Willing to Be Pleased No. 1
A Christ Follower ought to be determined in the work of developing and maintaining a Christlike attitude. I confess and repent of my own failures in this important calling. I find it difficult to stop and take captive the thoughts that lead to a fleshly attitude.
We are commanded to bring “every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5 NKJV) Every thought! In my case that is a lot of thoughts. By inductive logic I can assume with some confidence that you have lots of thoughts too. We are given what James the Brother of our Lord calls the “Royal Law” namely “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (James 2:8 NKJV)
We are commanded to bring “every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5 NKJV) Every thought! In my case that is a lot of thoughts. By inductive logic I can assume with some confidence that you have lots of thoughts too. We are given what James the Brother of our Lord calls the “Royal Law” namely “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (James 2:8 NKJV)
“The problem is people.”
The problem is people. Other people, including my Brothers and Sisters in Christ, can really irk me with their attitudes and behaviors. By inductive logic I can assume with some confidence that you get irked as well. When we are annoyed, offended, put out, hurt, or betrayed, we react. A “re”-action is rarely a “good”-action. We may stew, we may become emotionally volatile, we may think negatively about the person who has caused our ire. Too often we also give voice to these frustrations and talk about the person. We rarely consider the consequences of letting our tongues loose in frustration.
James 3:5-6 (New King James Version)
Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.
When we fail to take our “thoughts into captivity,” we run the risk of letting our thoughts run freely through our tongues. The damage from un-captive thoughts and untamed tongues is vicious and ugly. Relationships are broken; communities are scarred; love is left behind.
A community of Christ Followers ought to be marked by love for God and for one another. “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; … does not seek its own, is not provoked, … hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13 NKJV
A community of Christ Followers ought to be marked by love for God and for one another. “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; … does not seek its own, is not provoked, … hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13 NKJV
“Without these two areas of expertise working together like a disciplined machine we would not have most of the conflict and so-called “righteous” anger and brokenness we experience in our relationships.”
If we are taking all our thoughts “into captivity,” we will look to the reasons someone may have harmed us. If you struggle with how to do this, would you believe that you actually do it with one particular person all the time? That person is you.
When you cause someone frustration or pain, you are quick to find an excuse or a justification for your action. Perhaps you were having a bad day, perhaps you think the person is being overly sensitive, perhaps you think the person deserved it … perhaps, perhaps, perhaps. We are experts when it comes to defending ourselves, while at the same time being experts at seeing the rude, or thoughtless, or insensitive, or just plain wicked motives of others. Without these two areas of expertise working together like a disciplined machine we would not have most of the conflict and so-called “righteous” anger and brokenness we experience in our relationships.
We are body, soul, and Spirit, but only one part of us will run like a “disciplined machine.” It is the broken part of us, the body, what we Christ Followers call the “flesh.” It is not hard to see the connection here. The reaction I just described: holding others fully accountable for their errors and excusing and defending our own errors is of the flesh. It is full of hypocrisy.
When you cause someone frustration or pain, you are quick to find an excuse or a justification for your action. Perhaps you were having a bad day, perhaps you think the person is being overly sensitive, perhaps you think the person deserved it … perhaps, perhaps, perhaps. We are experts when it comes to defending ourselves, while at the same time being experts at seeing the rude, or thoughtless, or insensitive, or just plain wicked motives of others. Without these two areas of expertise working together like a disciplined machine we would not have most of the conflict and so-called “righteous” anger and brokenness we experience in our relationships.
We are body, soul, and Spirit, but only one part of us will run like a “disciplined machine.” It is the broken part of us, the body, what we Christ Followers call the “flesh.” It is not hard to see the connection here. The reaction I just described: holding others fully accountable for their errors and excusing and defending our own errors is of the flesh. It is full of hypocrisy.
James 3:17 (New King James Version)
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
Much like a diet (another struggle for me) the directions are easy, but the hike is steep. Eat less and exercise more, a simple plan, but a challenging accomplishment. In the case of becoming more Christlike we must reverse the machine. We must do the opposite of our fleshly instincts (often the case for Christ Followers!). Instead of making excuses for ourselves and holding others accountable, we ought to consider excuses for others and hold ourselves accountable.
Peace costs something and the price is often paid through submission of the flesh to the Spirit of God. Ricky Gervais says, “Just because you’re offended, doesn’t mean you’re right.” If an atheist comic can see that, surely we Christ Followers ought to. Our personal offenses are often based on misunderstanding, a sense of entitlement, and refusal to develop and maintain a Christlike attitude.
Peace costs something and the price is often paid through submission of the flesh to the Spirit of God. Ricky Gervais says, “Just because you’re offended, doesn’t mean you’re right.” If an atheist comic can see that, surely we Christ Followers ought to. Our personal offenses are often based on misunderstanding, a sense of entitlement, and refusal to develop and maintain a Christlike attitude.
Philippians 2:14-16 (New King James Version)
Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
There is only one way to do all things without complaining and disputing. We each must ask the Holy Spirit to empower us to “take every thought into captivity” and to tame our tongues!
If we are going to be willing to be pleased, we ought to train our flesh to be pleased. We do this by submitting our flesh to the Spirit of God. We are people of love. We are people of hope. We are people of peace.
If we are going to be willing to be pleased, we ought to train our flesh to be pleased. We do this by submitting our flesh to the Spirit of God. We are people of love. We are people of hope. We are people of peace.
James 3:16-18 (New King James Version)
Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
The next time you feel anger and offense rising in your flesh, STOP. Recognize that your thoughts must be taken “into captivity.” Then tame your tongue. Wait for the emotions to pass. Then consider the “Royal Law” and:
Philippians 2:3-4 (New King James Version)
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Be willing to be pleased. Be willing to please others. Discipline the flesh as you become more Christlike through the power of the Holy Spirit of God to the glory of the Father.
Peace to you.
Peace to you.
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