Tent Raising

.  Folks already know this, but no tent stands on its own; it is supported by some sort of metal or sturdy plastic pole apparatus … right?  Picture the tent frame that enables it to stand; the poles fit together in a particular way to make for a strong tent—one that will not collapse or blow away.

The tent poles represent what’s involved in receiving from God—how communication with God happens, growing us, causing us to flourish, and experience joy.   For ease of simplicity, let’s just say there are four main poles that are involved in hearing from God:

(1) One pole symbolizes our salvation

We make a conscious choice to follow Jesus, and

in Jesus, we have been made right with God

         Paul called this ‘being made right’ justification

For more on justification, read MB, Guilt, then Justified:  http://pastorwoman.com/ReadArchive.aspx?id=557

(2) Second pole is the work of the Holy Spirit

         When the Holy Spirit makes his home in us, we are

         changed from the inside out – his work in us is

                                    ongoing.  Paul called this process of being changed,

of our becoming more like Jesus …

         sanctification

(3) God’s words (the Bible) – If we are not just playing around, if we are sincere about hearing God’s voice, then we must read, study, learn and memorize God’s words, as they are an integral part of receiving from God, and also in our knowing the words to pray to God . . . are you hungry for God’s words?  Jeremiah 15.16

(4) Discipline of thinking … Ah, the ‘d’ word … not in things we must do, but taking a look at the discipline, or lack thereof, in our minds, our thoughts.  When I was seeking God this morning, the symbolism of the tent and its frame came to me, and as I sketched a tent on my paper, I realized that three of the four poles are God’s work, but if the tent is to be sound, one is my part -- discipline variously applied  -- but specifically in the area of my mind. in my thoughts.

Can I ask, do you ever stop and ask yourself, ‘how is my thinking—is it valuable, productive, or as Paul wrote, ‘true, lovely, admirable’, or on the other hand ~ fearful, worried, condemning or something else that is just not of good report? 

Take a few minutes to characterize the nature of your thoughts on a given day.  Is it possible you might need to heed Paul’s words to take every thought captive?

To be sure, if you are going to raise or pitch a tent that will stand, this piece is critical or your tent will be compromised.  [being interpreted-if you want to receive from God, hear his voice, you must be able to discern what, among the myriad of thoughts that run through your head, might be from him or not … and begin to quiet the ones that are not from him] 

Huh, isn’t it interesting that Paul’s learned trade was that of a tentmaker?