I don’t like paying attention to people who are agitators. These people are miserable, often anonymous, and want to drag others in to their misery. Most often, they complain and complain, they start problems, and they quietly slink off after the mob forms. Most of the time, they have little to no emotional investment in the problems they cause (note the word investment), because they’re not willing to lift a finger to make the problems they point out (and cause, quite often) any better. They’re never happy, never satisfied, always looking for a pot to stir, and, often, drag many of us in to said pot. What do we do when so many are like this? What do we do when we see that the world around us is not as it should be? Should we fly in to a panic, burn down buildings, contact our Senator, see the manager? I’d say no (though, after being still in God, if He leads you, some of these may be a viable option).
What then do we do? When our emotions are stirred, and we feel angry, frightened, or sad? Do we stampede with the rest of the flock? Again, no. We should go to the Shepherd. In a flock of sheep, the Shepherd, if he has the trust of the sheep, can calm the flock pretty quickly, whether there’s a severe storm, or fire, or predators, or any such disaster. And so it is with our Shepherd, Jesus. If we know Him, whatever we face, He can calm us down and quiet the unrest of our souls. This is where peace beyond understanding comes from, knowing He is there. Following Jesus never promises an easy life (to quote the Princess Bride, “Life is pain, anyone who says otherwise is selling something), but it promises a full and abundant life, because we are led through it all by Jesus, and at the end He will be there. He Himself shouldered our burdens, He suffered in His life, He was tempted, as we are, though He did not sin, and He suffered and died for our rebellion so that we may live, forever with Him. The Shepherd understands us, knows each by name. There is security, peace, comfort, and quiet for your soul at His side. Are you tired of anger, anxiety, and complaint? Come back to the flock, and sit at the Shepherd’s side. He knows exactly what is needed to quiet your soul, and He shall do just that. Galatians 5:13-25 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
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