I just finished reading an email sent to me from someone dear who has spent a lot of time and energy attempting to convince me that emotions are never dependable and furthermore have no 'place' in proper growth - or at least this is what I think the conclusion was supposed to be. And in the midst of this - perhaps as a root of the whole line up was that love is a principle. Faith is a principle. Emotion may 'happen' but it cannot be depended upon. It also seemed to be the concenses of the writer of the emails that anything of value was a 'principle', if I understood it.
If I concur with that line then is Peace also a principle? Perhaps I need to better understand the meaning of principle before I make a final intellectual decision concerning the information I just received.
But for the time being, being tired of trying to follow the intellectual 'rabbit chasing' (or so I sometimes consider it by the time I get done purusing this kind of materials) I wander back to wonder more about this concept I have been learning more about, called 'Peace'.
I recall some of the Bible word pictures of Peace being like a river.
Peace is called something that Jesus 'gives' us, therefore it is a gift.
True Peace is an 'inside job'.
God's kind of Peace is not dependent upon external circumstances.
True Peace combined with Genuine Joy enhances the maturity process.
Oh, wait a minute. If true Peace is a principle, does that mean that Genuine JOY is also a principle as well?
OK. Just what is a principle? That sounds like a good question to begin with.
For a start, here is one dictionary's defintion.
PRINCIPLE, n. [L. principium, beginning.]1. In a general sense, the cause, source or origin of any thing; that from which a thing proceeds; as the principle of motion; the principles of action.
Someone wrote ". . . Peace, harmony, affection, and happiness should be perseveringly cherished every day, until these precious things abide in the hearts of those who compose the family. The plant of love must be carefully nourished, else it will die. Every good principle must be cherished if we would have it thrive in the soul."
Does that mean that peace is one of the good principles or the result of one of them? Hmm.
The question was asked: "Do I cherish the principle that "the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace"? [James 3:17,18.]"
But in that question 'peace' sounded like the 'soil' in which other 'fruit' comes from. But then it also sounds as though those who 'make peace' have something to do with the fruit of peace.
Here is another thought along the line of 'Peace' and 'Principle'. "If Christ is the abiding principle in the heart, you may read purity, refinement, peace, and love in the features. "
In that thought Peace is definitely a result not a cause. The principle cause, sounds to me, is Jesus.
Here is another 'tidbit' on this concept of 'peace' and 'principle'.
The peace of God must rule in our hearts. Christ must be in us a living, working principle. . . .
I suppose this goes along with the title given to Jesus as the 'Prince of Peace'. When Jesus is in my heart that I will have His peace also. Sounds fair enough.
For now, here is one last 'quotable quote' along this line.
What we need is the peace principle which shall control our spirit and our life and character after the Christlife He has given as His example.
According to that thought Peace is indeed a principle.
The principle of Peace, then, is the origin, source or cause.
What does God's kind of peace cause? What does it originate?
That sounds like another 'topic' variation for another time.
Bringer of Peace.
1 comment:
Emotions are like the gauges on the dashboard of a car. They indicate the condition of your engine and your vehicle. To say that your emotions cannot be trusted is like saying you cannot trust the gauges in your car. If you cannot trust the indicators in your car how are you going to drive effectively?
It is true that you could drive a car without any gauges but it is much less convenient. I used to fly a plane that had very minimal instruments and no gas gauge. You could only look a the wire from a float sticking out of the top of the gas cap in front of the windshield to guess how much gas you had left. That arrangement was a bit risky when depending on having enough gas to keep you airborne. It worked but there are a lot better ways to fly.
Living in right relation to your emotions is even more important. If you are constantly fighting against them it is like trying to suppress or manipulate the indicators on the dash - not a very good idea. Being healthy and more importantly mature means that you listen to your emotions, acknowledge them for what they are and respond to them in ways that respects your own heart. To do otherwise is destructive and damaging to the heart that God placed within us and an affront to the God who designed for us to live genuinely from our heart in relationship with Him and each other.
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