After moving halfway across the country away from friends, family, and my home church I was consumed by loneliness. For several months I desperately searched for a women's Bible study to attend. Several churches turned me down, several churches turned me off, and several offered the "Ladies Crazy Christmas Coffee" as a substitute for inductive, exegetical study. (Not that there's anything wrong with craziness, coffee, or Christmas. It's just that events with ugly sweaters don't challenge and revolutionize the soul the way being among God's own and in His word does.)
By grace God brought me to a Bible-teaching, God-fearing church that offered several women's studies. And then He brought me to Addie (name changed just in case). She led with grace and kindness. When I came in she was genuinely thrilled to see me, hugged me, and asked me all about my life. A few weeks later she invited me to coffee. She invited my family over to eat. She spoke with wisdom and joy.
Then, she posted something on Facebook, that made me do my bad theology squirm. I know my Bible. I know truth. God has graciously given me the ability to understand His word and the faith to believe it without hesitation. It is a gift. Sometimes I forget that. Because I am a sinner still saved by grace.
I looked at my mother and declared, "Can you believe, she believes that?" (And yes, it was said in that tone. That one that still makes me throw up in my mouth a little.)
My mother looked at me with wisdom and grace, and said, "But you were lonely, and she was your friend."
Hosea 6:6 "For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings."
Addie chose better.
And by grace with forgiveness, I hope to also.
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Sunday, September 11, 2016
The enemy we remember
As we remember...
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. There fore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm." Ephesians 6:12-13
Sometimes in the fires and the confusion we can forget who our enemy is.
Our enemy is not a person. Our enemy is not the violent man. It is not the hate-filled woman. We do not battle the godless philosopher, the angry politician, the evil terrorist. When we choose to believe that flesh and blood is the villain, we choose to relinquish our position to hate before we ever take up any armor. Hatred for human beings, laced with unforgiveness, arrogance, and fear, is a victory for the real enemy.
It is not easy when men harm us, when humans attack us, when people betray us to remember they are not the villain. They are lost. They are victims of the powers, pawns of the forces, slaves of the wickedness. They are captives of the darkness.
And so was I. But for grace, what measures of hate would fill me. But for peace, what war would I wage. But for the gospel, what venom would I swallow.
In His mercy Christ chose to lay down his life for the captives. He chose to bleed for the slaves. He chose to die for the lost. After we put forth every effort to make ourselves His enemy, God sent out a rescuer to make us His friends. The gospel is the news of grace, grace that frees the captives and teaches them to be free.
We are to be like Christ. We are to see our enemy for what it really is, to carry our armor without wearying, and to bring gospel to the captives. We are not to waste time battling flesh and blood, but standing firm in the gospel, guarded by faith, we are to resist the evil one. On a day when we remember great evil, we ought to remember the source of that evil, and who the ultimate victors will be.
Is there a flesh and blood human being you have made an enemy? What efforts are you wasting in hating man that could be directed into living the gospel? When everything crumbles, will Christ find you standing firm?
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. There fore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm." Ephesians 6:12-13
Sometimes in the fires and the confusion we can forget who our enemy is.
Our enemy is not a person. Our enemy is not the violent man. It is not the hate-filled woman. We do not battle the godless philosopher, the angry politician, the evil terrorist. When we choose to believe that flesh and blood is the villain, we choose to relinquish our position to hate before we ever take up any armor. Hatred for human beings, laced with unforgiveness, arrogance, and fear, is a victory for the real enemy.
It is not easy when men harm us, when humans attack us, when people betray us to remember they are not the villain. They are lost. They are victims of the powers, pawns of the forces, slaves of the wickedness. They are captives of the darkness.
And so was I. But for grace, what measures of hate would fill me. But for peace, what war would I wage. But for the gospel, what venom would I swallow.
In His mercy Christ chose to lay down his life for the captives. He chose to bleed for the slaves. He chose to die for the lost. After we put forth every effort to make ourselves His enemy, God sent out a rescuer to make us His friends. The gospel is the news of grace, grace that frees the captives and teaches them to be free.
We are to be like Christ. We are to see our enemy for what it really is, to carry our armor without wearying, and to bring gospel to the captives. We are not to waste time battling flesh and blood, but standing firm in the gospel, guarded by faith, we are to resist the evil one. On a day when we remember great evil, we ought to remember the source of that evil, and who the ultimate victors will be.
Is there a flesh and blood human being you have made an enemy? What efforts are you wasting in hating man that could be directed into living the gospel? When everything crumbles, will Christ find you standing firm?
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