I like to write. (Good thing, too, since I have a blog and all.) However, I always hated the prompts in school that told you to “write about your hero or role model and how they have affected you.” I loathed that prompt. I dreaded answering it because I never felt like I had a real role model. At that point in my life, the crucial age of thirteen, I didn’t respect my parents’ form of discipline. Plus, celebrities as idols weren’t my thing. I felt alone in a room full of people, and despite my height, I had no one to look up to from my point of view. I remember praying and begging God to give me a role model.
Boy did He answer that prayer tenfold! Today, I have many people which I aspire to be like. I have genuine respect for my Youth Pastor, Mom, Dad, Sunday School Teacher, Pastor, and Youth workers like this guy. God not only put these wonderful people in my life, but opened my eyes to the past heroes that had been with me. God had never short-handed me. I was not ill-equipped. He didn’t leave me without trainers. And thank God He didn’t.
While of course I should aspire to be like Jesus, I felt like Israel when they wanted a King. I wanted someone to look up to and follow. I wanted someone to give me a pick-me-up when I stumbled in my faith. And honestly, I wanted to see that someone else was honoring God the way I tried to. I didn’t want to be alone in my quest for Christian perfection.
I found many things along the way. Not only did I receive awesome mentors, but they taught me important lessons, like how I can’t be perfect on my own strength, that I am entitled to make mistakes, and other things like God’s desire for selfless people.
“The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.”
John 15:19
Following God can be lonely sometimes, but we don’t need to go at it alone. Though you may seem to be the only one standing up, that doesn’t mean you should seclude yourself from others who have stood up. Please don’t go at it alone. We are designed for each other. God has people in your life that can and will help you with your journey.
Just open your eyes when you walk the Walk.
“If one falls down, his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!”
Ecclesiastes 4:10
So in Spanish class we celebrated Cinco de Mayo, of course by making awesome crafts! We made flowers with colorful party tissue paper. In order to create the Mexican masterpiece, we folded them accordion style, and then pulled them apart to make beautiful flowers.
The paper is very stubborn, though. It is so thin that it sticks together and often rips when separating. When attempting to make my first flower, I mumbled how American the paper was acting. I received a very weird look from the guy next to me, also having the same trouble, but not thinking the same thing. I explained that the paper was so fragile that it clung to the pieces around it, conforming, instead of sticking out like it should. After going into detail, the guy saw my point of view and I apologized for my random mumbling philosophy. He accepted, and we went on making our flowers.
I wonder how many Christians’ lifestyles are like that paper. So fragile, so insecure, so desperate to keep up the Christian swag that they mindlessly conform to what’s cool and whatever is considered Christian for the season. How much of the walk is simply talk with carefully covered steps? I certainly wonder. Are we hiding behind each other, too afraid to do the things Paul and David and Job did? Are we stuck in fear and insecurity and pride and doubt? Surely that cannot be Christianity.
I have these shoes that I call TOMS knock-offs because, while they are strikingly similar to the TOMS shoes, I didn’t pay an overload for them or buy a pair for a shoeless child in a foreign country. They are a cheap, easy version of the new fashionable shoes. However, they could easily be mistaken for the TOMS style.
Are we being Christian knock-offs by following the crowd, cheapening the message, and standing in the background?
Now, I am not by any means saying Christians should be loud, outspoken, or in the front of the room. I firmly believe we should never force our opinions on non-Christians. However, we certainly should never water down the river of Life. For Christ’ sake! Literally… for His sake, we shouldn’t water Jesus down.
I’m not trying to mumble any pointless philosophy, but… are we watering down Jesus? By speaking about him less, but posting about him more; acting like him less, and relying on his grace more? Are we simplifying the sacrifice and treasure that comes in and from Christ?
Cinco de Mayo is specifically celebrated by Chicanos who are proud of their heritage, proud of where they came from and where they are today. If you’re a Christian, be proud. Please don’t be the knock-off brand of Jesus. Buy and be the real deal, or don’t make the deal.
“No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise[a] from God, not from people.”
Romans 2:29
“For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.”
1 Peter 2:16
Freedom! Freedom from our sins, pardoned for our wrongs, ready to live however we want and — wait… we are God’s slaves? What? I can’t use my freedom for evil? What else is it for!?
“Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy.”
Romans 6:19
Paul, a missionary and author, wrote to the Christians of Rome towards the end of his third missionary journey, and the book of Romans continues to be popular for many today. While Paul did not personally know the Church of Rome, his understanding of the gospel was quite mature by the time he spoke with them. Therefore, we can gather that Romans is the cream of the crop when it comes to Paul’s comprehension of the Christian lifestyle. If there was ever an acceptable section of the Holy Bible to shrug off, it would not be Romans.
So, we are free from sin… but slaves to righteousness? If you do indeed call yourself a Christian, then yes. If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then yes, you are free from your past, but… bound to God’s future. And I understand if you are shifting in your seat right now.
Being a slave to God isn’t a comfortable subject. Christians want to lighten the load by saying humans make their own decisions, that no one controls us, that God forgives… all of those are true. We choose how we feel, what we say, and how we live our life. And while God is in control, He gives us the choice to deny, reject, or obey Him; He doesn’t force us to do anything. Furthermore, God does forgive. He forgives what we’ve done, and we should soak in His amazing grace daily. But we have much more to do than soaking.
To me, slavery means I owe something. If I serve someone hand and foot, I have to repay them of a debt or a wrong or a crime I committed. God’s Word informs us that we can never repay God for our past, present, or future, and it is only by God’s grace that we become free and holy. So then… we shouldn’t be content with basking in His sanctifying freedom? Why must we do anything else?
The Bible refers to God with countless names: Almighty, All-powerful, Sovereign, Everlasting, and Gracious, to name a few.
Just like the guys in 1 Kings plainly said, “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below–you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way.”
1 Kings 8:23
Because of our freedom, we tend to feel superior. But oh, how wrong we are to think that! We are not higher or better or stronger or smarter than God. Not in any way, shape, or form, my friend.
We are forgiven, meaning we are relieved, not rewarded. We are adopted, which means we are the child, not the Father. God is still the ultimate control and legitimate ruler over us. Just because we are free doesn’t mean we should go and do as we please. We can, but our ability doesn’t always mean it’s a necessity.
Christians often overlook the detail of sacrifice, but God wants the willing slave at His side. Paul often called himself a bond-servant or bond-slave, and that simply is a willing slave. In Bible times, many men had to work years to receive a wife or to pay a debt. To be a bond-slave meant after your wages or years were fulfilled, you voluntarily stayed. No charge. No fee. You liked it there.
God wants us to be a willing slave to righteousness.
To think about Philippians 4:8 kind of things. To produce a Galatians 5:22-23 kind of entree. To suffer a Luke 9:23 kind of day, daily. To act a James 1:19 kind of way. Hard stuff! To be a slave to righteousness isn’t easy… but what slave job ever has been easy? None. Who ever wanted to be a slave? Certainly not African-Americans. That’s why we fought for and with them, to end their suffering. But God calls Christians to suffer.
Christianity doesn’t end at grace, it begins with it. By grace, through faith, we receive God’s freedom. The whole point of being a slave to Christ is that you voluntarily do it. God frees us so that we can serve Him if we so choose.
Sure, you and I can become free. But what are you doing with your freedom?
Churches always ask, “Will you accept the freedom in Christ Jesus?”
That’s good. Say yes. But also… will you accept the servant’s job in following Christ Jesus?
That’s good, too. Say yes.
I am pretty sure that there is an ultimate Motherhood list that moms follow, because they all seem to notify their children of the same things. Clean your room. Tuck in your shirt. Did you brush your teeth? Comb your hair. Don’t talk back. Listen to me. What did you just say? Do your homework. Put those dishes away. Go to bed. The list of a Mom’s requests is…well, frankly, from everlasting to everlasting! But if you don’t believe me, you can watch this video here.
Most moms have a tendency to – no offense, but, – nag. They have authority over them and for some reason, teenagers (and adults who were formally teenagers) get annoyed when parents tell them to do anything that is out of their comfort zone. While I rarely enjoy being told what to do, I am so grateful for a Mother that cares enough to tell me what is best for me, especially because, if she doesn’t… I know I won’t do anything. She often reminds me of my responsibilities, and if it weren’t for her deep interest in my success, I dare say I would have much less. Because I have a Mother that is there for me, I have a decent livelihood. Literally.
However, my Mom is not with me every second of every day. She does not follow me to school. She doesn’t watch TV with me. She no longer drives me to church. I am at an age where I can sustain myself in certain areas and do not necessarily need her assistance. I know how to tie my shoes… she doesn’t have to help me with everything.
As I dwell on the history I have with my Mom, I wonder if my history with God should be the same. You see, when I was young, my parents fed and clothed and cleaned and drove and held me. When I became older, I began learning to function on my own, and started relying on my parents more for emotional or monetary needs, rather than all the physical. I learned to read and eat and walk and drive and talk, though, not in that order. Should my relationship with Christ be similar? Should I depend immediately on God when I am a baby Christian and not as much when I am celebrating a half a century? I believe so… sort of.
“I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.”
1 Corinthians 3:2
The Church of Corinth had to be addressed as “infants of Christ.” (1 Cor. 3:1) Apparently they weren’t ready for real spiritual matters, otherwise Paul could have talked to them however he so pleased. So then, is there a ladder of language in which God speaks to us? Is there a level of knowledge we must reach before we can succeed in life on our own?
“For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”
Hebrews 5:13-14
I do not think it is wise for us to depend on our Lord and Savior to do everything for us – we know how to tie our shoes, so he does not need to help us there. We know how to pray for others, and for those who are unsure, he gives us a bible filled with examples. God does not need to put out our clothes for tomorrow because we can decide for ourselves what is reasonable to put on and in our bodies. We will make mistakes, but God understands that. He doesn’t expect us to be perfect on our own; that is why he is the Father.
However, I do not believe that we are to ever leave God behind – he has all the control in his hands. As with our relationship with our parents, we should never dismiss them saying we know it all. Whether we are five or fifty five, they can always teach us a lesson. God always has something to teach us.
Though the baby Christian deep down loves learning and desire discipline, sometimes, I feel like God is nagging at me. There’s too many things I need to do to act righteously or so many duties to represent his name. But God isn’t trying to control my behavior… He wants my heart. He is not concerned that I follow the law, but love Him to the fullest. Just like my Mom. She isn’t so much set on me completing every task and chore perfectly, but understanding what needs to be done in life. She wants me to succeed.
Love seems to be popular. Well, that’s a major understatement! Let me fix it…
The concept of love and being loved is not just expected, but nearly required for mediocrity and all humanity.
There. Did I fix the understatement?
It seems like everyday there is a new couple. Someone is always got the hots for someone else. And the radio clearly proves that we found love in a hopeless place, love is a battlefield, and she gives [you] crazy love. The phrase “falling in love” is also commonly accepted. A guy or gal does a nice thing and that makes us feel a certain way, and we fall in love with them. They make us laugh, they listen to us, they love the way we lie, they make us love them like a love song, then our song [becomes] the slam of screen doors… oh sorry. There’s just too many love songs out there. Who could resist?
The hackneyed, overuse of the phrase “falling in love” deems the lover out of control. If you fall into love, you cannot do anything about it… you are stuck with love. So, if we cannot control how we feel, we cannot control our anger? Our hatred? So we are doomed to kill those we despise? A little extreme, but if we do not control the actions of those we love, we wouldn’t be able to control the actions of those we don’t.
Gee, I’d hate for God to fall out of love with me. Considering love is often linked with lust, looks, and laughter… I’d be in trouble. I have bad breath in the morning and my humor is much too dry. Good thing God doesn’t rate me on earthly maturity, because I really would be bound to hell.
God loves me solely because I am of His creation, and when good ole sister Eve turned the relationship sketchy, he sent his only Son Jesus so that I could still be with God. God doesn’t love me because I’m an okay kid, or I mean well. He loves me because I am His… His creation, in His image, His child… and I chose to accept these truths, place them in my life, and love God back.
Love is a sacrificial, rational, sober decision that is not coerced. God does not force us to love him, or obey him for that matter.
“…then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…”
Joshua 24:15b
Thankfully, we do control and choose our feelings; we can also dismiss our actions as an accepted standard of society, but we are still in charge of how we feel. No one can be bound to love… like I said, love is a sacrificial, rational, sober decision that one steps into, not slips into. You cannot force someone to love you. With that said, God loves each and every one of us.
God chose you. He did not fall in love with you, your good looks, your flaws, your good intentions, or your thoughts! And thank God He didn’t.
Aren’t you so incredibly glad that God doesn’t fall in love with you? Because if God could fall IN love… then He could fall OUT also.
And God does not fall out of love with us.
“The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3
God takes ownership of his love for us. It’s all up in his book. He never dismisses his affection for us as an act of conformity. Take ownership of how you feel. If you realize you feel negatively or perhaps something against the bible, bring it to God. Don’t hide your feelings. But don’t act like you can’t control them. If you have outrageous behaviors for your significant other, don’t blame them on the heart. They are your doings. All yours.
Do you have any actions or feelings that you don’t take ownership of?
“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.”
Ephesians 5:1
What a huge responsibility as well as honor to imitate our God, our Lord, our Savior! Christians are up for the challenge. So here’s my question, oh imitators of God… would He have a Facebook?
Now now, I am not hating on internet social media. After all, I am on it quite often considering you are reading this. But it cannot hurt to refresh our thinking on our routinely-lived life. If we truly want to imitate God, we will analyze the minutes of our day to do so. And so we begin.
When [trying to] imitate God, the first question is usually, “What does God do?” Thankfully, there are many verses to tell me what God does. Ephesians 4:32, for instance, informs us to “forgive each other, as God forgave you.” Luke 6:36 tells us to “be merciful, just as [our] Father is.” Colossians 1:16 says that “all things were created” by God. Now, I’m sure God doesn’t expect us to create another dimension of humanity and world, but surely He wants us to forgive, love, heal, and give mercy. So the Holy Bible informs us of the good and powerful acts God does… but nowhere have I ever seen a list of things God doesn’t do. The Bible never really says “God didn’t speak to so-and-so, and He didn’t do this and that…” God’s Word is nothing other than truth; it is made up of several stories of God’s people, and the book is our guide for how we are to live our lives. Paul wrote many letters to the early Christians, teaching them how to live justly for God, and many of those letters are included in the New Testament. So God gives us stories of His people, guidelines to structure our life with (such as the Ten Commandments or the Sermon On the Mount), and copies of the letters for the first Christians… we should be satisfied, right?
In truth, we are not. If we were satisfied, questions such as “Is cussing wrong?” or “Is Harry Potter sinful?” would not arise. Many Christians want to imitate Christ, but they want the exact blueprint. The most well-known phrase – thanks to the 90′s – is “WWJD – What would Jesus Do?” Of course! If we are acting as Jesus would act, we would only imitate what he would do! Perfect phrase. Thanks to whoever made it famous.
Ephesians 5:1 and the WWJD phrase bring me back to my original question… would Jesus have a Facebook?
Would He?
Would Jesus be the one who posts a status every hour, or would He be the one who rebels against social network? Surely the Son of God wouldn’t waste his time on such a frivolous cyber-world. Then again, surely the Prince of Peace wouldn’t withdraw from many opportunities to inspire, counsel, and encourage others.
The answer is up for your imagination. Certainly if Jesus did, He would be praising His Father and lifting up His name. Maybe He would be the person that gets on your nerves, posting Bible verses, only mentioning Godly matters, and praising God in every comment He posts on people’s pictures… or maybe He would be the introvert that only responds to wall posts and messages, changing His profile picture every few months just to keep it updated, its only purpose to keep connected with those far away… maybe, maybe not.
We know one thing for sure, that no matter what Jesus posted or responded with, He would be honest.
Jesus is pure and full of truth and righteousness. While we humans have the allusion of making ourselves look more kind, Christian, and/or desirable on Facebook, Jesus would need no such persuasion. Those who knew Him knew He meant what He said and said what He meant. The Son of God is faithful, one hundred percent! (See what I did there? Gotta love the movie Horton Hears A Who)
So maybe the reason I ask isn’t just so I can know for sure whether or not to be guilty about Facebooking, but to remind us how God would handle it. Jesus lived on this earth and dealt with life the way people did back then, and he would have done the same thing now that he did then, because he is the same everyday.
Just remember next time you are scrolling down your news feed…
“Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”
Have you ever been told that one?
Perhaps the phrase originated from a long time ago, when people went around selling eggs for money. That happened a lot during The Great Depression, I’m told. So it was coined decades ago, and still serves a valid point, right? The quote informs us not to keep all your hope, energy, and/or money on one said thing. Especially into things that may, can, and will fail, such as… a basket in your hands.
I completely agree. When it comes to applying for college, jobs, and investments, we shouldn’t be so narrow-minded into having one specific goal to obtain… we live in an imperfect world made up of imperfect people like you and me, who cause problems, start wars, and create traffic. Life can’t be so certain to only have one outcome, so it is best not to expect just one – that makes sense.
So don’t depend on humans or schedules to satisfy your uncertain circumstances of life; yes, I agree, but what about God? He’s a bit supernatural, don’t you think? While putting all our hope and energy into a company is irresponsible, wouldn’t it also be illogical to put your all into a God, especially an invisible, free-will kind of King?
“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”
Deuteronomy 6:5
Honestly, I see how illogical Christianity can seem. Devoting our time to charities, loving your enemies, volunteering at Church, denying yourself daily, being kind and humble, not judging others… the good deeds done out of love sometimes become a tiresome list of chores, and when that kind of list gets long, doubt sneaks in. Do you ever want a backup just in case God isn’t real or in case you decide to ditch the list? I mean, have you ever wondered if Islam, Atheism, Buddhism, Judaism, or Catholicism was maybe just as rewarding?
Doubt can make us stronger if we don’t let the fear overcome us. Doubt can also keep us from committing to people, though. If you are unsure of an outcome, you may not put all your eggs in that basket. You want to insure yourself some reward after keeping up so much effort and trust in one place.
Jesus gave his all for us on Calvary. The Master bled, sweat, and prayed for you. For me. For everyone. He invites us to love Him with all our hearts, with everything in us. He invites us to put all our eggs in one basket… His.
We carry our life, but He asks to be the ringleader. Accepting him takes quite a bit of trust.
Personally, giving God my all is a hard subject. For me it means I give up everything I am, everything I think, everything I do, and who wants to become a slave without knowing there is greener grass on the lawn? I am no different in hoping for a good reward from God, but I should be. I should put all my trust in God, no matter how hard life gets. I need to put all my eggs in one basket for sure. This post couldn’t be any more directed towards me than anyone else. But I hope I am not alone in the sneaking doubt that sometimes creeps up. I hope someone else reading this actually agrees or understands or cares or wants to change. I sure do.
If you are one hundred percent strong in your faith, then go on with your day and buy some chocolate bunnies. If you have a percent missing somewhere, don’t worry, you are still allowed to buy Easter candy, too, but we might want to consider thinking theologically for a few more minutes.
Can we put all our faith in God? He did that for us when He was crucified, and his crucifixion wasn’t a pretty afternoon. His disciples fled and denied him. They were not sure of the rewards that they had expected. Jesus didn’t promise them rewards, big or small. They had to trust and just have faith. Like Nike, they had to “just do it.”
This week, when you’re buying those yummy chocolate bunnies, eggs, and crosses, think about the sacrifice God made. He put all of himself on the cross, but He didn’t need a reward from us. He did it whether he was accepted by one or four billion. He gave you the choice to trust him, but he has no promise of your commitment until you notify him.
Will you accept his request and stick all your eggs in one basket?
“In your precious name I ask it.”
How fast can you say that? Two seconds? One and a half? Really swift, right, because we have said it so many times. In restaurants. At dinner tables. In cars. At Sunday school. In anywhere, at every place… so common. So routine. So hackneyed. So then… do we mean it?
Is His name really precious to us? Then why do we brush over the words so quickly?
Is our time actually valuable to us? Then why do we waste it saying things we don’t mean?
In His precious name… what are we asking for?
Less loans, more money, less problems, more vacation time? What are you asking the God of Creation who spoke “Be there” and the wind went? What are you inquiring in his name – your future, someone else’s past? Maybe you are asking for your well being. So often I do that. I ask for God to “help me make my day count.” In His precious name, of course.
I have nothing wrong with humbly asking and receiving in God’s truly, holy, awesome name. But if precious just got degraded down to the level of words like groovy and bogus, there must be a problem. Prayers should be serious, correct? They are, in fact, to the God who raised his own human form of himself from death in a time when those shock things were totally not invented. They are to the God who recommended his holy friend Job to Satan to toy with. They are to the God who has a bunch of other reasons that I have never even discovered or read on because I don’t have a PhD in Religion or the Bible. Often I wish I did know everything from the Bible, so that these words I say in a prayer would mean something to me – not that my prayers are completely dry and meaningless, but as the Mad Hatter told Alice, they have lost their “muchness”. They used to be much, muchier.
Not only do the words mean less, but saying them is generally easy, while following up with them can prove to be a big challenge. Asking God for money, peace, or love always seems to have a replied action on our part. If I pray for patience, I may be put in a situation where long lines are the norm. If I ask for peace, I might be put in a place where chaos dwells. Words mean something. So why are we saying “Mother May I?” prayers with God?
Though God is the ruler over this whole earth, I find it easy to ignore that with the demands of day-to-day living. However, I shouldn’t. Praying honestly and seriously can change your prayer life, and your mindset, and your everything-else-life. I have seen many examples of God’s love hitting the spot for serious Christians. I have learned from many mentors that God is not going to give me what I want always, but what I need, regardless of what I ask of Him. I have further learned that If I am going to really be a devout, God-fearing follower, I had better learn to genuinely pray to my Father and quit playing the “Mother May I?” game with Him.
“So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.”
1 Corinthians 14:15
Anyone seen the reality show “Hoarding: Buried Alive”? I haven’t actually watched, but I have seen many commercials on it. For those who haven’t, the show is generally about Americans with excess stuff piled high in their homes. People who spend their life hiding and hoarding and happened to make it to the screen. The good and bad right inside their door, only visible to their loved ones before put on national television. The idea is for them to be free of the junk.
The main thing that I ever hoard is Oreos. Ask my Mom, that yummy box of American goodness is in my dresser, in my closet, under the TV set, behind the window curtains… everywhere. Surely it’s okay for me to hoard Oreos, though, since they are unhealthy for others… right? Am I right?
No? Didn’t think so.
I understand the concept of hiding unhealthy things, and I can see why punishments are involved. But what about hoarding good stuff?
What about hoarding Godly tasks and items?
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Colossians 3:12-14
Do you hoard grace? Do hide patience? Do you keep forgiveness? Do you avoid hospitality?
Most people agree that Christians are to be generous in their time, love, and efforts.
So, are we?
Do you need a reality show to come and record a scene on your heart’s home? What lays in your layer of good intentions that stay below the surface? What do you chain up behind your door? Oreos, or something even more important?
Are you holding back forgiveness meant for a backstabber?
Why? That makes us worse than Oreo hoarders. Not only do we not share delicious Cresco treats, but by not sharing forgiveness, we keep freedom from ourselves and especially others – and true freedom is very healthy, I believe.
I need to work on sharing Oreos, but even more so, grace and forgiveness.
You know, the weather has been rather hectic lately. Several cities and towns have literally lost everything, from houses to iPods to neighbors. It’s truly tragic that the winds have caused such an uproar… not to mention the temperatures. Up and down. Frost then sunshine then rain then tornado. For those who have not been hit heavily by the weather, we are going on with our lives. Though we are concerned for a few weeks with the cities who are barely holding on, we are practically right back in our office seats, logging onto our email, scheduling doctors appointments, and everything else that the American dream has lead us to enjoy. For the many who were unaffected by the storms, they are just our excuse. The weathers is just like traffic. “Oh, it was raining cats and dogs and the interstate was busy, sorry for being late!”
So often we view things like weather, traffic, and lines as Cause and Effect. If the weather is good, we are glad, and if it is bad, we complain and use it as our way out of doing things we should’ve been doing.
Here’s a few examples:
Because it is raining, I won’t go on a walk around the block for exercise.
Because my favorite TLC show is on (Cake Boss, of course), I won’t clean up the living room.
Because there is a long line near the Pastor, I won’t to go down to the altar.
Because traffic is heavy, I won’t stop to help the couple with a broken-down car.
Because it is not my turn to do the dishes, I won’t do them.
Some excuses are easier to see than others, but there is no excuse for that either. (<<See what I did there?)
We blame long lines. We blame bad weather. We blame our children's safety. But in each case, we are really just making ourselves comfortable. We are making sure we do not have to complete anything more than "good enough.” We are keeping our lives easy, breezy, and beautiful… but what if hardships weren’t in our life for us to give up? What if problems were there for us to overcome them?
Doesn’t God want us to press through? Doesn’t He say times will get hard? (Genesis 3:17; Philippians 1:30) Doesn’t He say we are to join in fighting through the hard times?
“You are talking like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?”
Job 2:10
Job says that to his wife, calling her a foolish woman. Of course this verse can be used as a hit on women’s rights, but I believe that battle has been overall won. Plus, if you look at the context, the wife was only thinking rationally – her children and income and stability had all been swept away from her, in the same day, almost simultaneously. She told her husband Job to “curse God and die!” and what is so wrong with that when you are feeling absolutely hopeless and alone? She was only making what we would call… a legitimate excuse.
Bad days are not an excuse, they are a circumstance. Furthermore, Christianity isn’t like school in the aspect of missing days – you cannot skip being a Christian or act like a heathen a few days and get an excuse for it. God doesn’t do excuses. He does obedience. So excuses make our life easier, but I don’t know that God created us for an easy life. Why would we need Him, then?
Suffering stings, storms tower, and anger sticks closer than the little brother that bugs you. Don’t make your circumstances of life an excuse for poor living. Don’t justify your lack of love, dedication, or time because of a lack of your wants. Don’t make bad days be a bad attitude day; try not to Cause-and-Effect your life, considering you won’t be graded for the plot that pans out on its own.
Your needs are almost always met, so use those to your advantage, like they could be swept away in a tornado tomorrow. Don’t exempt yourself from others in need.
Start paying up, sharing your life, and caring about others.
Start living.
