Our Trappings

Our Trappings...

by David Brenneman 

‭‭"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,  may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:14-21.

Dwelling in our hearts.  When I think of dwelling, my mind goes it's plural, dwellings.  From there I think of a place to stay...a house that becomes a home. 

We all long for a place called home that has specific things that make it our 'place'.  We take years to add and remove things in order to create our idea of a peaceful place to exist while here on Earth.

Trappings.  The dictionary defines trappings as "the outward signs, features, or objects associated with a particular situation, role, or thing.

"I had the trappings of success"".

Trappings is a way to describe your environment in which you live.  

What are you intentionally including in your house you call a home that includes Jesus?  So many people are hung up on keeping up with the Jones's.  Keeping up with people they call friends or acquaintances. Spending money they don't have to impress people they really don't like was how someone once said it.

When you DO invite someone into your home, do they know Jesus lives there?  When they enter your family room. What's the center of the attention in the room? The television or chairs that point people to face people?  Something to think about.  

To Jesus, worldly trappings meant nothing.  He was and is about people.  His ministry was about reaching the lost. His ministry, through the Spirit in the Church, is still about reaching out to the lost in this world.  The aim being to show everyone that He's not willing or wanting anyone to perish but that all would come to Him for salvation. 

Those who come to Him for salvation, He's wanting to cultivate a vibrant relationship with.  One where there's less of each of us and more of Him in our life.  

In our home, there are things you might notice.  Scripture on the walls, framed, to remind ourselves and those who visit who lives here.  

For us, we don't have a television in the living room. 

For myself, I get up early to be with Jesus in the morning. Get myself ready, get my coffee and spend time with Jesus in reading and writing.  Early mornings are peaceful and quiet. No thoughts of the day crowding in. Just the gentle sound of the cookoo clock on the wall.  

When you're intentional about time with Jesus...guess what?  Jesus shows up.  Jesus said that He would and He does.  

My drive to work in interlaced with prayer.  Jesus is there with me, so why not use the time wisely?

During my time at work my goal is to do my best for Him, not any earthly employer.  Colossians 3:23-24 says that I don't work for anyone here on Earth.  In another passage that I believe is relevant, "He that knows the good he ought to be doing and does not do it, sins."

Within you...is a house that's home not only to you but the Spirit of God if indeed you are saved.  Jesus takes up residence.  The question is...are you giving Him full reign in going anywhere in your life?  Are you foolishly locking rooms that you're putting parts of your life that you're not giving to Him yet?

Here's the crux of it all. Are you intentional or even interested in what makes Jesus happy?  Do you put what He wants ahead of what you want?  

I have read many meme's on this one: "Many people claim that God doesn't talk to them. Truth is, He does, but they've already decided that they aren't going to do what He says anyway".

Some people invite Jesus into their lived as their Savior but not as their Lord.  Can't have one without the other.  He’s not someone hired to save you so that you can continue to go do what you want.  

How serious is this?  My Dear Reader...it's as serious as the Savior Jesus Christ who endured beatings, whippings, lashings, mocking, humiliation...in your place.  Everything we deserved for our sins He took upon Himself.  

Should that not mean everything to us?  

Is that thing we elevate higher than we do Jesus really in its rightful place in our hearts?

Are we not blending into the world a bit too much rather than standing out in it?  

Don't you think that in all those times Jesus got away to be with His Father, that you were His reason for praying?  Interesting thought isn't it?  

As a line from a song says "while He was on the cross I was on His mind".  As another says "He took my place on calvary".

If your physical life had an incident where in the nick of time someone saved your life...wouldn't you be so grateful as to find out everything about that person?  Try to find some way to show gratitude to them for all that they did?

Do the trappings of your life show that gratitude?  Is this prayer in Ephesians relating to you?  

It amazes me how many people calling themselves Christians entertain idols without knowing that is what they are.  It doesn't matter if it's my definition of idol...what does the Bible say?  Do I have any?  I know that I do.  Throughout my life the Spirit has been kicking them out.  I can't kick yours out for you. 

Our heart isn't home to just us.  If we're in Christ, the Spirit of Christ is in us. The makeover of us began when we invited Him in as Savior and Lord.  We handed Him the keys. We signed over the deed to us to Him.  We gave Him the power of attorney to do everything on our behalf.  How else can it be said?

Take a look at the life you're living. 

Does it show you or those closest to you that Jesus is your friend? Your Lord and Savior?   Scripture says we are not our own, we were bought with a price, the shed blood of Jesus Christ.  

Do yourself a favor, when the Spirit prompts you to do what needs done in tossing things from your heart...join Him n doing so.  

When the Spirit prompts you to spend more time with Jesus...do it.

When your heart aches He is there for you.  When your heart wants to rejoice in Christ, He's there for you. 

Your trappings won't be.  Things aren't going to make you happy in Jesus.  

Be in prayer.  Talk to Jesus.  Let go of whatever He says needs to go.  

Of Israel it was written in many places...they honor Me with their lips but their hearts are far from Me.  

Be careful that this isn't you as well. 

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.