Father I thank you for the rain.
There is actually nothing in this world that I could find more beautiful than it.
I've been thinking a lot about how beautiful the rain is.
How as far as we know we're the only creation that appreciates beauty.
It makes me see why you put so much care and beauty and color and life into creation.
Life that shines through even though it's so obvious that it's broken and damaged.
I see a bit of myself in your creation. I see reflections. Beauty shining through brokenness.
Flowers blooming through garbage.
Paul tells us not to live in futile thinking and separate from God because our hearts are hardened and are not sensitive to His heart but rather indulge in every impurity, and long for all sorts of things but ignore God.
I think what Paul means by futility of thinking that hardens our hearts to God is the way we justify sin and entertain it. We dress it up with pride and justify it and we exalt ourselves above it and justify it some more until before we know it, we're knee deep in it. And we harden our heart to it and God.
Paul says that this is not the way of life we learned when we learned about Christ. We were thought to put our old corrupted deceitful attitudes in our minds off. But it just doesn't turn off like that. it lives and breathes in us and we have to fight it kicking and screaming, and sometimes just walk away from it but Paul says to just put on the new self that was created to be like God in true righteousness and Holiness...
But how? Paul makes it sound so simple and cut and dry.
Just put on righteousness and holiness, no it's not an act it's true righteousness and Holiness.
The thing is God knew how messy and messed up we were. Even better than we did so he made salvation work in-spite of our messed-up-ness, by simply having it rely on our faith. Doesn't it make sense that he'd make sanctification a similar process?
Paul says therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to our neighbor. is he talking about accountability? Confession of sins to one another. I think so because the next thing Paul says is in your anger do not sin, and don't stay angry for long because it can give Satan a foothold. Anyone who has ever been honest with someone, will know how angry their reactions can make you.
Paul says something interesting here. He says don't let your anger give Satan a foothold. And then gives and example. That if your sin is stealing, you must steal no longer, but rather do the opposite by working, and doing something useful with your hands to give those in need. Practically what Paul is saying is if you struggle in one way to sin, do the opposite. If you lie, tell the truth, if you are violent be gentle with people on purpose. It's practical in some ways I guess.
Paul also says not to let unwholesome talk to come out of our mouths, or rather don't say useless things that don't make people whole. But build people up according to their needs with our words. Rather when it comes to talking with people don't say unwholesome random things that don't benefit them,or gossip and bring down others, but seek to build them up with what they need to hear. The truth that sets people free, and benefits those who listen.
What's kinda sad here is that our role is to control our tongue and be close enough to God to speak the truth in love. But if they do not listen it's useless.
Paul's focus is us, that we be saved and have that assurance before we throw ourselves out there to save others. He tells us not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God which is our seal, guaranteeing our salvation. Ensuring we see the day of redemption.
Considering that the Holy spirit lives in each of us and doesn't up and leave when we sin. We can see why Paul would tell us this. Bitterness, greed, anger, slander, malice all these emotions. Imagine what it must be like for the Holy Spirit living in each of us. It's easy to see how He would be grieved.
Paul ends by pulling back to the aspects of submission and loving one another. He tells us to be kind and compassionate, and forgiving just as Christ forgave us.
Where do I go from here?
I need to be accountable, and patient with those who I am accountable to.
I need to be more sensitive to grieving the Holy Spirit.
Whenever I minimize and justify things, I need to be careful that I am not being deceived and led astray.
Keep seeking how to turn off myself and put on Christ
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