run
Posted: March 6th, 2009 | Filed under: God, life | Comments OffWe chase shadows while we’re trying to find ourselves. We chase those times where we thought we knew who we were. We race for our dreams, we compete for our positions, we run after the things that will make us feel more complete. More alive. More.
One of the hardest things for a believer to do is remember that there is another perspective that we’re supposed to be keeping. We live in bodies of flesh and blood. Our true selves, our spirits, are what remains after these bodies have gone. (John 4:24 MSG)
We’re spiritual beings. We are connected by the Spirit that lives inside of each of our beautifully created bodies. Maybe knowing the spirit of Jesus lives within each person who believes in Him, we can understand how what you do to another, you do to Him.
Separated by our arguments and failures, we are giving our ‘flesh and blood’ lives the power. We make decisions based on emotional inclinations. This puts us in an unfortunate plight. Your ‘flesh and blood’ response to a situation is bound to change over time and you’re setting things in stone that will be irrellevant in the light of day. Yet, those who are building their emotional fences are surrounded by encouragement.
We are told that we don’t know enough about what’s really going on to be able to make any decision other than to act according to Love. (1 Cor. 13) Yet we don’t remember what is true in the spirit when we are dealing with what hurts in the flesh. We are told to be quick to forgive, yet we put restrictions on that forgiveness, in effect restricting our freedom along with it. Can’t we, for a second, consider that God may know what He’s talking about and so we should act out of trust that He’s trying to keep us from any futher harm?
What if we run after peace? What if we chase down the loose strings and turn a frayed end into a forceful knot? Spirit to Spirit, forgiving the shortcomings of a flesh that we knew was corrupt before we saw the evidence. “Fool me once, shame on you….fool me twice…” We’re afraid of being hurt, we’re afraid of looking like fools.
Forgiveness defuses the bomb. Love covers a multitude. Hands joined together are better than arms crossed against chests. It’s not about staying alert for the inevitable Satan Attack, it’s seeing your role in the attack that is well underway.
If we turn on each other, then he doesn’t have to.
Deny the flesh. Run after peace. Make your love the talk of the town. When they ask you why you’re still holding hands, then tell them the Truth.
inspired by 1 Peter 3:8-22 MSG
