June 24, 2018

What Do Your Actions Say?

“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.”

– Matthew 18:12-14

She couldn’t remember where she left her. She was a new mama and trying to balance staying with the herd and responsibly taking care of her calf caused her to make a decision she regretted.

She bellowed loudly at me as she searched franticly for her tiny baby girl. The cow had no doubt that I could find the baby she’d misplaced. She just wanted me to do it immediately.

It took a while but I did find the baby. I watched her trot toward a relieved mama cow. She had never intended to lose her baby. She just wanted to be with the herd. We aren’t much different. Sometimes we’re so focused on being with the crowd that we don’t realize we’re ignoring those who desperately need help.

I could have ignored the cow. That baby was her responsibility. Eventually, she’d have found it. But I didn’t. I knew I could help her and, frankly, I wanted to. I care about the cows. Do I care about others just as much? Do you?

We never intend to be a bad influence. We never intend to teach children, by our actions, to use bad language or complain about “having” to attend church. We never intend to show that things come before people or that helping someone else is a chore to be avoided whenever possible.

How we live our lives is what shows others our faith. It shows up in the children we are around, whether our own or someone else’s children. It speaks to those who aren’t believers but are looking to see what sets us apart to determine if maybe Jesus is the answer for them.

We rarely think about the silent influence we might have on people. Most of the time we aren’t even concerned about others. We’re just focused on ourselves and those closest to us. We don’t care too much about the lost, the hurting, the disenfranchised. And then we wonder why there’s so much violence in our schools and workplaces.

Hatred isn’t a trait we’re born with; it’s one we are taught. Anger bubbles up and we ignore it or walk away. It’s not our problem, we explain. But Jesus says it is. I wonder what would happen if we were kind to people we don’t like. I wonder what would happen if we noticed people who aren’t just like us.

Jesus notices those who are lost. He cares deeply about those who are hurting, angry, marginal. Why do we think it’s okay to ignore them?

I know. Sometimes we don’t want to get involved because the situation is dangerous or it is so overwhelming that we don’t know what to do. But most of the time we don’t want to be bothered with the needs of someone else. We’re too busy protecting and caring for what is ours to even notice someone else.

Stop making excuses and look around you. Lost people are everywhere. It doesn’t cost anything to be kind. Smiles are free. When we ignore or hate, we tell others we don’t love Jesus. What do your actions say?

Friday, June 22, 2012

God Forgives And So Should We

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”

Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

-- Matthew 18:21-22

She just buried her husband two days ago. His sister had died 10 days before that. She is recovering from hip replacement surgery that came after a fall that came after a broken pelvis. It is not the best of times.

And yet another woman’s anger lingers. Her hardened heart can’t feel sympathy or compassion. She can’t let go of something that happened more than 20 years before.

She calls herself justified. And, indeed, the older woman hurt her badly. But she didn’t confront the woman at the time. She didn’t try to understand why someone would hurt her so badly. She didn’t forgive.

Instead, she has told the story again and again over the years. Not to “bad-mouth” the woman, she says, but to tell her side of a story most of us don’t care about. Because after all these years, what does it matter? People hurt us because we are all flawed. That’s just the way of life. What we do with that hurt determines who we are inside.

This woman considers herself to be a strong Christian, and she is. She does good for many people, trying to live her faith in works and deeds. And, yet, she can’t forgive. There is no love in her heart for her enemy of long ago.

We can all relate, can’t we? We’ve probably all got someone in our lives that we need to forgive. I’m not saying we should ignore abuse, especially when it continues on and on. We should remove ourselves from the situation and take appropriate steps to protect ourselves and others. But forgiving someone who hurt our feelings years ago? Oh, come on! Let it go.

After Peter asked this question, Jesus told the parable of the man who couldn’t pay his debt to the king. The man begged for more time and the king had compassion on him and forgave his debt. Then the man went out and demanded that another servant repay the debt he owed to him. When the man begged for more time, this man refused and had the man thrown into prison until he could repay the debt. Those who saw what happened went and told the king.

“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said. ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you.”

-- Matthew 18:32

God forgives us. We should forgive others. The end.

Friday, November 11, 2011

God’s Law Rules

“But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” -- Matthew 18:6

The news has rocked Penn State and the sports world. Former football defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky is accused of sexually abusing eight young boys. Athletics director Tim Curley (now on administrative leave) and Senior Vice President Gary Schultz (now retired) have been arrested on charges of perjury and failing to report information about Sandusky’s activities. Now Head Coach Joe Paterno and University President Graham Spanier have been fired.

It’s one of those who knew what when scenarios and none of the answers are pretty. Paterno was not charged. At least not in criminal court. He reported allegations of sexual misconduct to his boss. That’s all he’s legally required to do.

But the charges he faces in the moral court are something else entirely. The alleged incidents took place over a span of 15 years. At least one of the attacks allegedly took place after Paterno found out. Was doing what was legally required really all he was morally obligated to do?

This is where God’s law supersedes man’s law. To remain silent, to watch from the sidelines, while nothing was done to stop an alleged predator is beyond comprehension. How could anyone turn a blind eye while an abuser continues to abuse?

Of course, Paterno wasn’t alone. Some people allegedly witnessed acts between Sandusky and young boys. Where were their voices in all this? And what did university officials do? How could anyone think that covering up sexual abuse would make it go away? The Catholic church taught a really good lesson on that very thing. They should have paid attention.

And where are the kids in all this mess? Somewhere there are at least eight young men who will forever have scars because an adult they trusted did something horrible to them. Has anyone considered the children? Were they even part of the equation as adults tried to keep this terrible secret from surfacing?

I know. Sandusky and the others haven’t had their day in court. It’s such a sick scenario. We could have youngsters facing a jury to tell their story. Justice at the cost of further injury to the victims. Haven’t they suffered enough?

As for Sandusky, he’ll pay for any crimes he’s committed. And the others will pay for their crimes as well. They’ll have to live with the knowledge that they knew something awful was happening and they didn’t stop it.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

God Heals All Hurts

But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. -- Matthew 18:6

The subject was child abuse. We all sat around the table and shook our heads. How to explain why God allows such evil to happen? No one knew. We can't possibly understand it. Sure, it comes from Satan. And, yes, we live in a fallen world with free choice granted from God. But to abuse an innocent child? Horrifying doesn't begin to describe it.

Children of abuse grow up to think badly about themselves and sometimes about God. They blame Him for not protecting them. They blame themselves for somehow "allowing" the abuse to take place. They see themselves as someone who got what they deserved. They sin again and again because they believe they are the evil that was done to them.

God is ever seeing. His heart breaks for the little ones Satan and his minions have harmed and led astray. He stands ready, arms outstretched, to snatch his children into His loving embrace. He waits patiently, knowing that He can heal and use the small victims He longs to reclaim. And woe to those who harmed His precious children. He will judge those who are guilty.

How do we heal from childhood abuse? The scars never fade away. They are ever present, much as the nail wounds remain present on Jesus' arms. But God can and will heal the open wounds. He will soothe the hurt and empower the victims. He will lead the innocent to victory. But, first, we have to take that first step. We have to reach out. We have to call His name. We have to let ourselves be enfolded in his embrace.

Why does God allow children to become victims? I don't know. My mind tries to explain it but my heart screams out in anguish. It's something I will probably never understand. But I do know that God heals all hurts, even those that run deep into the soul. He is waiting to heal your hurts. Will you let him?

Friday, January 21, 2011

Let It Go

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"

Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." -- Matthew 18:21-22

In her book Praying God's Word, Beth Moore devoted an entire chapter to overcoming unforgiveness. It's right up there with unbelief, guilt, rejection and food addiction. Yeah. Beth isn't one for ignoring what is necessary just because it's hard.

In the chapter, there are plenty of Bible verses for changing us so that we can forgive others. Certainly that's a start. At the end of the chapter, readers are challenged to pray for those who have wronged us. It's really difficult to stay mad or hurt when you're praying for someone daily and specifically.

It's really tough to forgive someone who has hurt you or someone you love. That's especially true when they haven't apologized. Indeed, they may not seem sorry at all. But it really isn't about them. That's the point. It's about us and our need to forgive. The Bible tells us numerous times to forgive others so that God will forgive us. He gave us mercy and He expects us to show that same mercy to others.

Have you ever held on to a grudge? It eats you up inside. It builds and builds and you just can't let it go. So...give it to God. Go on. He can take it. Tell Him all about what happened and how that other person wronged you. Tell Him how angry you are. Then let it go. Really. Oh, I know it's not that easy. But it's a start and with prayer and determination and, well, more prayer, you can do it. You can let it go and let God take care of it. He will. In His own time. Funny thing, though. The more you pray for the person who wronged you, the less you'll care that the person "gets what he deserves."

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Each Child Is Uniquely Made

"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me." -- Matthew 18:5

All children are wonderfully created, unique and special just the way they are. I believe this with all my heart. I also know that people don't always view the differences between children as wonderful. This is especially true when it comes to siblings.

Recently someone I know chuckled at the differences between two small siblings. The elder sibling is "perfect." This child has always been easy to deal with, follows parental commands and plays well with others. The younger child, well, not so much. This child has a temper, wants to explore and, basically, gets into everything. My heart ached for the younger child.

I followed a "perfect" sibling. He never did anything wrong and I never did anything right. Not much has changed over the years except that we've all grown older and I've reached the point of no patience for the put-downs and comparisons that still come my way.

Part of me understands that most parents don't mean to favor one child over the other. In fact, I'm sure many don't show favoritism. They simply treat their children differently according to their personalities. But for those few who do favor the "easy" over the "difficult" child -- shame on you!

All of us have our unique quirks. We all have our own way of doing things and reacting to things. We each have our own strengths and weaknesses. We are all different. God made us that way. We're meant to be one of a kind. We should embrace those differences, especially in children. No child should ever be compared to an older sibling. It isn't right and it isn't fair.

Jesus welcomed all of us to His altar. He invited us to come just as we are, no matter where we are. How can we then show any less acceptance to the unique and varied children He welcomed into his arms?