Time well spent indeed

I have learned the secret of how to live through any kind of situation—when I have enough to eat or when I am hungry, when I have everything I need or when I have nothing. Christ is the one who gives me the strength I need to do whatever I must do. (Philippians 4:12-13)

Most of us live in such a way that we have all of what we need, even though we might be wanting much more than we have. Some might actually live with more than they need. What Paul learned was contentment in lean times and in times of great advantage. He developed a 'consistency of heart' - something we all would do well to learn sooner than later. Christ is the one who gives that consistency of heart, but we have to be open to receive what he gives when he gives it. Maybe consistency really comes when we learn to be open to receiving whatever it is he has for us.

Christ gives us the strength to do whatever we must do - in good times, or bad, in lean times, or times of tremendous blessing beyond measure. Leaning into him to learn his heart is what brings the greatest contentment. Whenever we are struggling a bit with contentment, always wanting more and more, we would do well to spend a little more time with Jesus. When we do, we find ourselves drawn into his presence, finding the peace and contentment that eludes us when we are way over-extended, busier than is best for our bodies or minds, or vegged out so much that we don't really engage in the things we should be doing.

The strength Paul references here is not just physical strength to 'do a job', but emotional, spiritual, and relational strength. Contentment of heart brings a great deal of strength - because we aren't wasting that strength in the pursuit of what will not last or what is really outside of God's will for our lives. The strength we need - sometimes we don't really appreciate the amount of strength God gives because it comes in the ways we least expect it. We might expect physical strength, so we can endure whatever it is we are facing without tiring. God may give emotional strength instead, simply because he knows the things we are facing are going to drain us in that area more than they will physically. When our emotions are drained, physical strength soon goes out the window!

God isn't going to magically make all this 'strength' appear in our lives. We need to press into his presence, learn from Christ, and live close to him. As we 'spend' time and talent with him, we soon find 'time and talent' for the things we have need of come our way! Just sayin!

Permanent isn't casual

God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love. (I John 4:17-18)

Have you ever found yourself complaining about something that is not permanent in your life just because it gives you a little extra pressure or work or resistance? I think we forget where OUR permanency really is - IN God and therefore, IN a life of LOVE. Truth is, we all have a tendency to have a "semi-permanent" commitment in this Christian walk simply because we cannot seem to settle into what God has declared to be our place of "permanency". Since God lives IN us and we live IN him, we don't "pick up roots" every so often and just wander off into some region of life where the grass looks a little greener! We settle in and honker down in this life. That may mean some winter storms, but it also means some pretty beautiful springtime growth and summer maturity! If we are constantly picking up roots and moving to where life always seems to be a little easier to endure, we miss the "tension" of the "winter season" in our lives. This "tension" almost forces growth - we don't get to the point of desire without a little "tension" being created.

Semi-permanent doesn't really produce the same things as permanent does. I could get a semi-permanent hair color added to my hair to cover over some of my grey strands, but the fact is, the more I wash my hair, the less "permanent" that "added color" really looks! Why? It doesn't change what is at the root. When something is "permanent" it changes what is at the root - you cannot really change grey hair - it will always be gray right down to the root! For us to really see love become the way we live and breathe, we need to take up "permanent residence" in Christ's love - in relationship with him - deep, intimate connection. In other words, we let the roots sink in and we see what "permanent roots" will produce. It soon becomes evident that he puts "in order" the things otherwise "out of order" in our lives. The idea of someone or something "having the run of the house" suggests there is a comfortableness in their presence. When I go into a friend's house, I ask before I look in cabinets to find the water glasses. The second or third time, I may just let them know I am thirsty, and they will direct me to "help myself" since I know where the glasses are stored. In time, the more I visit my friend's house, the more comfortable I get finding things, but this is still not my "permanent residence", so I am still not given the "run of the house" like I am in my own home. The more comfortable we make Jesus in "our bodily home", the more he begins to "have the run of the house". He has the freedom to go where he wants, do what needs to be done, and then enjoy time with the one who is with him "in residence" - us!

Once we allow God permanency in our lives, his love begins to affect us deeper than if we only casually "visit with" him on occasion. Love is free to have its way IN us, so it is free to flow OUT of us. If we find it difficult to "put down roots" in Christ, we probably just haven't experienced his love as deeply as he desires. When we begin to experience his love, especially if we haven't known much love in our lives, we might find it a little difficult to allow anyone to be this "close" to the "real" us. This type of intimacy is a little intimidating at first, but trust me, it is worth the exploration! In determining where, and with whom it is we will commit everything to, we begin to actually feel our roots being affected. As long as we are just casual in our relationship with him, our roots will never have a chance to be challenged by the tension of life. No tension - no growth. You want to see change in your life, set down roots deep into his love. Then allow his love to begin to affect you at the deepest points. Nothing will ever be the same once we determine to "root deeply" in his love. Just sayin!

A spiritually symbiotic relationship

The unspiritual self, just as it is by nature, can’t receive the gifts of God’s Spirit. There’s no capacity for them. They seem like so much silliness. Spirit can be known only by spirit—God’s Spirit and our spirits in open communion. Spiritually alive, we have access to everything God’s Spirit is doing, and can’t be judged by unspiritual critics. Isaiah’s question, “Is there anyone around who knows God’s Spirit, anyone who knows what he is doing?” has been answered: Christ knows, and we have Christ’s Spirit. (I Corinthians 2:14)

Trying to understand God with your earthly intelligence? Won't work! God isn't meant to be known by our earthly intelligence, but by our spiritual 'self' communing with his Spirit. Open communion - meaning open and honest two-way conversation. Not just us telling God what we need, how he needs to work in our lives, and what he should be doing for others, but us actually listening intently for what he wants to reveal to us in those times of communion. I walk each day and see all kinds of things that make me think about him. Nature has a way of revealing God in wonderous ways, but as I walk, I see others, head hung down, looking a little worried or deep in thought. I can lift up a quick prayer for them. I pass the fire department doors and pray for their safety on each call of the day - strength for what they face, security for their families, and rest for their sometimes very weary bodies. We all have the ability for two-way conversation, but when we are open to what God wants us to be thinking on as we are sharing that communion with him, we might just see things we have sometimes missed. I walk with earbuds in, Christian worship both elevating my spirit and drawing me into the presence of God. It isn't that I am blocking out the world - I am inviting God into mine.

  

I like the part of this passage that reminds us we cannot be judged by unspiritual critics. If you have ever lived with the concern about others 'judging' you for your walk with Christ, making a bit of fun for your choice to live a little bit 'holier' than they do, you know what it is like to be criticized by the 'unspiritual critic'. God reminds us we CANNOT be judged by those critics - their 'judgment' holds absolutely no weight in his eyes. Christ knows what is behind our outside appearance - every choice we make and why we make it. He knows our motivation and our even our discouragement. Try as others might, they cannot destroy this closeness we hold with Jesus. He is part of us, and we are part of him - it is a symbiotic relationship on more than a physical plane as symbiosis would suggest - it is a spiritual symbiosis. We have Christ's Spirit indwelling ours - bringing us into a closeness that can be both felt and known, but not with our earthly intelligence. It is more like a 'spiritual intelligence' - the mind of Christ helping us to see how he moves, what he desires, and where we need his help in our lives. It is time to stop listening to the 'unspiritual critics' in your life. It is time we remember that we are indwelt with the Spirit of Christ and nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate us from his love and protection. Just sayin!