People are Not Easy to Love (no. 4)

“If you died with Christ to the elements of this world, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations: ‘Don’t handle, don’t taste, don’t touch’? All these regulations refer to what is destined to perish by being used up; they are human commands and doctrines. Although these have a reputation for wisdom by promoting self-made religion, false humility, and severe treatment of the body, they are not of any value in curbing self-indulgence” (Colossians 2:20-23 CSB).

Do we worry all the time about rules? I see it a lot around Christian groups. Is this a sin? Is there a rule about this? What do you think about this? When we should be asking God, when I should be asking God if I died to the world and am looking for Him? Only He can change my heart.

I get around to a few churches in my journeys and I hear a lot of rules that, to an outsider like me, make very little sense. Folks like rules though. I have my own list of rules of what I do and don’t do. I had a list of rules before and I do now as well. BUT rules never changed my heart. The only thing that has changed my heart is having a daily relationship with the Lord. And that might incorporate a routine and rules when you get started BUT a routine and rules is not going to keep you in the relationship. Only a dedication, a connection, a love for God is going to keep me invested in daily throwing myself into His service.

Rules and routines are a great place to start. Rules and routines establish the practice. BUT they are never going to change your heart. Only God can change my heart. And that means daily to, “. . . deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me and the gospel will save it” (Mark 8:34-35).

Grace and Shalom to your home.

I love you. I forgive you. Have a blessed and abundant day!

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #NotMyWayYHWH

People Are Not Easy to Love (no.3)

“Who then will harm you if you are devoted to what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear them or be intimidated, but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. Yet do this with gentleness and reverence, keeping a clear conscience, so that when you are accused, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil” (1 Peter 3:13-17). Who will harm you for doing good? Those that are evil. And we need to remember that even though evil can have a very human face in this world, “. . . our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens” (Ephesians 6:12). Sometimes people are not easy to love because their hearts are set to evil.

When folks don’t value the same things I value, I can feel attacked. It is a response that humans have developed. If someone does not believe just like I do, then I often want to make them into evil. BUT people are not evil. Sure, people do evil things BUT evil is a choice. The more we get used to doing evil things, then the easier it is to keep doing evil things. I can get into a routine that normalizes doing evil things. I can get so used to evil that it becomes my default.

I have seen many of those people. Luckily, I have never been one of those people despite the many evil things I have done. I never allowed evil to become a habit. BUT choosing evil is something that gets easier each time I make that choice. BUT I need to remember in whose image I am created. I need to remember that I carry the holiness of His Spirit lives within me. I need to defend His Kingdom “with gentleness and reverence” rather than anger and pride. All too often I want others to suffer for being what I deem evil. BUT it should be me that is doing the suffering for them. I need to remember that I am to suffer, “For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.” If my life is going to be a model of servitude, then there will be sacrifices. There will be suffering. There will be a lifetime of choosing whether I follow by His words to, “. . . deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me and the gospel will save it” (Mark 8:34-35). And I need to lose myself in Him even when I am faced with evil.

Sure, folks are not easy to love because they sometimes choose evil, however, I do not have to choose the same. I am granted His Spirit to combat those forces in obedience to Him. I am here to show His Way of dealing with evil. I am here to suffer the evil of others because He suffered that same evil for me.

Grace and Shalom to your home.

I love you. I forgive you. Have a blessed and abundant day!

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #NotMyWayYHWH