I wish I was young enough to get this tattooed on my arm
October 24, 2016
This is the second time it's happened to me after hearing a sermon at church--Ada Bible Church. It would be too easy to nod my head in assent at what Pastor Jeff Manion taught, talk about it with my wife on the way home and then get involved during the week in projects around home. My heart is saying "don't forget this" and "work to make this part of my life."
The sermon was part seven of a series from Colossians with the title "The New You." Part of me says I'm way too old for a new me. Then I feel my chest on the left side and find that my heart is still beating. Nope, I'm not done yet. I'm still alive. Jesus says there can still be a new me in the spiritual sense.
The teaching was based on Colossians 3:12-14 and it involves the way that Christians interact with each other and with non-Christians. Others have irritated and frustrated me and I know I've been the same way towards them. How do you escape that? I've tried on my own and the results have been less than mixed.
According to the text for the sermon, I am to adopt in my heart compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience in my interactions with others. Doing this requires power from the Holy Spirit.
But, I need a constant reminder. That's where the tattoo comes in. If I was in my twenties, I'd consider having these five attributes put on my arm, so I could always see them. Then when I'm in the restaurant with my wife and the waitress is really show, I'd be able to quickly look on my arm.
There was one other sermon where I felt the same tattoo urge. It was from the first few verses of Ephesians about our identity in Christ. The pastor reduced it to a few words, Remember Who You Are. I am an adopted son of God. My identity doesn't come from the one who threw me off the train, but the one who picked me up.
I look forward to this week.