Some Emotion Required Part 1
Being emotionally involved with God and His word is imperatively important. All too often we have the tendency to get in the ditch on one side of the faith road or the other. We have those who show very little emotion and those who are emotionally overwhelmed.
I understand people are where they are but change is required for healthy growth. Our emotions are to be used in the worshiping and serving God as a heart response to His goodness. Emotions express what we believe to be true. They are an avenue to inspire and produce enthusiasm, passion and strength for the pursuit.
Trying to serve God without an emotional connection will lead to boredom and eventually quitting. Although emotions are vitally important they are not supposed to be the sole source of being sustained in this life. Those who are emotionally controlled have the tendency to be up or down based upon the circumstances around them. When things are going good they are good and when things are bad they reflect that emotionally.
There is an important balance that needs to be found and cultivated in our lives. First of all let’s define the difference between facts and truth. Facts are generally connected to this natural world and define to us what appears to be final. Truth is what God is and what He has determined to be the final word on the subject. Just because things are factually against you doesn’t mean it has the final say so. Psalms 119:89 says for ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. God’s word is the only thing forever settled. We have the privilege of allowing this to be the final say in our life.
The emotional realm can be trained to respond according to the word. There can be rejoicing when others say you should be crying, peace when others are fretting. Our emotions have been trained by observation and information. If this has been done without the word then it can be wrong. An example of this can be seen in; Matthew 8:23-26 which reads; When he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. Behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. His disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. He saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
Notice the difference between Jesus and the disciples, they were frantic and fearful and Jesus calm and peaceful. Although He was calm when He dealt with His disciples there was passion and fire in His voice. Jesus was emotionally compelled concerning the things of the Father. He was not emotionally complacent but fervent in everything He did. What we see from these verses is the importance of our emotions being nurtured and trained by faith. What God has determined to be forever settled in heaven.
Truth acted upon will make freedom a reality in the lives of people. A good example of this would be when someone sinned and felt guilty because their action. Freedom from the emotional bondage of guilt can be experienced by acting on the truth of 1 John 1:9 which says. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. According to the normal training of most people guilt should be a prolonged experience and therefore suffering emotionally is expected. This is not the way God wants His children to live He prefers a healthy emotional response to circumstances of life based upon His word.
Pastor James