Emotion, how greatly we are affected by this aspect of our humanity. It springs from wells deep within our being, it sways reason and can shake the very foundation of who we are...
So, why do we give so much credence to our emotive qualities? Why do we allow our emotion to have the better of us? As believers in Christ, and followers of The Way, we often find ourselves shaken... I pause, here briefly, to ask why.
Recently, this happened in my own life - I was shaken by my emotion, rocked, my perspective skewed. I am still in recovery in some ways, so to speak. Now, I am not taking for granted that it has been an emotionally charged season, and that the stress levels at our home have been running high due to a new baby and the recent surgery that she had to go through. But, I really let it all build up and get to me. It affected my reason... and I pride myself (sometimes a bit much) on my conscious effort to reason through my thoughts, actions, and behavior. Yet, it happened. I let it build, a beautiful crescendo... and then hit me in the face.
But, we who are clothed with the very nature of Christ... what should our response to stress and emotion laden situations be?
I let it cloud my mind, frustrate me, charge my soul with anger and hostility. I did not show this outwardly around others, but the expression of the tumult within me was at the very least lacking in righteousness. So, I return to the question. What should our response be?
I remember a good friend, a brother of mine in Christ, tell me one time that as Christians we do not have to be driven by our emotion, that all aspects of our life are supposed to be subject to Christ and our new nature in Him. So, I look at this and point to my actions, the way that I handled this stressful, emotional situation and realize that I did not give glory to God in this.
As ones who seek to give glory to God, it is incumbent upon us to bind our emotions and make them submit to the glory and will of God. Please hear me, I am not making a plea for emotionless believers. Far from this, I am calling for emotion - but emotion which flows from reality. The reality is that we have been redeemed by the maker of the Universe, that the lover of our souls is the God of the holy scriptures. In all truth, we are sojourners, travelers in a land of pain, suffering, hurt, and depravity... and that we are to be light in the dark places and salt to this world which is without taste. We carry the Word of Life, we are bearers of the Truth, and followers of the One Way. We must bear the charge given to Paul in 1 Timothy 6:11-16. I leave you with this charge.
But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time--he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
1 Timothy 6:11-16 ESV
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