- Jul 16, 2022
- 3 min read
“So, as God’s own chosen people, who are holy [set apart, sanctified for His purpose] and well-beloved [by God Himself], put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience [which has the power to endure whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes, with good temper]; 13 bearing graciously with one another, and willingly forgiving each other if one has a cause for complaint against another; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so should you forgive.”
Colossians 3:12-13 AMP
Embrace the Within.
Shabbat Shalom.
Maybe it’s because I am deep into the book of faces’ algorithm BUT I am seeing a lot more of the folks that are giving the outward appearance or lip service to Christianity. I do not know your heart and I can neither confirm nor deny your walk and your journey. Add, nevertheless, seeing posts about The Bible at least means you are looking toward the Word for some understanding and wisdom. And that says a lot.
The Lord knows we face enough nonsense out here in the world. I awoke this morning to news of a shooting down the road at a carnival and reports of fighting with firefolks and paramedics? We are living among some strange and evil folks.
That being said, I am not a fan of posting a single verse out of context to support your opinions on God's Word. I am not a fan of posting one verse at all. I want to see that verse in the context of the epistle or prophesy or poem or narrative from whence it laid. I am a fan of reading and studying and understanding the completeness of any work of literature. Folks can take anything out of context to make it fit their established beliefs. Look around at all the bizarre things folks have and still attribute to the following of the Lord. And those weird ideas are not going away. It is natural to have your established beliefs and want to make your new or old religious beliefs conform to your human ideas. That is kind of the story of almost everything that happens within the pages of The Bible no matter the translation, the time, the testament, or the canon, the narrative from start to finish is a separate people trying to belong to both arenas. One foot in the camp of the Almighty and one foot in the world.
We are to be set apart. We are to be separate. BUT we are still to live in this world. And that means showing to an unjust and unholy world as well as each other, “. . . compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (Colossians 3: 12 AMP). We are to forgive just as we are forgiven because we are not perfect, we are forgiven. We do not deserve anything more than death. We are granted more through grace.
And I think sometimes we begin to forget that we are not perfect. And I think sometimes we begin to think we saved ourselves. And I think sometimes we begin to believe that our holiness makes us better than the unholy. BUT it doesn’t. Without God’s grace, without God’s covenant, without God’s sacrifice, we are damned just like everyone else. And I think whenever we get to become holier than everyone else and start to believe our own human hype machine in our mind, we need to check ourselves or have a friend in Christ that will check us as well.
“He’s the God who chose us when we were nothing!
His tender love for us continues on forever!
He has rescued us from the power of our enemies!
His tender love for us continues on forever!
He provides food for hungry men and animals!
His tender love for us continues on forever!
Give thanks to the great God of the heavens!
His tender love for us continues on forever!”
Psalms 136:23-26 TPT
Peace to your home. Bless your being. The reign of God is now. Have the day you want. I hope you find whatever you’re looking for.