"Whatever" - Tony Manley

“…whatever is true…” Phil.4:8

“…forgive whatever grievances…” Col.3:13

Two phrases with one word -whatever…"smart aleck" or all inclusive?!

Short phrases but surrounded with principles to life and freedom?! 

    

For whatever reason these phrases are as far as I seem to get in these two passages of scriptures as the Holy Spirit calls me into yet another tutoring session!  Yes, I think in teaching terms pretty much all the time! 

    

Let’s take the “whatever is true” phrase.  I truly believe God was being intentional about thinking on truth as the first step in right thinking.  So much of thinking is not true/truth.  A mind driven by fear, worry, anxiety, anger, revenge, regret – is not thinking on truth.

    

The “forgive whatever grievances” – another golden phrase that sounds so sweet and religious!  C. S. Lewis wrote, “Forgiveness is a lovely idea, until I have someone or something to forgive.”  A heart that harbors hurt, offenses toward or from someone, or even the plotting of revenge, or the hope of “bad” for some one is not forgiveness and will be incapable of dressing in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience –the rest of the Colossians passage surrounding the “forgive whatever grievances” nugget!

    

Don’t you just hate it when you want so badly to be given more spiritual meat or you think you are ready for that steak, only to find out you are spiritually lactose intolerant – the milk disagreeing with your heart!  I believe these two principles of scripture – thinking truth and forgiving are being intentionally and unintentionally lived out in our hearts as believers.  The red flags in my heart are – insecurity, fear, lack of desire/power for God’s word/ways, relational difficulties, anger, “hurtness”…you get the picture!  Hopefully, someone else can crawl with me under the bus at this point!!!

    

Charles Swindoll recently stated, “If I weren’t a believer, the number one reason I wouldn’t want to become one is the way I see them treating each other.”  Wow…could it be that, as a pastor, he is seeing and experiencing the poor thinking and unforgiveness that the chosen, holy, and dearly loved people of God are living as “repellers” and “resisters” of God’s heart for us?

   

Jesus knew how hard we would struggle with thinking truth and extending forgiveness.  His heart in His prayer in the garden was for unity and truth for us as believers.  Thank God that He is so specific with the Word and work to be done in me!  Now, pray for me to move from milkshakes to steaks!