t’s Leap Year, Election Year (US), the ‘Pinnacle of Incivility’ Year, the ‘Thank God It’s Over’ Year. And so, on this day of all days, I feel the need to call us, again, to the Fountain of Life, the Sacred Scriptures, the Word who dwells among us. Like the resetting of our clocks, maybe our hearts could benefit from a ‘falling back’ into the inspirational teachings found on the pages of the Bible. And that, because the unredeemed rooms in our hearts are famous for what Brian McLaren and Tony Campolo called, “adventures in missing the point.” Adam & Eve introduced us to this, the original pandemic, and the Apostle Paul, in Romans Chapter seven, starkly details its ‘ouch’. Later, in his letter to the Philippian church, he offers these words for a recalibrating of wayward hearts:
“Be cheerful with joyous celebration in every season of life. Let joy overflow, for you are united with the Anointed One! Let gentleness be seen in every relationship, for our Lord is ever near. Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ. So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always. Follow the example of all that we have imparted to you and the God of peace will be with you in all things.” Philippians 4:4-9, The Passion Translation (TPT)
“It’s time to eliminate . . . from your lives once and for all – anger, fits of rage, all forms of hatred, cursing, filthy speech, and lying. Lay aside your old Adam-self with its masquerade and disguise. . . You are always and deeply loved by God! So robe yourself with virtues of God, since you have been divinely chosen to be holy. Be merciful as you endeavor to understand others, and be compassionate, showing kindness toward all. Be gentle and humble, unoffendable in your patience with others. . .
Let your heart always be guided by the peace of the Anointed One . . . Let the word of Christ live in you richly . . . Let every activity of your lives and every word that comes from your lips be drenched with the beauty of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One.” Excerpted from Colossians 3, TPT
These, and oodles more passages, draw us, like the cords of love, up and out of the muck and mire of this world.
Paul again: “I encourage you to surrender yourselves to God to be his sacred, living sacrifices. And live in holiness, experiencing all that delights his heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship. Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think.” Romans 12: 1,2 TPT.
I’m all for adventure, y’all, but let’s not be missing the point. We’re all in this together, so let’s link hearts and be watching for today’s Holy Spirit initiatives. Blessings on your reading and recalibrating! He is good! PD
