July 16, 2023

 

Are You Willing?

 

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:9

 

I was reading a devotional the other day about those who refuse to confess their sins. You know them. They refuse to take responsibility for their actions. They are forever pointing fingers and blaming others for their decisions. They don’t change because they don’t see the need to do so.

 

It really hit home with me because I love someone who is doing just this. He has destroyed his family and, likely, will eventually destroy himself because he won’t admit that he did something wrong.

 

We tend to think of people like this as drug addicts or thieves but that’s not always the case. Sometimes it’s someone who commits adultery. It might be someone who can’t manage money and bankrupts themselves and their family. It could be someone who always lies just because they can.

 

It can also be someone who is abusive. How often do abusers blame their victims? How many times do rapists say it wasn’t their fault?

 

Jesus offers us a lifeline. He beckons us forward to confess our sins. He promises to forgive us and help us to be different, to do different, if we will only draw near to our Savior. It might be the hardest thing we ever do. It will also be the best thing we could ever do.

 

In my loved one’s case, he’s still pointing fingers and blaming others. He’s angry and lashes out at those around him. He wants to be “happy” but he’s the unhappiest he’s ever been. No one can reach him. Jesus waits but for now He’s on the sidelines.

 

Do you know anyone like that? Maybe you are that person? Does anger consume you? Is everything bad that happens always someone else’s fault? Are you putting yourself before everyone you claim to love?

 

Jesus waits. He’s ready to help you. But first you have to confess your sins. You must accept responsibility. You have to lay down your pride and admit you don’t have all the answers. Jesus has the answers. He alone can free you and heal you. Are you willing to let Him?

December 5, 2018

Quiet Your Heart

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. – Isaiah 9:2

He was angry. He was upset with the media and the Democrats. He wasn’t too happy with folks in his own political party either. He ranted about opinions and stupidity and how upset his Mama got when she watched the news.

I tried to turn the conversation to a different topic. He kept bringing it back. It’s as though he just needed to be angry at something. I wasn’t sure it was really about what others were doing or not doing. It was just a way to avoid dealing with his own unhappiness.

I recognized his pain. He’s buried too many people who were far too young to die. How do you explain the death of two young children and their mom in a freak traffic accident? How do you understand the death of a spouse with no warning, no symptoms, no indication that she would never wake up?

We can’t get angry with God. Oh, we might somewhere deep inside. It just seems so unfair even though we know life is often unfair. But we cling desperately to the hope that one day we’ll see them all again. We don’t want to do anything to change that. So, no, we don’t want to be angry with God. We’re secretly afraid He might turn us away and then where would we be?

And we don’t want to wear our sorrow outside for all to see. Shouldn’t we be over it by now? Shouldn’t we have moved on, come to terms with what happened, adjusted somehow? Except those reactions are a fantasy conjured up by someone who couldn’t face the reality of loss.

The truth is life hurts. The pain is unbearable sometimes. The loss that surrounds us reminds us again and again that we aren’t in control. We can’t fix the broken. We can’t heal the sick. We can’t change the circumstances of today.

So we get angry at the world. We focus on something else. We lash out in an effort to somehow feel better inside. It doesn’t work. The anger doesn’t erase our unhappiness.

Our world is covered in darkness. Unhappiness is the new normal. We are never satisfied, never content, never joyful. We point fingers, spew angry words, blame everyone but ourselves. We are searching for what we already have but we can’t seem to find our way. Because we’re looking in the wrong direction.

I’m not talking about those who don’t know Jesus. Sure. There are plenty of those and we must try and reach them all. But the saddest people are those who do know our Savior and still find themselves consumed with anger.

Why? Because we’re so focused on the circumstances of today that we’ve lost the light. We are surrounded by darkness and we can’t seem to find our way out. We’re trying to save ourselves when that’s never going to be possible. We are floundering in the boat while Jesus says again and again, “Peace! Be still!” (Mark 4:39)

Give your anger to Him. Give Jesus your despair. Give Him your hurt. Stop trying to wrestle alone with what you cannot understand. Give it all to Jesus. Let Him fill you up with His peace.

We were never made for this world. Look toward the light. Jesus will guide you. Quiet your heart and focus on Him. It might not change your circumstances but it will still your anguish. It will remove your anger. Jesus will fill you up with hope and endurance and strength for the journey.

Take a deep breath. Be still.

August 20, 2018

Fix Yourself First

“And when the people ask, ‘Why has the LORD our God done all this to us?’ you will tell them, ‘As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your own land, so now you will serve foreigners in a land not your own.’” – Jeremiah 5:19

We want to put God back in our schools. We want to put prayer back in our public meetings. We want to place carved images of the Ten Commandments on public property. We are convinced that doing these things will lead to a revival in our country. We know that doing these things will decrease violence, drug abuse, gang activity, and general unlawfulness.

But will any of those things change your heart? Will any of those things put God back in your home? Will any of those things cause you to rearrange your priorities so that God is first at all times, no matter the cost or sacrifice?

We want our world to change for the better but we don’t want to be part of that change. We call for others to do things. We pray “thy will be done” when we really mean “my will be done.”

We harden our hearts toward foreigners and those who don’t look like us. We brush aside those who face financial challenges, being quick to blame them while tightly holding on to what we have. We aren’t going to share. Nope. No way. They can work hard and get their own stuff.

We like our stuff. We cling to it as though we’ll have it forever. We act as though now is all there is. We believe that no one is more important than self. Well, maybe family so long as they exalt us.

We don’t see anything wrong with our behavior. We don’t recognize the double-standard. We’re so busy condemning abortion and homosexuality that we miss love and mercy, grace and compassion. We judge what isn’t ours to judge. We cast out people that God loves. We call ourselves justified. Our sins call us condemned.

Except for the blood of Jesus. We’re quick to point that out. He saved us and we’re headed to heaven – along with everyone we like. We can’t imagine that God wants to save murderers and rapists, white-trash and foreigners. We act as though God couldn’t possibly want anyone who isn’t like us. Does anyone else see the hypocrisy? Jesus ate with tax collectors, fallen women, those who were poor and cast out. The Pharisees were furious. Jesus didn’t care.

But we care. We want all the perks of being Christ followers without all the dirtiness of associating with “sinners.” We want all our toys, our electronics, our nice cars, our big houses, without having to sacrifice anything for the Church or orphans or widows or foreigners. We are like young children yelling “mine!” even though everything really belongs to God.

Some people don’t believe the Bible, especially the Old Testament, is relevant today. I would invite them to read Jeremiah. This great prophet warns God’s people of His coming wrath but they didn’t believe him. They couldn’t understand how God could possibly let His people be captured by Babylon. They kept thinking God would change his mind, even when they refused to change their hearts and their behavior.

Do you want to fix our country? Do you want to turn it back toward Christ? Then start at home. Pray without ceasing. Live with compassion and kindness. Share freely. Give to God first, trusting Him with all your needs. Be His light in this dark world. Stop waiting for someone else to lead the way. Start where you are. Change your heart. And watch how powerfully God shows up to change your life.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Two Wrongs Are Both Wrong

“Don’t point your finger at someone else and try to pass the blame! Look, you priests, my complaint is with you!” -- Hosea 4:4

It’s his fault! No, it’s her fault! Oh, if they would just change their attitude everything would be fine! And on and on it goes.

It’s one of those situations where people just don’t like each other. And that’s okay. I suppose. Though it does seem odd in a church. But can’t we love one another without wanting to spend lots of one-on-one time with each other? And can’t we be civil and respectful without looking for offense in every word and action?

Apparently not is the answer some days. I know he can sometimes be a jerk. Honestly, I do. He says things without thinking sometimes. And sometimes he thinks of something and says it anyway, not caring who it hurts. And that’s not okay.

But it’s also not okay to verbally kick him when he’s down. And it’s not okay to show disrespect to someone just because you don’t share his views. And it’s not okay to treat people the way you think they should be treated. Why? Because God doesn’t treat you the way you should be treated either.

Why is it that we have so much trouble showing mercy to people we don’t like? It doesn’t make his actions okay. I’m not saying that. But his actions don’t justify your actions either. In fact, your actions just add fuel to a bad situation.

The saddest thing is that everyone here is a Christian. It’s just that when it hurts and it gets personal, we don’t act as though we remember that. And I get it. Really I do. Remember I’m the one who took a long walk the other, repeating Scripture to myself until I could calm down enough to deal with an infuriating situation.

Maybe that’s what we all need to do. You told me only prayer could handle this and you’re right. Except I’m not sure we’re on the same page with what that means. You’re praying for God to make this man go away. I’m praying that God will heal your heart, and his, so that we can all get along.

Because just like the rest of us, you both have good and bad in you. Unfortunately, it seems that you bring out the worst in each other. And that’s sad because you’re both good people.

So take a deep breath and pull that pointing finger back. You’re both guilty. And you’ve both been hurt. Forgiveness starts with kindness, whether you believe it’s deserved or not. God loved us first so that we could love others. All those words in the Bible apply equally to both of you. Start practicing them -- with each other.