One of the definitions of Static is “lacking in movement, action, or change, especially in a way viewed as undesirable or uninteresting” (dictionary.com here and following). Weekends tend to be fantastic times for testing the validity of this definition. Newton’s First Law of Motion states that a body at rest will tend to stay at rest unless acted upon by an outside force. This pretty much describes me after a long hard day, a tough and stressful week, or even just a challenging workout. I really don’t want to get off of the couch for much of anything. Like my dog, Maizie (pictured above), I am not going anywhere! Occasionally my wife takes on the role of that “outside force,” encouraging me to complete this or that task.
This is often true of my spiritual life as well. I sometimes find myself zombified by the demands of life in an harried society; or I allow the endless drone of countless binge-watched shows to turn my brain to mush.
Newton’s law also reminds me of my sleep habits. My “normal” routine finds me out of bed at 5:30 am to let the dogs out. When all of the stars properly align I spend the next hour and a half reading the Word and writing. I love those days, but that doesn’t make it any easier to avoid spending that hour and a half in the sack. A body at rest!
Another definition of Static is “angry or critical talk or behavior.” I’m sure we have all, at one time or another, been on the receiving end of someone’s static. It’s never pleasant. So I have no idea why I would ever give anyone else static, but I have done so. And as much as I try to be kind and nonjudgmental I still have a propensity to criticize. I have learned, however, to keep my judgments to myself most of the time. But it remains disturbing to me that I find myself in that position at all.
Paul summed it up thusly: “For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself'” (Galatians 5:14 ESV). First John 4:7-9 says, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God an knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him” (ESV).
Still another definition of Static is “(of an electrical charge) having gathered on or in an object that cannot conduct a current.” For me, this definition pulls the previous two together in the spiritual realm. You see, Jesus said, “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8 ESV).
We are spiritual beings. And while our physical body does contain electrical charges, we do not naturally have the ability to conduct spiritual current. But God gave us power through the Holy Spirit after we believed.
Static tends to disrupt, whether it is on your TV or radio, in your relationships, or in your faith. God didn’t fill us with His power so that we could remain static on our sofas. He didn’t fill us with His power so that we could lash out with anger or judgment. He filled us so that we could be a disruptive force in the world, to shake people from the things that are keeping them from salvation.
God’s love and His power provide the “outside force” necessary to move our static bodies and minds toward the fulfillment of the Great Commission! Spend some time this weekend ruminating on the static areas of your life. Ask God to show you how to turn things around for His good, which will ultimately lead to good for you as well.
Blessings on your weekend.
Skipping Stones 
Leave a Reply