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For today’s message, I’d like to slow us down from our usual fast-paced world and help us feel God’s presence. I remember once, somewhere reading about an artist who was commissioned by an American business to do a great work. The artist was from Japan and he was given a huge canvas and several months to complete his work. When the person buying the painting came back to see the finished piece, he gasped. At one small corner of the canvas was a colorful bird, the rest was empty. The purchaser demanded to know why it wasn’t "filled up." The artist replied, "The bird needs room to fly." Little did the businessman know that one of the tenets of Japanese Sumi painting is that when painting a bird, you give it room to fly. Sometimes we too need room to fly, to allow for open space, prayer, a deep breath – and our world gives us little of that space. As the American understood it, time and space are nothing unless they are "filled up." Even in worship, there is a temptation is to fill up your time and mine with an hour of sound and flurry of activity and leave no time for reverent silence. In today’s reading, Paul reminds us that we need time to think about the holy things. So rather than fill up our time with commentary, I’m going to speak some of Paul’s key words and phrases from this passage and simply give you time to think on these things.
Stand firm in the Lord, my beloved. Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice. Don’t worry about anything. In everything, by prayer and with thanks let your requests be made known to God. Let the peace of God, a peace which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Think on these things:
Whatever is honorable;
Whatever is just;
Whatever is pure;
Whatever is pleasing;
Whatever is commendable;
If there is any excellence, anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in Christ, and the God of peace will be with you.
I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and being in need. I can do all things through God who strengthens me. I have been paid in full and have more than enough. God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to God’s riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever.
Amen. |
