08.20.2008

Colossians 3:15,16
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another will all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Hello!

I started this Weekly Thing last week, only to find myself distracted and unable to finish it until now when I can’t fall asleep. I hope that you’ve had a good week and that God is – as always – revealing Himself to you continually. It’s been interesting week and a half (more??) here, wrestling in prayer over many things. As if to continue the theme of my life, God has been encouraging me to be focused on Him as my provider, the One who is in control. As I was reading a book for the ladies Bible study I attend, the author talked about the Hebrew word ‘hesed.’

I’ve heard this word translated before into the English word ‘kindness,’ and various other synonyms, but the author pointed out that there are many Hebraic words in which the English translation doesn’t really get to the root of the meaning. ‘Hesed’ is really much more complex than mere ‘kindness;’ it means imparting onto another person the same sense that would be found in God’s heavenly kingdom. That’s much deeper than ‘kindness!’ In the part of the book that this is talked about, the author revealed a time in her life in which she doubted God’s ‘hesed’ for her and her family… but she also points out that despite those doubts and feeling as though God wasn’t paying attention, the truth is that God’s ‘hesed’ for us always remains and is always constant. There is no wavering of protection, provision, joy, and love in God’s kingdom… and God imparts that onto us. So this is certainly something we can take a hold of and live in our daily lives. Perhaps this is also what is wrapped up into the “peace of Christ” when Paul talks about it in his letters, saying that the peace of Christ should rule over us. What a fantastic thing to wish upon others and this is something that we can take a hold of as followers of Christ. And that is what I hope we can learn to build into our daily lives as we interact with others. Living in the city makes it hard to not get jaded and cynical towards others who are just as jaded and just as cynical. It’s hard to have a heart of compassion towards the guy who is trying to hit on you and you just want him to leave you alone (OK, so this is a female specific problem). In reflection, ‘hesed’ is hard to do. ‘Hesed’ is hard to embrace and rest in knowing God is going to take care of things when they’re rough.

What’s awesome is that God’s ‘hesed’ still doesn’t change through all of that. Hesed means imparting onto another person the same sense that would be found in God’s heavenly kingdom… and God sticks to his part of the bargain.

I’m totally blown away by that.

In love and in Him,
Your sister,
Yvonne