New International Version
Finally, my brothers, consider all that is true; respectable; everything that is just, pure, peaceable, worthy of admiration and all that is excellent or worthy of praise. THINK ON THESE THINGS.
I read these verses, today, and they made me cry even though I've read them countless times. I read them each week; each month; each year; each time I'm covered up in work or dealing with various situations. I use them as a way to guard my heart and my mind. Still, today, as I read them, I saw them in a different light, and they became almost a sword that piereced my heart.
Edmund Burke, a philosopher of the 1700's who fought to turn the Church back to her foundation of principles based solely upon the Bible and on Jesus's words once said that, "All that is needed for evil to triumph is for good to do nothing." So, I find myself, today, with tears and questions, and a call to my heart to wake up....for us each to return and, "Seek the Lord while He may be found." Because a time will come and is very near when the heavens will open and our God shall appear, and He will hold close forever those who´ve held onto Him, and to truth, and love, and goodness and have fought for the truth we can only find in who He is.
Meanwhile, my heart longs to know, "What are we doing with this truth?" So many times, instead of thinking on truth and goodness, we hold onto lies about one another; clinging to division and hatred and onto fighting for our own individual reign. Why instead of thinking on what is respectable and respectful...extending mercy and healing...we decide who is worthy of our attention and love? Why do we think we are justified in creating injustice if done in the name of a "bigger cause" (bigger only in our own thinking); why do we leave what is pure behind in the name of entertainment? It's so easy to stop being "lovely" and "loveable" when we feel someone has hurt us; it's so easy to overlook the admirable qualities of all who surround us...to forget that they are worthy of hearing our words of encouragement and affirmation; that they need to hear those words; they often need a hand extended not in anger, but in love.
The more I live, the more I see inquisitions; factions; divisions; fear. I miss the moments of my childhood and youth when I understood that, in this world, I might face those who hate me, but in the Church, I could always find those who believe in me and want to see me triumph and succeed. Today, there are so many of us who still believe in love and justice; who believe God is winning; who want to see His mercy and truth triumph; His people filled not only with reason and understanding, but love. May we have the courage to be the change we long to see; courage to find the lonely and accompany and love them; to find the sick and seek ways to help and heal them; to find those who have nothing and share our bread in returning to the days of Acts 2:42. Jesus said He came to "seek and save that which is lost." May we lose ourselves in doing nothing but the same, and then God Himself will shine upon us, and will give us the strength once more to, "Think on these things."
EDMUND BURKE "Each time you make a distinction between liberty and justice, in my opinion, neither are safe."
|
