I have been in a funk the last few days. Just having a hard time clearing my head from all the thoughts that are swirling around.
I allowed it.
Then I watched the news and my thoughts kind of went nuts!
2 Corinthians 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
I did not actively participate in taking every thought captive these last few days.
Thoughts about what?
People.
Brokenness.
Christians.
Evil.
Don’t talk about your hurt, some say. Keep it private. You don’t want people to think this or that about you. (Phooey! Like I can control any of that anyway!)
This is just between you and God.
True. It is just between me and God…ultimately.
But how do we help others to get along, to grow, if we don’t share our hurts and how God is helping us to see….the right way? Hear me when I say this…This is me and my thoughts in process…sometimes this is a huge struggle for me…but, by the grace of God, I am growing. What used to take me weeks to recover from now only takes hours or a couple of days.
Here is where some of my thoughts took me….
People are literally having their heads chopped off for being a Christian! And we get angry at the injustice of it all…as we should!
Then the thought occurred to me….
As Christians, when we don’t fight the good fight of faith and harbor anger, bitterness and unforgiveness against our brothers and sisters, are we not slaughtering them?
Are we not guilty of the same sin as those who actually chop peoples’ heads off … murder?
The Word says in Matthew 5:21-22 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.”
1 John 3:15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.
And we feel justified somehow.
How do we do it?
There are probably lots of reasons…but three in particular stand out in my own head.
First, we don’t take God’s Word seriously. We don’t believe God and what He says.
Second, we fall for the lie that since we are not OUTWARDLY sinning against a brother/sister, then it’s no big deal…but God’s Word says…
1 Samuel 16:7 …People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.
Third, we compare sins. We kind of coach ourselves with self-talk such as…
I would NEVER do anything like that!
Well, at least I’m not….LITERALLY CHOPPING THEIR HEAD OFF!
They made their bed….let them lie in it!
They are getting exactly what they deserve! I will even help make sure they get what they deserve!
Oh GOD! Please forgive us! Thank you that we don’t get what we deserve!
Psalm 103:10 He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
Thank you God, that you don’t leave me lying there in the pit of death…
Psalm 40:2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
Thank you God, that you hear my cries when I call out to you!
Psalm 18:6 In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice; my cry came before Him, into His ears.
Psalm 3:4 I call out to the LORD, and he answers me from his holy mountain.
Psalm 116:1 I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy).
LORD GOD, please don’t ever let me become so prideful that I would fall…again.
1 Corinthians 10:12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
That’s how you turn it around.
Enter into thanksgiving.
Get your eyes off people. Get your eyes off of you, your pain, your hurts. Get your eyes back on God!
What does His Word say?
1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Every time I choose to focus on people instead of my God…I fall. I think, in my own life anyway, it is the enemy’s favorite weapon against me…other people. But, again, what does His Word say?
Isaiah 54:17 “No weapon that is formed against you will prosper…
True humility, as Pastor Tim has told me on numerous occasions, is seeing God as He truly is and then seeing yourself as God sees you.
May we become DEEPLY ROOTED in THE TRUTH.
I came across a quote this morning that said…”once we are solid in our identity and are at peace with walking in our unique skin, we can’t help but to leave a trail of beauty wherever we go.”
I love that! Oh God, may I leave a trail of beauty wherever I go!
May my obedience to His Word match, even exceed, my cries for help!
My friend tells me all the time…”God has already given you everything you need.” It’s true you know…
2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
A word for me…and you…from Jesus…
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” (Matthew 4:17)
