Have you ever crammed for a test, and to your satisfaction, aced it? However, when it came back up for review before the final exam, you found that you had to study all over again. The sleepless night of filling your brain was just that - filling your brain. It wasn't chewed upon and digested. You didn't acquaint yourself with it. You didn't get to know it. It was merely information placed in your brain until you moved on to the next cramming session.
Our relationship with Christ can be played out the same way. At times we may find ourselves cramming scripture into our heads until the next big challenge arises. My problem is that I move too quickly to the next challenge at hand and fill my arsenal with more scripture and ..... uh oh ....."scripture overload".
Suddenly, I can't remember any of them.
The plan of action is correct. The speed at which I'm running could be slowed down a few notches. If we want it to be a part of us, we have to slow down and stay awhile with it. We need to get to know it. The scripture has to be allowed to travel from my head to my heart. And there, once it's been ingrained in my heart, the Holy Spirit can bring it to mind when it's needed. It's OK to graze on a certain passage. There's plenty of time to move on; but take as much time as you need to really get to know it. Make it a part of you - not only your thinking, but who you are.
We are God's children soiled by a dark world. We've got to get to know and embrace the characteristics of our Father. As we get to know them, they begin to change us to look more like Him. We will be living a life that would be identified as royalty and resemble His ambassadors on this earth.
"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us." (2 Cor.5:20a)
As His representatives, we will dress ourselves with tender-hearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. We will make allowance for each other's faults and forgive when offended. We will wear love. It is what binds us together in perfect harmony. As members of His family we must allow Christ's peace to rule in our hearts. And as ambassadors, we are to always be thankful. (Col. 3:12-15)
So, if we will slow down and stay a while and allow the richness of His words to dwell in our hearts, it will make us wise. And the words that we speak will teach and counsel each other. We will be able to sing with thankful hearts. And then, whatever we do or say, we will look more like the representatives of Jesus Christ that we have been created to be. (Col. 3:16-17)
Thank you Beth for these words of hope. It has motivated me to take a personal challenge to check my own wardrobe to see what is hanging there. Does my "suit" of patience no longer fit? Is my "dress" of kindness and humility tattered? Do my "shoes" have holes in them and my forgiveness has seeped out? Is my coat no longer warm with "tender- hearted" mercy? As I sit here this morning I'm faced with the reality that my wardrobe needs mending. For today I will ask God to help me reduce my anger so my suit of patience will fit. I'll check the seams of my dresses of kindness and humility for rips caused by selfish thinking. I will have my shoes re-"souled" so my lack of forgiveness will have no escape route. Lastly, I will pray that God will remove any hardness in my heart so my coat of tender-hearted mercy will warm my soul and those around me. I pray for God's wisdom when reading scripture so that when I go to my closet, what I choose to wear will reflect that I honor being an Ambassador for God. Before I leave the house I'll remember to spray myself with an abundance of Love...a heavenly fragrance that lasts forever.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written, here again. Love your thoughts,wisdom, learned words, it sounds. I can relate about going so fast and not allowing the WORD, scriptures to really captivate and consume my heart. Love all those verses, reference's.
ReplyDeletePlease keep on writing and challenging and inspiring us. Love you!!