Colossians 3:8-17. Epic.
Late night rant that may or may not make sense:
God is doing something. I am seeing Him move, starting things in my heart that used to just be head concepts. Now He is opening my eyes and heart, showing me how to love people. Do we every really think about that? Oh 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Or Colossians 3:12-14. These are so overused! But have you ever actually looked at them, really stopped at each descriptive word and then applied it to your daily life?
1 Corinthians 13:4-7.
"Love is patient, love is kind." When you are driving and the old man in front of you is scared to actually put more than is pinky toe on that gas peddle...patient? When someone asks to borrow something, but they should just go buy it for themselves...kind?
"It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud." When you see your co-worker doing a better job than you and you just wish you could have their work ethic. Or you wish you had the sense of humor, looks, sincerity, etc of your friend...envy? When you feel particularly more intelligent then your classmate who does not know as much about what politics are compared to you...boasting, proud?
"It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs." When you gossip about the girl who goes through boyfriends like tissues and lacks all morals ever...dishonor? Self-seeking? When your friend does not answer your phone calls and you just know it is because she is ignoring you, because this is the 8th time you've called and she blah blah blah...list of wrongs?
"Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." So how often throughout our day do others see Christ shining through us?! When we choose not to react to a jerk comment made out of malice and love anyway. When we choose not to make note every time our friend lets us down because we see how many times we have failed Christ but he separates our sins against him as from as east from west.
God is taking his word and expanding it in my heart and mind. And I get insecure about this! I worry that I should not be so wrapped up in Him. That there is something wrong with the fact that I think about and talk about God all day everyday. He is my favorite topic. That is just stupid! Why should I regret that? Especially while at a school among people who believe the same as me. Paul suffered for Christ everyday, He only boasted in Him. Praise God I can have glimpses of my life pan out in the same way! How silly of me to be embarrassed of showing His love. The fear of offending someone with love is irrational. I can be so prideful!
Despite everything, the pain of this week, the sadness I have for the people suffering back home, I love God and I trust Him with my entire life. He has a plan and He is working it out. Praise God that I am able to have compassion and mourn with those who mourn, why am I ashamed of such a blessing? Because the ability to mourn is also paired with the ability to rejoice. I also have the compassion to rejoice with the rejoicing!
This week my heart, body, mind and soul have been mourning, questioning and fighting. I cannot understand or fathom why there is so much intense pain in this world. Why people torture each other. Why they tear one another down and then kick them. It destroys me to see. But.
I will devote myself to prayer, being watchful and thankful (Col. 4:2).
