Bold and beautiful. Without editing. In five minutes. That’s how we’re supposed to write on Five-Minute Friday.
So.
Go!
It’s not a word I use much.
Relevant.
But Lisa Jo is at the Relevant Conference. So that word is on her mind.
I had to look it up.
And then I wondered if it was even used in the Bible.
I found it used once in the Message.
Yikes!
Don’t be flip with the sacred. Banter and silliness give no honor to God. Don’t reduce holy mysteries to slogans. In trying to be relevant, you’re only being cute and inviting sacrilege. ~Matthew 7:6 (Message)
I looked up some of the other words.
What a sacred responsibility we have when we weave our words.
I don’t ever want to sacrifice the sacred in an attempt to be relevant.
I don’t ever want to be flip or cute or make light of the holy.
I don’t ever want to seem disrespectful or encourage others to be disrespectful.
But holy laughter, holy joy, holy fun–I think He delights in that.
And it’s relevant to sadness and depression that can weigh so heavy and drag so low.
The word is Latin rooted in connections–important to a matter. And also has the idea to raise up, to lighten, to relieve.
Sounds a bit like encouragement to me.
And it strikes me–I’ve been bathed in that during the last few weeks.
That’s relevant.
Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on each other’s nerves you don’t snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out. ~1 Thessalonians 5:12-14 (Message)
Stop!
Excellent! I love the post on revelant. That you found in the Message and then looked up. I think I feel the same way you do about never wanting to take anything sacred relevantly. WOW! great scritptures to concide with. Thank you
Blessings
Hi Beth. I love how the Message gives a new light. I lingered over “Don’t reduce holy mysteries to slogans.” And then “Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. And the admonition to not snap at each other when we get on each other’s nerves. Not *if* but *when.* There’s some whole posts on just those thoughts.
Thanks for stopping in.
This really made me think about the word relevant. This is definitely going to give me something to think about. Thanks
Thanks so much for coming by, Seashore. This was a challenging prompt, wasn’t it?
Only you could make such a difficult prompt into such a positive post. Well done. I’m still chewing on this one – don’t know if I’ll do it or not.
Hope you’re doing okay, friend.
This was a toughie! Doing good, Diana. Wouldn’t mind seeing you for a hug, though. 🙂
Laughter is always relevant, especially in the hard times, which I know you’re walking through now. Thinking of you every day.
Love to you, Megan.
Very good reminders of that we do need to pay attention to what we write as well as say. Always we must be reverent.
I love this post. 🙂