Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)
32 Be kind and compassionate to
one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
When I was a little girl I loved
to play in cardboard boxes, sometimes people like to contain their faith like
kids contain themselves in a box. We have to remember that God cannot be
contained nor can our faith. We as Christian's are to pick up our cross and
follow Christ so if we have contained ourselves
or allowed others to do it how are
we following him? How can we do His will?
I have seen several on social
media that have displayed these characteristics it is a containment that is
growing among believers. They try to pull you into their little cardboard box
because they are using God to try and control you. Mostly it is because
they think they are the only true follower of the Word of God. This is
dangerous and it can steer baby Christians that are not grounded in the word
two ways they will turn on God or they will allow themselves to be confined. I
cannot imagine which one is worse.
I am asking all of you to take a
moment as you go into the new year and think about your Christian life what you
need to work on, and what needs to be changed, and who in your life that is
containing you this is so imperative. Because sometimes it is not the words we
say or scripture we recite it is the actions of our lives that influence
others. Does it reflect scripture? Does it reflect Christ in any way? Did we
rebuke someone with a stiff finger or did we show compassion and grace like our
Father has shown us? Sometimes we confine ourselves when we are supposed to be
running free like the saved children we are. Sadly other times we lash out because
a fellow believer has frustrated us. Or we have allowed others to contain us.
Maybe you have lashed out when it was undeserved because you are so caught up
in your mission for God that you have forgotten you have run too far ahead of
him.
I have seen a great deal of this
on social media I have been hurt more by fellow believers than I have by
non-believers. It is a kind of hurt that saddens you because you expect a
believer to know better. Do not get me wrong I know we all make mistakes
and I can tell you Christ has enabled me to forgive people that I thought I
would never be able to forgive. But when someone can quote scripture and place
it out there for the whole world to see and then their actions speak a
completely different volume? Makes you question are they running free, trying
to contain others, or serving only themselves thinking they are honestly
serving God? God will place them in his own cardboard box till they learn
obedience, until then test every believer that what they are stating does not
contradict with the verses below.
Ephesians 4:29-32(NIV)
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk
come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up
according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not
grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of
redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander,
along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another,
forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
May the Grace and Peace of Yeshua
be with you all!
© Shannon Wendler