Thursday, June 24, 2010

Judge Not...

There is a reason that God, in His infinite wisdom, told us not to judge others. He did tell us to watch the actions (fruits) of others. He did tell us to be wise. He also commanded us to love. How can we truly love when we are grilling someone on the witness stand or strapping them into the electric chair?

Judging is some serious business. When we judge, we decide that we are God. We decide that we are better than He. We decide that we know more than He knows. There are some problems with that, besides the fact that we are NOT God. All we can see are the actions, the words and the results of that person. While those can be very damning, there is something missing. And that something is very large. That is the heart of the defendant. We cannot see, no matter how well we know them, what their motivations were. Even if we spent days, weeks or even years trying to learn their heart, we would never understand them as their Maker does.
The basic reason for this can be found in the Book of Genesis. The story of the Tower of Babel. When we all speak the same language, when we all think the same, we can make the decision that there is no need for God. So He introduced languages to the builders. It was quite disastrous at the time, but something beautiful (and frustrating) came out of it. We found that we need a Mediator. And who better than our Lord?
So the next time that car cuts you off on the interstate, pause. They may be rushing to a loved one's side. The next time your office manager speaks sharply, pause. They may have just received bad news. The next time a dear friend doesn't notice your pain, pause. They may be in pain themselves. Ask Him to see through His Eyes. Have you taken the time to hear the heart of the defendant? Have you taken the time to put yourselves in their place? Be quick to listen and very slow to judge.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Fighting the Inevitable

18 On the seventh day the child died. David's servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, "While the child was still living, we spoke to David but he would not listen to us. How can we tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate."
19 David noticed that his servants were whispering among themselves and he realized the child was dead. "Is the child dead?" he asked. "Yes," they replied, "he is dead."
20 Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.
21 His servants asked him, "Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!"
22 He answered, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, 'Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.' 23 But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me."

2 Samuel 12:18-23


David knew that this child was going to die. Nathan, the prophet, had told him that because of his repentance, David would live, but his son would die. Even so, when the boy became ill, David fasted and prayed. Why did he fight it? Then, why did he not grieve afterward? So many times, I wish that the writers of the Bible would give me more information. I want to know how David felt in the days, weeks, months after his son died. How did he feel and act on the anniversary of his little boy's birth and death? We won't know this side of Heaven. But I still wonder.
I have fought the inevitable. For a year and a half, I grasped at straws, pretended not to hear my doctor when he used the word hysterectomy. I tried to bargain my way out of infertility. Then I stopped fighting. I gave up what I had always wanted and always believed would be my future. Are there moments when I grieve? Absolutely. Do I believe that this was God's road for me? Absolutely.
So, is there something wrong with fighting the inevitable? I don't think so. Without hope, how can we survive? Didn't Jesus, Himself, ask for some other way moments before He was taken by the Roman soldiers? The God we serve is not threatened by our fears, our anger and our tears. In other words, He is not threatened by our fighting. We cannot see our futures, but He can. We cannot see around the bend of our road. But He can.
There were many people in the Bible whose prayers, fasting and cries moved the heart of God. Moses, Jonah, Hannah. Find their stories. Read them. Learn from them. Fight the inevitable. You never know when it isn't inevitable.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

The Cost

How much does it cost? How much would you be willing to give up to follow Christ? That is a question that is rarely asked. In this 'feel good' society and time that we live in it isn't a very popular thought. Has Jesus' question to the rich young ruler ever plagued you? Is He asking the same of all of us?
C.S. Lewis stated (with my interpretation) that we welcome Him into the tiny house that is our hearts. We open up the rooms that we want Him to see, but lock the one that we don't want Him to see. He is not interested in leaving our hearts the way in which He found them. He begins to open locked doors, knock down walls and begin a complete renovation. The goal is become as Christ-like as possible. He builds a mansion out of our tiny little bungalow. While the end result is stunning beauty and there can be moments of amazing joy and beautiful moments with Him. However, changes like this also cause pain along with facing what we have stored in those locked rooms.
In the Japanese culture, the present generation's job & duty is to keep a shrine. That shrine is to be kept clean & spotless. It is at that shrine that the Japanese pray. They pray to their ancestors. This is how they honor the generations that came before. When a Japanese person becomes a Christian, they stop praying to their ancestors and begin praying to the one and true God. They turn their back on their ancestors. They turn their back on their parents, their family. To become a Christian means that they pay a high price.
So, we are back to the question, how much does becoming Christ-like cost us? And are you willing to pay it? The rich young ruler couldn't turn his back on his riches. What habits, sins and cultures are we going to turn our backs on? And what do we get in return?
A Lord who stays closer than a brother. Freedom that comes from binding ourselves to Him. An entirely new family. I believe that there can only be facades of peace and happiness without Him. As Jesus told the woman at the well, the thirst is only quenched for a short time. She would have to come back again and again to the well. He is the well that never runs dry. And the cost for this well? Nothing we could hold onto is worth losing what He has to offer.