Reconsidering Our Branding...

It was around 10:00 last night that I turned to Erin and started talking about how tomorrow was going to be a great day, because I was going to be having lunch with a dear friend of mine. (Now before you start going off, when I say we’re having lunch I mean we will be sitting a few spaces away from each other in a parking lot, not huddled in my office or around a table.) If I remember correctly, I said something along the lines of I could get excited about Wednesdays if it became a day of connecting. 

Then it hit me. It was only Monday yesterday evening. 

Yeah. Don’t laugh. You know I’m not the only one who has made that mistake in the midst of all this. 

This got me to thinking about how hard it is at times to stay focused, how hard it is to stay calm at times, how hard it is to keep perspective…well, let’s just say times like these may not always bring out the best in us. And, yet, as people of the faith we know that the scriptures are full of people who have also gone through times that try our souls - maybe there’s something to glean from this ancient wisdom as we make it through this time. In a letter to the Colossians, Paul reminded the community of faith about the designs God has on us because we are Easter people - those who have accepted forgiveness offered by Christ.

Hear these words from Colossians 3 as recorded in the New Living Translation:

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. 

Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. 

For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. 

And always be thankful.

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. 

Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. 

Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

We must never miss the reality that God has chosen us, those who have accepted the love, grace, and forgiveness offered through Christ, and as such we have not the obligation but the opportunity to clothe ourselves with mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Obligation, opportunity - what’s the difference? Simple. Motivation. Obligations must be fulfilled no matter what. Opportunities, well, no.

In a time where nerves can be frayed and raw emotion comes to the surface, we must always keep in mind we are Easter people, forgiven by Christ - and because of that forgiveness we must forgive others. Easy? No. An invitation to stay in a relationship that is abusive? Absolutely not. Forgiveness, though, it not about the other - it is about the state of your soul

What might change in our lives if we looked at everything we do or say as a representative of the Lord Jesus? How might our actions and attitudes be transformed if we started or ended every utterance and action with, “In the name of Jesus, I say…?”

This passage is such a challenge to squeeze into a small timeframe like this - but the beautiful thing about scripture is there is always something new to discover, even (or especially) in those passages you may find most familiar. I want to encourage you in these stressful times to take a moment and breathe…and let the fullness of God’s grace, peace, mercy, and love fill your heart and mind SO THAT SAME FULLNESS may be passed on to others in your sphere of influence.