A Peace Filled Life is a Thankful Life

This time of year many are reflecting on the things that they are thankful for. Whether that be family, health, jobs, our homes, or other blessings we have so much to thank God for. Being thankful can also be somewhat difficult especially when it seems at times that life just isn't fair. A storm of this life takes a friend or a home, cancer attacks unexpected, the waves just never seem to stop.

But we see in Colossians 3:15 Paul instructs the Colossian Christians that they were to have a "thankful heart." As Christians what does this mean? Well, when you look at the full context has a much fuller meaning than mere thankfulness. 

Colossians has many references to thankfulness, but the word Paul uses here is unique, it is not used anywhere else in the New Testament. Also, in full context, it is directly linked to the exhortation to allow "the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful" (Colossians 3:15).  

The combination of "peace" and "thankfulness" here is quite logical. When you lack peace, you will also lack thankfulness, and more often than not the lack of peace comes from a dissatisfaction with things as they are or from other selfish motivations. On the converse when one is thankful, having come to the realization that all things are provided in Christ we find real peace. 

When we come to rest fully in Christ. When we trust in Him and embrace His Word of Truth. That is when we find the true peace that passes all understanding. That is when we face the storms of this life, and we can sing songs of praise to the one who saved our eternal soul. 

"Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." - (Colossians 3:12-17 CSB)

See ya Sunday! 

If-Then

Deductive reasoning and logic statements such as "if-then" statements have been around for thousands of years. In mathematics "if-then" statements are also known as conditional statements. The "if" is the condition, the "then" is the resulting conclusion. This is shown as a p -> q  this would be read as "if" p "then" q.  The statement should be true in its converse as well in that q ->p or "if" q "then" p.

So what in the world does this have to do with theology?

Well the Apostle Paul in Colossians 3, knowing the logic-based approach to life found in the region around Colossae, offered his audience an "if-then" approach to the Christian life. Listen to what says in Colossians 3:1-11

"So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, God’s wrath is coming upon the disobedient, and you once walked in these things when you were living in them. But now, put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator. In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all."

Do you see the "if-then"? Paul is presenting the logical course of action that "IF" you have been raised with Christ, "then you should" seek the things above. He follows that statement in further detail on how we are to do that with the "therefore" statement in verse 5. "Therefore" (if we have been raised with Christ) we are to put to death what belongs to our earthly natures.

The emphasis in this passage is on the believer's relationship with Christ. We died with Christ. Thus we live in Christ.

Let's simplify this (this might be an oversimplification but true none the less) IF we are truly in Christ THEN we should live as if we are. Paul in Galatians 2:20 phrases it like this:"I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." 

If we are to follow Christ, it should be as if we have died with Christ. Meaning that our thoughts, wants, desires, and loves all should be of the things above not the way they were before we trusted in Christ (on earthly things).

Certainly easier said than done, not going to lie, but that should be our goal.

See ya Sunday!

A Great Number and a Greater Reminder

I really dislike paperwork. To the point which yesterday I realized thanks to Irma I was 3 months behind on our monthly reports for the Food Ministry. Now I knew we have had a lot of people that have been helped since the storm but I was in no way prepared for what I discovered. From September 12 thru October 31st we were blessed to be able to minister to 1138 families representing 4100 individuals.

Now to put that into perspective, an average month we serve 250 families and between 400-500 individuals, annually the past few years we've been steady just shy of 7000 individuals for the year.

Insane. However, as I started to reflect on these numbers I was given a stern reminder. Romans 12:3 literally popped up on my phone and as I read the words I was immediately convicted. See Paul had every reason to boast about his achievements as well yet he realized the danger in thinking too highly of himself. Listen to what he says:

"For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one." Christian Standard Bible

I love how Eugene Peterson phrases this passage in The Message: 

I’m speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him. Romans 12:3 MSG

In the greater context, Paul is referring to spiritual gifts, but the point is still very much a valid one. Just as we must always remember where our giftings come from, we must also remember as Peterson puts it not the ones bringing the goodness to God. It's not about the good works we do, it's about what God has already done. He is the one who brings all goodness into this world. Thus, "the only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him."

It's not wrong to look at the work that has been done and be excited and proud of it. We just have to remember who actually was responsible for those things. Neither I nor our amazing team of volunteers are the ones responsible for the fact that 1000+ families were impacted with the Gospel message over the past two months. The responsibility for that lies with God alone. We are just blessed to have been used as His instruments, and what a blessing that has been.