even when the daily routine of life distracts me momentarily, there is always a tugging pain upon my heart, a distant, but distinct memory of tragedy and destruction. Here, Paul tells us he looks ahead, forgetting everything behind, in order to become perfected.
I will myself to forget. I busy myself. I try to dream and hope for better days. However, Paul doesn't merely forget. He doesn't simply look ahead. He presses toward a goal, meaning his eyes are fixed on the prize of Jesus Christ.
This devotion was important to me because in the depths of my despair, God blessed me with this very verse nearly two years ago. Yesterday night, I went through some definite doubts about whether or not I made the right decision. And lo and behold, this morning He used this verse to remind me that this life is not about the immediate, the present. It is about heaven; it is about Jesus. And, I need to be confident that God will perform His work in me as long as I fix my eyes on Him.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
complaining.
"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out[c] the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing." Phil 2:14-16
Paul instructs us to do everything, everything, and he means everything without grumbling and complaining. Everything implies a lot; it includes more than one can even fathom. Surely, there has to be some exception. It seems nearly impossible to hold one's tongue in the toughest of situations without letting out even the smallest mumble.
Frankly, complaining is fun. Finding fault, listing gripes, and holding grudges is a sport. We feel vindicated. We feel exonerated. We feel vented. We feel we have the right to do so, especially in the light of injustice. However, complaining will only make us more like the "crooked and depraved generation." To give up one's right to complain will make us more holy, more pure, and more like Jesus.
This life style has been proven to make one shine like the stars. Look at Paul's life, for instance. He was living evidence that circumstances could not deter his joy. But even more recently, consider Corrie Ten Boom. Obviously, even though she was only human, her mentality to not complain caused her to shine in her life time.
To not complain takes practice...even in the most minor instances of our lives, we could just resist the temptation to complain, perhaps we will not only save someone from hearing our pitiful cries but we will also become more joyful and kind.
Paul instructs us to do everything, everything, and he means everything without grumbling and complaining. Everything implies a lot; it includes more than one can even fathom. Surely, there has to be some exception. It seems nearly impossible to hold one's tongue in the toughest of situations without letting out even the smallest mumble.
Frankly, complaining is fun. Finding fault, listing gripes, and holding grudges is a sport. We feel vindicated. We feel exonerated. We feel vented. We feel we have the right to do so, especially in the light of injustice. However, complaining will only make us more like the "crooked and depraved generation." To give up one's right to complain will make us more holy, more pure, and more like Jesus.
This life style has been proven to make one shine like the stars. Look at Paul's life, for instance. He was living evidence that circumstances could not deter his joy. But even more recently, consider Corrie Ten Boom. Obviously, even though she was only human, her mentality to not complain caused her to shine in her life time.
To not complain takes practice...even in the most minor instances of our lives, we could just resist the temptation to complain, perhaps we will not only save someone from hearing our pitiful cries but we will also become more joyful and kind.
Monday, June 11, 2007
dust collection.
"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" Phil 1:6
Yesterday morning, my pastor asked us to put up the number of fingers to show how many uncompleted tasks we have awaiting for us at home. Needless to say, some of us had to use our toes as well. There is just so much to do that sometimes, actually most of the time, we neglect to finish what we need to do. Our attention is diverted to other activities, and our projects just sit there collecting dust.
To be quite honest, I feel like my life is just being covered in dust, as I wait. What am I waiting for? Sometimes I don't even remember. I guess, I just want all the pain to go away...but each day I am anticipating change...and when it doesn't happen, disappointment is inevitable.
However, I think I might be waiting for the wrong thing; in this very chapter, Paul is in chains, and he regards these chains as an encouragement to the other disciples. How could Paul still hold such joy in his heart even as he was a prisioner? Here I am wanting and hoping to be free from all that devastation in my life, but I lack that very joy.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that these chains in my life, in your life, have a purpose. We can't continue mourning over them, when we could use them for the glory of God. We just need to be assured that God will finish all the things He has started. The staleness and dust we feel is our fault, really. It's our job to get up and shake it off, in hopes that it affects others. We not only need to be patient, but we need to be willing.
Yesterday morning, my pastor asked us to put up the number of fingers to show how many uncompleted tasks we have awaiting for us at home. Needless to say, some of us had to use our toes as well. There is just so much to do that sometimes, actually most of the time, we neglect to finish what we need to do. Our attention is diverted to other activities, and our projects just sit there collecting dust.
To be quite honest, I feel like my life is just being covered in dust, as I wait. What am I waiting for? Sometimes I don't even remember. I guess, I just want all the pain to go away...but each day I am anticipating change...and when it doesn't happen, disappointment is inevitable.
However, I think I might be waiting for the wrong thing; in this very chapter, Paul is in chains, and he regards these chains as an encouragement to the other disciples. How could Paul still hold such joy in his heart even as he was a prisioner? Here I am wanting and hoping to be free from all that devastation in my life, but I lack that very joy.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that these chains in my life, in your life, have a purpose. We can't continue mourning over them, when we could use them for the glory of God. We just need to be assured that God will finish all the things He has started. The staleness and dust we feel is our fault, really. It's our job to get up and shake it off, in hopes that it affects others. We not only need to be patient, but we need to be willing.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
not ours.
"My brethern, you shall not do so with what the Lord has given us, who has preserved us and delivered into our hand the troop that came against us." 1Samuel 30:23
In this chapter, David and four hundred men are successful at regaining what was taken from them. However, the question arises: should the men who stayed back at camp and refused to help be rewarded with the spoil? Obviously, it was unfair. The men who followed David had risked their lives, and on the flip side, those who did not cooperate with David's plan even wanted him to be stoned for allowing them to lose their wives, daughters, servants, and goods in the first place. Yet, despite their original disdain, regardless of their obstinance and rebellion, David does not want to deprive them of the spoil. It's surprising. It's humbling. Is it something we would do? Is it something we could put into practice? How do we do such a thing?
Well, first, David regarded all blessings as the Lord's. Whatever the Lord placed in his life, he realized it remained the Lord's. This mentality stems from the roots of humility. If we fail to realize all is God's, we will consequently became enraged and frustrated with the passing of those things, those people, those circumstances that we receive. And yet, if we do hold fast to the idea that all belongs to Him, we will be like David, Job, and Jesus, when we lose anything. After all, the Lord gives and the Lord takes away.
Secondly, David was thankful. Instead of comparing himself with the others who refused to fight, he was focused on the fact that God had brought him success. What did it matter how God dealt with the others? It was not for him to inflict judgment; it was entirely up to God. Likewise, we need to always be content, perfectly grateful for what God does in our lives. We need to stop trying to figure out what is fair and what is not. Who cares? Right? Yeah, I know, it's hard, but once we master it with His help, we will live more peacefully, more righteously, and definitely more joyfully.
In this chapter, David and four hundred men are successful at regaining what was taken from them. However, the question arises: should the men who stayed back at camp and refused to help be rewarded with the spoil? Obviously, it was unfair. The men who followed David had risked their lives, and on the flip side, those who did not cooperate with David's plan even wanted him to be stoned for allowing them to lose their wives, daughters, servants, and goods in the first place. Yet, despite their original disdain, regardless of their obstinance and rebellion, David does not want to deprive them of the spoil. It's surprising. It's humbling. Is it something we would do? Is it something we could put into practice? How do we do such a thing?
Well, first, David regarded all blessings as the Lord's. Whatever the Lord placed in his life, he realized it remained the Lord's. This mentality stems from the roots of humility. If we fail to realize all is God's, we will consequently became enraged and frustrated with the passing of those things, those people, those circumstances that we receive. And yet, if we do hold fast to the idea that all belongs to Him, we will be like David, Job, and Jesus, when we lose anything. After all, the Lord gives and the Lord takes away.
Secondly, David was thankful. Instead of comparing himself with the others who refused to fight, he was focused on the fact that God had brought him success. What did it matter how God dealt with the others? It was not for him to inflict judgment; it was entirely up to God. Likewise, we need to always be content, perfectly grateful for what God does in our lives. We need to stop trying to figure out what is fair and what is not. Who cares? Right? Yeah, I know, it's hard, but once we master it with His help, we will live more peacefully, more righteously, and definitely more joyfully.
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