… and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
Summary: Loving each other as our Lord has commanded us is a risky proposition. We have to be willing to expose what is in our hearts and deal with what we find there.
If you are reading this and you left a comment yesterday, thank you! This blog is blessed with wonderful readers and commenters, yet yesterday was extra-special. Thinking about the words that were shared and the ideas offered has opened my eyes to something I have been struggling with. Your comments have been an answer to prayer. So please bear with me as we spend one more day on 2 Peter 3: 2b.
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The analogy of our heart as a bucket intrigues me. There is one more aspect of this idea that I want to explore before we move on.
The idea of our hearts spilling over when bumped makes sense. The analogy works because most of us try to guard our hearts. Sometimes when we are bumped, things spill out despite our best efforts. When that happens, what spills out might surprise us.
I learned at a young age that my bucket contained a lot of anger. So much that it sometimes scared me. I did not like it spilling out, so I worked hard to keep a lid on it. The thing that made that difficult was that sometimes the anger boiled over. Like a pot on the stove, boiling water makes steam and the steam can force open the lid. When that happened, anger sloshed out.
Yuck!
When Jesus found me, I was a mess. Frustration and anger were bottled up inside. More seemed to build up every day. Anger colored even casual conversation. It seemed to affect every area of my life. Jesus had his work cut out for him. Fortunately for me, he was both willing and able to help.
Over the years, he has filled my heart with his love. Like flushing mud out of a bucket, clear water from God’s Spirit poured in. What sloshed out was the mud. Slowly, the waters sloshing out of my heart cleared. Then something happened.
My job changed, how I spend my time changed, and the world seemed to change. Anxiety and concern started creeping back into my heart. What sloshed out now and then was not always clear water. The water in the bucket tasted sour, and that bothered me.
Then I realized I was once again keeping a lid on the bucket. More than that, I was being careful not to spill what was inside.
Imagine walking around, holding a bucket full of fear, anxiety, and concern, being careful not to spill while trying to keep a lid on the bucket. Everywhere you go, the bucket is with you. Driving the car, it sits in your lap. In the grocery store, you carry it in your arms. Even at work and at home, the bucket is there. How much work is needed to keep the bucket from spilling? Do you have any energy left for other things? Can a person balance a bucket and lid and serve God?
Jesus commanded us to love one another. Can a person do that if they are keeping a lid on their heart? No. I do not think that is possible.
This brings me to an unusual conclusion: Loving others requires an open heart. Having an open heart means keeping the lid off. What is inside is going to slosh out — constantly. If what comes out is not what we would like to see, that means we need to turn to God in repentance and prayer (2 Corinthians 7:10). Our God is willing to forgive (Ephesians 1:7).
What kind of life do we want in Christ?
Is it our job to make sure that nothing sloshes out of our bucket? Do we live with a lid in one hand and a roll of paper towels in the other?
Or …
Is it okay to live with the lid off? If I jump for joy and my heart sloshes out on those around me, is that okay? If my heart burps up some gunk from the day’s fears, is it okay if some spills on you? Will you forgive me, or is your heart full of anger, too? Is that what I am really afraid of?
Application: A fellowship that is following Christ depends on each of us loving the other.
Food for Thought: How do we live with an open heart in a hostile world?
Thank you for today’s post Jeff; I’ll just say that reading your words brought on a lot of memories and emotions for me, and I am grateful that you shared.
Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
How do we live with an open heart in a hostile world?
This question makes me think about how Christ came into this hostile world and even though He already knew what was in store for Him, accepted it, and proceeded to give His life. Christ did this because His foundation was in the Lord, and not in the world. His faith was/is in God, not man. I think to be able to successfully live with an open heart in a hostile world, and not get beaten down, is to understand that these hurts are temporary, and that they can be lifted from us by God.
Psalm 34:18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Also, some of these things that happen(ed) to us are a part of our transformation as well.
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
I think about that lid analogy! So many times in my life I have “resorted” to that because of fear (and a bit of immaturity). I have tried to keep a “lid on it” so that I didn’t get hurt, or hurt others feelings. In the end that lid just served as a separation from others and God. I believe I am able to have a more open heart today because I understand that my fears are natural, but unnecessary. There is nothing anyone in this world can do to me that God cannot undo. I have to remind myself of this so that I can keep the lid off.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Good words, Chris!
Trusting God to get us through the hurt is a real test of faith.
This question makes me think of the sermon on the mount.
(Major paraphrase)
Be a lighted lamp, do not be hidden but be seen.
The law isn’t just about actions, it’s about where your heart is. Don’t sin in your heart, but make things right with your brother.
Only make oaths that you will keep, otherwise don’t promise it.
Turn the other cheek and give your coat also.
Pray for those who persecute you.
Give in secret.
Pray for God’s ears not man’s.
Forgive.
Fast in earnest, not for attention.
Don’t worry, seek God’s kingdom…..
What better instructions for living with an open heart? And yes, the world is still hostile but give beyond expectations and pray for even those who hurt you. He never claims it is easy or that you’ll stop being hurt.
Thank you, A.
Nice paraphrase. The only confusing part was praying for God’s ears. (What’s wrong with God’s ears???) Then I figured it out. 🙂
One way is to put on the armor of God daily,..with all the arrows flying around at us,..having an open heart without any armor would surely be pierced,..the breastplate of righteousness may be a heavy load to carry but it is a necessary one to bear,..not unless your like David,..he didn’t need no breastplate,..he went out in the name of the Lord and conquered,..just as we should,..God has given us all the weapons of war we need,..His Word,..and with that we have the capability to slay our giants with love if we so choose,..love conquers evil every time,..
Taking the lid off of the past was a must for me,..there was soo much crap swooshing around in my bucket,..and with the lid on,..my life seemed to stink,..it wasn’t until I met Jesus that I was able to take the lid off of the past and let the aroma of Jesus fill the bucket,..it’s like whatever was in this bucket got transformed into some pretty good smelling stuff now,..even when it does get spilt out,..and it has taken time for all this crap in my bucket to be transformed into what is in here today,..without the lid on this bucket there seems to be a lot more clarity to what’s in here,..
As with the others,..thanks Jeff,..keep it up!
Thank you, John.
I appreciate the encouragement and the reference to Ephesians 6. This is a great application of that passage.
I also appreciate you sharing your testimony about how Jesus has dealt with the stuff in your heart. The aroma of Christ is very sweet!
There is an aspect in which we must protect our heart. Proverbs 4: 23.
Last night I turned off the television early and went to my room and started reading a book about a missionary couple that spent about sixty years giving their lives away in Peru for the cause of the gospel. It was so much more edifying than the news. I felt better. Was praying more fervently and had a more loving attitude. There is some truth to garbage in, garbage out. Sometimes we have to fill our bucket with the right things. Philippians 4: 8 – 9.
Thank you, Rich.
Good verses! I added links for ease of access.
Welcome to the Letters Club, R.
Good point. If I can change our analogy from a bucket to a walled city…… then perhaps it’s better for there to be guards checking everything that comes in (that it is good) and they can come out again freely (this is perhaps the most important aspect of what I consider an open heart), rather than letting in too many things (or perhaps just lax security coming in) and have to guard what comes out.
Not a perfect analogy, but I enjoy the pictures.
12-09-2021, 2 Peter 3:2b VI, How do we live with an open heart in a hostile world?
As believers today I believe we may spend a lot of time looking for something we already have. We continue to focus on fighting a battle that has already been won rather than enjoying the fruits of the victory. Jesus told Pilate, My kingdom is not of this world. But now my kingdom is from another place. We are called live IN this but not OF this world. We know that our human nature was nailed to the cross with Jesus, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin, it is powerless over us. Our relationship to sin has been broken, we have been made alive to God and given unbroken fellowship with Him in Jesus. We no longer belong to this world and are hated by this world just as Jesus is today, and have the power to live in this world without being part of it in our hearts.
John 18:36, Romans 6:6, Romans 6:11, John 15:19, John 17:14-16
Jesus tells us, Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you. As believers, the kingdom of God is within us. The kingdom of God is God’s spiritual reign in our life, the power to effect an inner moral change.
We are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom we also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. Our bodies are to be His temple and and we find peace as we submit to His rule over our lives.
Matthew 6:33, Luke 17:20-21, Ephesians 2:19-22, 1 Corinthians 3:16
There is no place we can go and God will not be there. He is always in us and always around us. Know this truth and focus all we are on living in His will over that which is crucified. Ignore the madness of the world around us, as it will only rob us of our blessings from God. We will never get today back. Do not waste it being concerned for, trying to understand or finding any common ground with this world around us through compromise. Know we are imperfect beings seeking to serve our perfect God, and stop allowing our flesh to focus on our flaws. We will become perfect when we leave this earth. Focus on living in God, for God and enjoy a growing relationship each day.
Psalm 139:7, Colossians 1:17, Matthew 18:20, Joshua 1:9
Ron,
You have covered some interesting ground today. I like the point about looking for something that we already have. That is an important point. I think Satan probably has figured out that it is a good strategy to distract us on that point.
You mention submitting to Jesus. Very important! If we do this one thing, everything else falls into place. Everything.
Then you point us to the gift of NOW. The moment that we live in is a precious bubble of time. That is our gift from God. Yesterday is gone forever, tomorrow never comes. This moment is all we have. ” “Don’t waste it” is good advice.
My mind works differently than most. So sometimes words play a little trick on me. How do we survive with an open heart in this world? How does someone make it without any harm to their heart now days. How to thrive as a Christian sharing Jesus in this battlefield.
Some might say the best defense is more offense. Train hard, equipping yourself with everything you need, gathering as much information as possible, having backup and support, ect…. … so many ways to help increase your chances in war. Taking the battle to your enemy, safe from the other side and increase Gods side. Children are like arrows shot outwards. Knowing when and how to strike first. Some people don’t know that battles are being fought. Having pride knowing who you are serving being boastful of our Lord and sharing His love. Never giving up or surrendering. I relate war to things often.
How to thrive as a Christian in this battlefield for souls? Learn from Jesus.
I use to be amazed at what some people are capable of doing and accomplishing in war. I thought that those people were the greatest Heros. Then I learned and read about people going out in this hostel world to share Jesus to everyone. How many horrible things they experienced with and open heart. They are a new definition of hero to me.
A you made me smile with your comment about the wall and guards. R nice for you to join our side. Maybe after we succeed with Ron then we can have some R&R.