Rising Above the Noise

loud

Look with me at Colossians 3:12-17 today. I would argue that what we see here in this passage is so timely for today. In light of everything going on right now in our culture, in our nation, we as believers have a wonderful opportunity to display Christ and our hope in a real way. Unity of the gospel and the church in a real way.

Meditate on this passage. What Paul is calling us to here as believers is to display to others what we ourselves have first received from God by grace in the gospel. Keep that in mind. To not offer what we have first received would be hypocritical.

There is so much regarding the election, race, politics, COVID that seeks to divide and has divided, unfortunately even within the body of Christ. And almost all of the division is rooted in things and responses opposite of what Paul calls us to hear, what we have first received in the gospel.

Compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another, forgiving one another - how far would all of this go today in preventing division and fracturing of the body - if we simply treat others as God has treated us in the gospel.

Believer - rise above the noise and the nonsense of our culture. Fix your minds on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, of good repute. Gospel centered, God centered thoughts. Don't let the body be divided on these issues of the day. See them and respond to them thru the lens of your own salvation and the grace of God.

Do not be anxious, but with prayer and supplication and thanksgiving let your requests be known to God and may the peace of God flood our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice. The Lord is near.

Putting on love for one another which brings about unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. Be thankful knowing that none of the chaos of our culture conflicts or compromises any promises of God. His promises will be true no matter who elected as president. No matter what comes. Don't respond as the world responds as without hope.

Seek to do and say all things in the name of the Lord Jesus. May He be glorified in how we respond during these days. May the hope we have in Him shine bright even if the candidate you voted for isn't elected, rightly or wrongly. Let the Word of God richly dwell and flow and regulate our speech and reactions.

God remains sovereign - therefore be at peace.

Listen to Jer. 29:7. As God sent His people into exile in Babylon, He commanded them to "seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf; FOR IN ITS WELFARE YOU WILL HAVE WELFARE."

Believer - that is relevant and applicable even today. This too is not our eternal home, our citizenship is in another city, and yet we sojourn here for now. Seek the good of the city. Pray for its leaders whether you voted for them or not (see 1 Tim. 2:1-4). Put on these things we see here regardless of whether they are deserved by others, knowing you didn't deserve them either when God offered them to you.

Do not respond to evil with evil. Do not seek your own revenge. Pursue peace as far as it depends upon you. And may we encourage each other in this together for the good the gospel and glory of God. Our king still reigns.