seasoned with salt

technically i'm supposed to be studying for my biology exam that i have in three hours, but i thought this was worth writing about before i get into all of that. it shouldn't be too hard anyway. and besides, there's something motivating about being a part of an online community such as this; something that makes me really want to share what God shows me day by day. maybe actually recording it will be encouraging to others, and additionally encourage me to be more aware of God's hand in my life.

i'm taking a communications class at asu west, on account that i'm majoring in communication studies. already, i'm absolutely loving the major. everything discussed in that class is something i'm completely interested in, and what makes it so cool is that it's all directly applicable to life now. i don't have to wait to get into a career to apply new knowledge and insight. anything concerning communications can be implemented the next time i communicate with something, which could be that very second when i consider what my nonverbal communication is saying. a lot of times the things my professor says remind me of things i've read in scripture before. honestly, i think you have to have a relationship with Jesus to truly understand effective communication, at least to the capacity that we are capable of as human beings, fallen sinners. which is one reason i'm not hesitant to speculate that my communications professor is a believer, but that's beside the point.

we finished up a discussion about the importance of verbal communication today; why words are so important in our culture and in relationships. one thing language can accomplish is encouragement. language and words hold this power to build someone up or destroy someone. my mind went to the bible verse that says, "let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers" (ephesians 4:29). or, as the nasb says, "let no unwholesome word proceed your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear." [the first reference was from the nkjv.]

the words we say should not be things that are doing to destroy or corrupt. what we say should build people up, even the people we aren't directly talking to. if someone was to overhear my conversation with someone else, would they find it encouraging and kind, or would they become annoyed? is there a supernatural quality to my speech, or do i just talk like everyone else? i would hope it's the former, but if i had to be completely honest, i would have to say i tend towards the latter far more often.

we are supposed to love others. relationships are pretty much the foundation to life; we need to be, first off, in a right relationship with God, and then build healthy relationships with the people around us. and since communication is so central to relationships, and language is a fundamental part of communication, the language we use, the things we say, should be intended to strengthen relationships. i'm reminded of something donald miller said in his book blue like jazz: "i realized, late that night, that other people had feelings and fears and that my interactions with them actually meant something, that i could make them happy or sad in the way that i associated with them. not only could i make them happy or sad, but i was responsible for the way i interacted with them." as much as we may try to convince ourselves that "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me," they can, and they do, more often than we like to admit. what do my interactions with others say about my relationship with God? do they testify to God's grace and love?

i'm reminded of another verse in scripture: "let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt" (colossians 4:6). as i think about it all now, i realize that there is a correlation between the words we choose and our status as peacemakers. last week at the bible study i'm a part of, we discussed this verse in matthew, this concept of being a peacemaker, and what it means. i find it difficult to pin down and define exactly what this means, but i would venture to say that our speech being seasoned with salt, our words being edifying, has a lot to do with it. additionally, i think our purity of heart (as discussed in the same passage in matthew) is reflected through our speech, or at least in part.

i'm sure this entire entry was just a rambling mess. but i at least wanted to organize my thoughts in some form, and this blog seems like it will be a good outlet to do so. i know it's made me think more about how it applies to me personally, and it convicts me of what needs to change in my own life. is my speech "seasoned with salt"? are the words i say encouraging? do they build others up? can other people see that in me?

it's what i pray for. something good to meditate on.

and now i should probably do some more studying for that biology exam.

blessed are the pure in heart

Matt 5.8
"Blessed are the pure in heart..."

We talked about this verse last night at our Thursday night Bible study at the Blackfords'. There were some great ideas being tossed around and discussed. Nicole Blackford had even done a word study on what it meant to "see God" (the second part of the verse).

What are the key words? (observation)
What is the context? (observation)

• Key words would include blessed, pure, heart, and see.
• Context has been heart issues that are blessed by God both in the present as well as in the future (to an even fuller extent).

What does it mean to be pure in heart? (interpretation)
Is this a characteristic? (interpretation)
Is this simple external actions? (interpretation)
Does "heart" refer to the Jewish understanding of what the "heart" meant, or the Greek understanding? (interpretation)

• Pure: undefiled, determined, dedicated, whole
• Heart (to a Jew): the seat of reasoning (motivation), not emotion
• Heart (to a Greek): the seat of emotion
  
• Pure in heart: undefiled and determined motivation
• That answers the question whether it is just external actions or a characteristic as we see the meaning of "pure in heart."
  

What does it take for me, personally, to be pure in heart? (application)

• ?

"...for they shall see God."

What are the rewards of being pure in heart? (observation)
What does the word "see" mean? (observation)
What does it mean to "see God"? (interpretation)
Does it refer to present life or future? (interpretation)

• The reward is being able to "see God"
• As per Nicole's word study, "see" refers to experiencing, viewing, understanding
• 1 Corinthians 13.12 "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then we will see face to face..."
• We see God through experience, deepening faith, and the understanding of His Word
• We, therefore, do get part of the blessing now, as when we are motivated purely to glorify Him here on earth, we do get to experience His presence, provision, and protection, and, therefore, get to know Him more
• But here on earth, I only catch a glimpse of His glory, as Abraham did as he hid in the cleft of the rock and God's glory passed by him
• If I look into a mirror, but the image is dark, I can still kind of make out the image, maybe even some detail, but to truly realize the real thing, not just the image, it takes turning around and looking into the face of the subject of the image
• We will realize the full impact of His glory only when we see Him face to face on His return or our death; anything we experience now, even with how incredible it is, is but a slight glimpse of His true majesty which we, believers, will get to experience one day

chances to shut up and listen

The LORD has given me many opportunities this week to just shut up and listen to others. The listening wasn't always fun as one student told me I'd offended him by something that I had said a few weeks ago, but at least he was willing to let me know so I could apologize. I had another student whine, complain, and argue with me. I'd have to say that I was terribly sinful in my reaction, and I was not glorifying God nor being a peacemaker during that exchange. I got the chance to apologize to her this week, too, but she argued with me that she didn't think she'd done anything wrong, just me. I took it and didn't say anything to defend myself. If you know me at all, you know how hard that would be for me being as arrogant as I tend to be. I asked the LORD to humble me, break me, give me opportunities to be a peacemaker and represent His name. It hurts, just sitting there and taking it; it flies against everything the flesh tells you to do; but how glorified is He when I defend myself in my flesh? How honoring am I to Him when I make it about me? We have a great God who listens and does incredible things. Are you expecting it? Am I? When I look into the mirror (Scripture), am I truly looking intently in order to see His reflection so I could be transformed into that image, the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God? Take a look at ii cor 3.18-4.4 to see where I got that terminology. He is a great God who wishes to reveal Himself to a world veiled to the truth of His Gospel because of the god of this world/age. He not only wants to reveal Himself to us, but to then transform us into that image and reflect Himself even further through us as vessels. What a great privilege and responsibility! Who am I reflecting: my fleshly self or my glory-radiating King on high?