A vibe is a person’s emotional state or the atmosphere of a place as communicated to and felt by others. When you attend a wedding as a friend of a friend, you may pay attention to certain details that others often overlook. Are you over or under dressed? How serious is this couple taking their wedding vows? Is the pastor or priest going through the motions or personalizing their message? As an eyewitness to my son Daniel’s wedding last weekend, my vibe was positive, impressed by the spiritual nature of the ceremony as well as the emotional speeches during the reception.
And this I pray: that your love may abound yet more and more and extend to its fullest development in knowledge and all keen insight [that your love may [d]display itself in greater depth of acquaintance and more comprehensive discernment], Philippians 1:9.
Vibes can be confused with discernment, gut-feelings or inclinations as you observe any formal gathering. One of the first weddings I attended with my wife Leanne, I got this overwhelming sensation that this couple’s marriage isn’t going to last. I wish my initial vibe was wrong, but there was a divorce before spending two full years together. When you encounter negative vibes, watch out that you don’t end up speaking this into existence a self-fulfilled prophecy by dwelling on negative thoughts over and over again.
So that you may surely learn to sense what is vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value [recognizing the highest and the best, and distinguishing the moral differences], and that you may be untainted and pure and unerring and blameless [so that with hearts sincere and certain and unsullied, you may approach] the day of Christ [not stumbling nor causing others to stumble], Philippians 1:10.
During a first century letter to the Church at Philippi, the apostle Paul urges this congregation to focus on the positive things in life. The passage above highlights this point which Paul follows up on in Philippians 4:8-9 as a reminder to dwell on the excellent and praiseworthy things in life. Meanwhile, for anyone who takes vibes too seriously, 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, make sure that you take your thoughts captive, making them obedient to Christ. Any concerns or worries that you may have from negative wedding vibes can be lifted up in prayer so that help arrives in the form of the Holy Spirit, 2 Peter 1:3-4.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 