The Scriptures seldom tell us to do what comes naturally.
Rejoice in the
Lord always and again I say, Rejoice.
Rejoicing always, is hardly a natural and constant condition
for most people. Yet this is what the apostle commands us to do. It seems
unnatural, even against reality, at times. Situations are not always a party.
People are sometimes aggressively unpleasant. And we are commanded to, “Rejoice
in the Lord always,” and then it is emphasized, “and again I say rejoice.”
Life is a battle, and the Christian life, or the life of a
disciple is even more of a battle. But the war is not against other people. It
is against the sin in my flesh that demands. Simply demands. Demands because of
discomfort, because of fear, because of disappointment.
I will be happy when…(demand), I will rejoice when…(demand),
I will pray when… (demand), I will love when…(demand), I will give when …
(demand)
Scripture doesn’t tell us to be happy when we have lots of
good food to eat or when we have every possession we desire or every pleasure.
Scripture doesn’t speak against many of those things in moderation
and balance, but there is no need to tell us to rejoice then and be thankful.
That is just the natural way.
God is not opposed to natural pleasure. He gave us those pleasures.
But He wants us to experience greater life than just what we can have
naturally.
He is not opposed, but what he wants for us is so much
greater than our temporary pleasures and demands.
He wants us to enter into that eternal life, Now. The life
that transcends the pleasures we naturally seek.
What does this mean for me, here where I have all my natural
comfort and pleasure?
It may mean that in my quest for those things, I have gone
astray from the things that are better. But it seems to me that many of my
temporal blessings have just come to me and even though I have sought wrong
satisfaction, I have consistently found myself seeking the right way. I don’t
even know what that means
The Eternal Way.
No matter how pleasant my life is or how bright the
prospects appear, I cannot begin to imagine the joy that my Father wants to
give me, if I will only truly give my life completely to Him.
Frankly, I don’t think I even have a vague idea of what that
means. I do believe that it involves disciplines of obedience that I will
probably only be able to learn one or two at a time and that will be learned in
the melee of daily life.
Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice.
Let your moderation (confidence, hope…) be known to all people. (How do I do that?) The Lord is very
near.
Do not be anxious for any reason ever. Rather in every
circumstance, by prayer, petition and meditation; always with thanksgiving,
keep your heart attentive to your Father in the heavens. (The one who
is very near) and His wonderful peace, which is beyond understanding will
guard your heart continually in Christ Jesus.
Finally, dear sisters and brothers,
whatever things
are true,
whatever things are honest,
whatever things are just,
whatever things
are pure,
whatever things lovely,
whatever things are of good report,
if the is
any virtue,
if there is any praise,
think about these things.
Philippians
4:4-9
This entire meditation is absolutely at odds with the flesh.
