It is amazing to me that we are just like everyone else. It amazes me how no one knows, until that ’slip’ of the tongue, that casual mention in conversation. It amazes me that we think it’s okay to fit in and to not rock the boat. It amazes me that I’ve lived this long accepting things as they are and not seeking change in myself.
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The smell was pretty obvious. Though most didn’t fully understand where it was coming from until service was over, they all believed that someone just didn’t realize that their clothes had been compromised.
I mused it over and over again as I drove to the store and home that night. I mused at the comments made so loudly by us all and the fact that she had to have heard, the homeless woman that had visited our church. I recall, even now, that day that I took a piece of cake with me to church, something I never do, because I didn’t want to eat it at home and I just felt that I should take it with me. There she was, sitting in the foyer, and I offered her the cake. Then I understood.
As I drove home last night, I realized my failing in the events that transpired. I saw my lack of compassion. Though I realized that talking about her smell, even commenting on it, was wrong and I tried my best to share that kindly with others, but I didn’t approach her. I was afraid to approach her, truth be told. I don’t know if I was afraid that she was going to ask for money, which I truthfully had none to give, or if I was afraid that I had nothing to say to the woman to offer her the warmth of Jesus Christ. Whatever the reason, I saw with clarity what I should have done.
In my mind’s eye, as I neared my house, I saw that I should have approached her and greeted her. I should have told her how glad I was that she was there, and meant it. I should have let her know that she was welcome in the house of God. That is what I should have done, the least I should have done, if I am truly a Christian.
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God doesn’t condemn us for our mistakes. He lovingly informs us of how we are to change, of how we could have handled things differently, and He is kind and gracious enough to give us other opportunities to put into practice what He teaches us. I apologized to God for my inaction on Wednesday night with the woman and I know that the lesson He wanted to teach me was efficiently taught. I saw my failings in the midst of my success and I am so glad that God keeps me close to Him and teaches me all that I don’t know.
This led me to think about our call as Christians. We are to be Christ-like. I find it interesting that you can be talked to about your relationships in the church, relationships that you’re trying to work through and trying to learn how to function, but the souls outside the church, the lost and the fallen, are disregarded.
Through the course of a recent trial, God revealed to me that I didn’t have a heart for the lost, nor did I have a heart for those friends of mine who, for the time being, have left the church and gone their own ways. I was content to forget all about them and move on with my life with an attitude plainly shouting of judgement and “it’s their loss” mentality.
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The lost are out there in droves. Jesus Christ didn’t avoid sinners, He ate with them and engaged them in conversation. Jesus was more confrontational (for lack of a better word) with the religious folk of His day than He was with the sinners. Had the religious men of the day sought His company solely for the sake of knowing Him, He would have received them just as He received the sinners. However, the religious people set themselves apart with pride, arrogance, and deceit, trying to ‘capture’ Jesus in a lie, which was impossible. They cut themselves off from great love, lessons, and growth because of their inward turned hearts.
I don’t want to be an inward turned person. I don’t want to be consumed with myself and my life, nor do I want to be consumed with only Christian people. I know that I can only love as much as I love Jesus Christ and the family of God, but this does not mean to the exclusion of everyone else.
It is scary to think that people are passing into eternity every day and that every chance to turn to Jesus for salvation is over. The gracious God who loves us more than we can comprehend gives us multiple opportunities to turn to Him and to receive the greatest gift, the greatest treasure of all. In the pride of life, we forsake Him and ultimately, as we stand before Him, we realize the truth. Then, however, it is too late and the righteous judgement occurs.
My heart is turning toward the lost again. I want to be salt and light in this earth constantly, not just on good days. I want to weather every storm in Jesus’ arms and be able to show the world that there is something different in my life, that there is something worth desiring, something worth having, that nothing on this earth can compare to. I want to show Christ in my words, deeds, and lifestyle.
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I find that I turned from my friends that left the church as easily as a rudder turns a ship in water. I regret every moment of pride that kept me from going to them and pouring out my love and care for them. I am not responsible for the choices they make but I am responsible for the lack of action on my part.
I noticed that I would judge their lives from a distance, from what whispers fell into my ears, and that I would assume that they were living up the lives of backsliders. God showed me that I have no right to speak things that I know nothing about. I’m 29 so it’s about time that I listened to Him in that area, yes?
I am learning to restrain from stating that “I know that they’re not living for God” or that “I know that they’re drinking, etc.” because I honestly know nothing of the sort. What I do know is that I miss them and that I want them to be a part of my life again and that I will be there for them, without judging them, with arms open wide, and I will let them come back into my life exactly as they left, just like Jesus allows us to pick ourselves up and continue on with Him, exactly where we left.
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I have pondered this for awhile today. What does it mean to be Christ-like? Am I living the life that Jesus wants me to live or am I running on emotions, pride, fear, and judgement? I need to see with the eyes of Jesus the people of this world. There is value and beauty in every single soul. God created each life for a purpose, for a specially designed will, and I want to walk in that while encouraging others to do the same. I want visitors to our church to feel welcome, regardless of their past and current situations. I want them to feel the love of Christ in my words, actions, and expressions.
What do you expect from Christians? What do you expect them to do when they see you? What do you desire to see happen in your church, family, and individual life? Are you living as Christ lived, loving, accepting, forgiving (for you must forgive the trespasses against you), strengthening, uplifting, encouraging, and kindly correcting? There is so much more available to us in the realm of Christianity. Are we living in the Promised Land or are we dwelling in the dry wilderness, convincing ourselves that all is well because our shoes haven’t worn out and the manna still falls from Heaven, though we know we’ve seen the same mountain seven different times?
Today is the day, this is the hour, it is now the time to ask God what He wants and willingly do what He asks. Now is the time to be like Christ, to take on His characteristics, to know Him, to follow Him, to obey Him, to change. This only happens in relationship with Him. Do you have one? A valid, working, fulfilling relationship, deeply intimate, with God?
I need Jesus Christ every moment of every day of my life. I need Him more than yesterday, but not as much as tomorrow. I need Him because I have no life without Him. He is the source of eternal happiness and endless joy. He is the wellspring of living water. He is refreshment, nourishment, and peace. How well are we reflecting Him?