Short Thoughts

Oftentimes through the wrath of man and the providence of God, we find ourselves in unexpected situations. Uncertainty causes much anxiety to us and our minds become greatly distressed. This is man responding to his circumstances. We are responsive creatures and cannot help but respond in some way to an unexpected circumstance. However, a prolonged response of anxiety is not Christian.

Paul had learned to be content from one extreme state to another and everywhere in between (Philippians 4:11). The secret of his contentment was stated plainly in the first chapter of the Philippian epistle, “For to me to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21). He was Christ-centered, providing a sure and steadfast anchor for his soul. The storm may come suddenly and his vessel rise and fall with the swelling sea, but his position was fixed because of the anchor.

God’s word to His people is this: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isaiah 26:3). With our mind stayed on God, we will not waver with the tumult of circumstances. The peace spoken of is in contrast to protracted anxiety of mind over uncertainties. The passage does promise we shall never be exposed to danger, but that we may abide the danger with peace in our mind. So, let us be stayed on God, trusting in Him, and let storms come what may.

Jesus, Savior, pilot me Over life’s tempestuous sea:
Unknown waves before me roll, Hiding rocks and treacherous shoal;
Chart and compass come from Thee, Jesus, Savior, pilot me.

As a mother stills her child, Thou canst hush the ocean wild;
Boisterous waves obey Thy will When Thou sayest to them “Be still!”
Wondrous Sovereign of the sea, Jesus, Savior, pilot me.

When at last I near the shore, And the fearful breakers roar
‘Twixt me and the peaceful rest. Then, while leaning on Thy breast,
May I hear Thee say to me, “Fear not, I will pilot thee.”

“Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed. . .” (He 2:1). Essentially, the writer tells us we ought to pay careful attention. If there is one thing that seems near impossible in our day, it is paying careful attention. Our attention spans grow ever shorter in the hastening technological media-fest that is the day we live in. We do not have time to do anything, always buzzing about.

Pastors are often asked deep, complex questions that have major life implications only to find the questioner wants a complete answer in 60 seconds or less. Are our souls worth only 60 seconds of our time, while the rest is spent on the body—eating, drinking, recreation, etc. Able men may have searched the Scriptures for years and written volumes covering the question, but today we want the Reader’s Digest version because we do not have time for the heavy thinking required.

In an interesting irony of our day, folks who can hardly sit through a 30-minute sermon can sit motionless for 2 or 3 hours and watch the latest movie. Children who cannot make it through a service can sit with rapt attention watching a computer or video screen for hours.

Are we paying attention? Are we giving careful consideration to matters of eternal consequence? Or, are we hypnotized by the techno-media world with little time for God’s Word? “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip” (He 2:1).

The pop media culture of our day seems to have absconded with any real concept of true love. They relentlessly promote their “me” generation perversion of love. Today it is some gushy feeling, some mysterious feeling that can be fallen in and out of regularly. The dominant character of this pseudo-love is receiving—“As long as I get what I want, I love you. Of course, when you no longer can or will give me what I want, I am done with you.”

The Bible, of course, paints love in a very different light. A perusal of 1 Corinthians 13 will be enough to convince anyone that what goes by the name of love today is a sorry impostor. The dominant character of biblical love is giving not receiving. It is not that love cannot receive, it certainly does receive; rather, love predominantly gives and does not have to receive, love “seeketh not her own” (1 Co 13:5).

Take, for instance, the love for a newborn baby. This love approaches very near the pure ideal. That baby can do nothing for you. In fact, that baby is very demanding and always requiring that you give. I realize the analogy breaks down very easily, but you do not love that baby for any direct benefit received by you. You love and give to that baby for their good and benefit and at a cost to you.

Love has most to do with doing (1 Jo 3:18). Therefore, love is work and, sometimes, hard work. Else, how could it be described as laying down your life for your friends (Jo 15:13)? It is the doing, giving love the world needs to see. It is by this love that the world will know we are the disciples of Christ, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (Jo 13:35).

Love biblical-style is the identifying mark of God’s people, and not the whimpering effeminacy that says, “We are all imperfect; can’t we all just get along.” This sentiment cannot be called love; it is a love without meaning, a love in word only. The problem with it is that love is not a philosophical idea or abstract expression. Love is real and alive and tangible. Love produces hard evidence that cannot be ignored. While it is possible to give without love (1 Co 13:3), it not possible to love without giving (Ep 5:2).