So how’s the remodel coming? Did you find that you were in a refining or remodeling project after yesterday’s devotional? I looked for verses with the words “grateful” or “gratitude” in them. I couldn’t find either word in the King James Version of the Bible and only found a couple of references in the New International Version. However, gratitude, thanksgiving, gratefulness, appreciation is the focal point of so many books even though those specific words aren’t there. Just goes to show it’s an attitude of the heart and not words on a page.
I did find a passage in Colossians, which you know it my favorite book, that has gratitude as its theme and stays with our idea of spiritual remodeling.
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:15-17 NIV
Jesus said “be of good cheer” and the apostle Paul says “let peace rule in your hearts”. Those are two basics of gratitude when going through a trial, a remodel. Cheer and peace!
Look at the way the Easy to Read version puts it:
“Let the peace that Christ gives control your thinking. It is for peace that you were chosen to be together in one body. And always be thankful.
16 Let the teaching of Christ live inside you richly. Use all wisdom to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Everything you say and everything you do should be done for Jesus your Lord. And in all you do, give thanks to God the Father through Jesus.” Colossians 3:15-17 ERV
Let peace control your thinking…WOW! That would certainly be a major remodel – controlled by peace. How many times do you find yourself jumping to conclusions or flying off the handle – judging people and situations wrongly, that’s not a mind controlled by peace and definitely a mind that needs to be renovated.
“But the Helper will teach you everything and cause you to remember all that I told you. This Helper is the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name.
27 “I leave you peace. It is my own peace I give you. I give you peace in a different way than the world does. So don’t be troubled. Don’t be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am leaving, but I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be happy that I am going back to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am.” John 14:26-28 ERV
And it’s not peace we have to manufacture on our own – notice it’s Christ’s peace. It’s the same peace He received from the Father when He left heaven to come to earth and live as a man. It’s a supernatural peace. It’s the peace that will take you through trials victoriously just like it did for Jesus. Oh and the added bonus, Jesus said we have His peace and He’s also given us the Holy Spirit to be our helper until Jesus comes back again!
We have the opportunity to teach, to share with one another, things we’ve experienced during the remodel process. Don’t you think we could learn something from Daniel about peace and something from David about thankfulness and from Joseph about hope. We can learn from the pages of God’s word and we can share with others the way we have seen those promises fulfilled in our lives.
“Each one of you is part of the body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together in peace. So let the peace that comes from Christ control your thoughts. And be grateful. 16 Let the message about Christ completely fill your lives, while you use all your wisdom to teach and instruct each other. With thankful hearts, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. 17 Whatever you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks to God the Father because of him.” Colossians 3:15-17 CEV
Oh boy, the Lord just reminded me of an example in my own life. I don’t claim to be a completely “remodeled” habitation for the Lord but I certainly have been through several major renovation projects. Years ago I was in a place where I was in my bedroom all alone crying to God to fix some broken areas in my life. I had listed each of them and was telling Him that I wanted His will in my life and I wanted to be free of these things that were holding me back. I felt God’s peace! Oh how sweet and then a song came on the radio and it cut like a knife.
“THERE WAS A PLACE IN MY HEART WHERE EVEN I WOULDN’T GOI HAD SOME THINGS HIDDEN THERE I DIDN’T WANT NO ONE TO KNOWBUT HE HANDED ME THE KEY WITH TEARS OF LOVE ON HIS FACEHE MADE ME FREE I LET HIM IN MY SECRET PLACE.” The Secret Place by Calvin Clark
I knew immediately that the Father had something greater on His mind that He wanted to remove and rebuild. It was an area of unforgiveness that I wouldn’t even look at – a place I chose not to go. A place where the hurt was too deep to even talk to the Father about…I blurted out “ok, but I’m not going in there alone”. As we walked in, He looked around bringing light to that part of my life and now it’s a beautiful room with a view!
So now as the remodel continues, I’m reminded of what “my house” is supposed to look like. It’s supposed to be a home that will give glory to God; I am an example of His handiwork. Although I get the privilege of picking the colors and the décor, He is the master builder and He gets the glory for the building.
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” Colossians 3:15-17 KJV
Whatever I do, may it bring glory to you, Lord!