Happy New Year

January 1, 2022 (Saturday)

 

Happy and blessed New Year!

 

Welcome to year three of the covid pandemic. This is the 383 “pandemic post.” When I started, I expected maybe a month or two. Ha, what was I thinking?

 

Let me revisit verse (and idea) I have covered before: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” [Colossians 3:15 NIV] Consider the chaos covid has caused. Hospitals are packed. Funeral homes are stacking bodies. Appointments to open graves are up to two weeks out. On top of all this, our culture is at war.

 

We need Jesus. We need the peace only Jesus can give. I’ve noted earlier that the word translated “rule” can be our word “umpire” or “referee.” This can mean we are not at peace with other, but I want to focus on the stark reality of the almost mythical “inner peace.”

 

We can be at conflict within ourselves. Take, for instance, Jesus’ observation, “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.” [Matthew 6:24 NLT] Money aside, humans tend to acquire masters. These are things (maybe people or ideals) that dominate our time and thought process.

 

Here’s the observation. A master is a solitary demand. Two masters will create conflict… maybe subtle but it’s there. Eventually it will become a hate/love relationship. One will become dominated for devotion. This might be situational. Situational masters may create deeper conflict within the individual. It is one reason when we are breaking away from sin, we need to remove ourselves from situations where sin enslaves us.

 

That is an uncomfortable place of conflict. In one corner is Jesus. In the other corner crouches whatever is enslaving you to this world. Seriously, there is no way anything, attachment, or attraction should be in the same ring as Jesus. Unfortunately, it happens.

 

This is our question today. Who or what do you want to rule your heart? If it is Jesus and His peace then we are good. We will feel the storms of this life but we stay on an even keel. If something (or someone) other than Jesus rules your heart, I guarantee the turbulence of life will be your constant companion.

 

It’s your life. I can’t chose for you. Do what you want, you are going too anyway. At least now you know what your choice is…