The past three days our family was tent camping at a beautiful campground located ninety minutes north of our home. We enjoyed a few days off, a different pace of life and the joy of being together. The tent sites were located in a grove of tall pine trees which sway and sigh in the late summer breeze.
Whether we are roughing it in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area primitive camping or going easier and enjoying some amenities in a campground, there are certain things we tolerate. On the first days of camping we carefully pick out every pine needle and piece of ash that has landed on our supper while cooking over an open fire. By the last day of camping we only notice the big lumps that have fallen in and tolerate the smaller stuff.
Also, after a day or two of camping we notice things that were there the day before, but our appreciation for the beauty of nature, we cannot tolerate litter. Around our campsite we notice and pick up things we would overlook on our city sidewalks, but cannot pass by in a more natural setting. Gum wrappers, twisty ties and cigarette butts get picked up and either burned in the fire or packed out of the campground.
When your life is given to loving and following Jesus Christ, a different level of tolerance occurs. Jesus Christ is making something beautiful of your life. Things that were part of you that went unnoticed you no longer allowed to litter your life. The blemishes that gossip, anger and any characteristic that does not resemble Jesus are picked up and thrown away.
Also, when you love Jesus with all your life you are able to tolerate comments that used to needle you. It is only the big lumps that need addressing and the little stuff is barely noticed.
Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Whether we are roughing it in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area primitive camping or going easier and enjoying some amenities in a campground, there are certain things we tolerate. On the first days of camping we carefully pick out every pine needle and piece of ash that has landed on our supper while cooking over an open fire. By the last day of camping we only notice the big lumps that have fallen in and tolerate the smaller stuff.
Also, after a day or two of camping we notice things that were there the day before, but our appreciation for the beauty of nature, we cannot tolerate litter. Around our campsite we notice and pick up things we would overlook on our city sidewalks, but cannot pass by in a more natural setting. Gum wrappers, twisty ties and cigarette butts get picked up and either burned in the fire or packed out of the campground.
When your life is given to loving and following Jesus Christ, a different level of tolerance occurs. Jesus Christ is making something beautiful of your life. Things that were part of you that went unnoticed you no longer allowed to litter your life. The blemishes that gossip, anger and any characteristic that does not resemble Jesus are picked up and thrown away.
Also, when you love Jesus with all your life you are able to tolerate comments that used to needle you. It is only the big lumps that need addressing and the little stuff is barely noticed.
Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
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