THROWBACK TUESDAY -MENDED ANY FENCES LATELY?
In an agrarian society, one of the things that is essential to a farm are fences. Fences keep things like animals from getting out, and they deter things like scavengers (human and and animals from getting in. We as humans also build fences in our spiritual lives, for pretty much the same reason. We want to keep our heart intact and keep predators from entering in. There are times however, when someone has a broken fence in their life. and it just might be you that need to fix it:
I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences. Ephesians 4:2 (MSG)
The Apostle Paul is once again gives a vivid example of how we should live. He then spends the next 30 verses further conveying some very important attributes we need to acquire. Much of what he said has a lot to do with mending fences because the majority of fences get broken because we fail in one of these areas:
25 What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ’s body we’re all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself.
26-27 Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry—but don’t use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don’t stay angry. Don’t go to bed angry. Don’t give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life.
28 Did you use to make ends meet by stealing? Well, no more! Get an honest job so that you can help others who can’t work.
29 Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.
30 Don’t grieve God. Don’t break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don’t take such a gift for granted.
31-32 Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.
When we "put-on" the things listed above, we will not be fence breakers, but fence menders. We will be "living. epistles, known and read of men". People will recognize they can trust us, feel safe, and the fences that have been broken, can be torn down – for love will keep guard over our hearts.
Maria