Some people are afraid of storms. I can't say I'm one of those people. When it's raining hard and there's thunder and lightning you're actually likely to find me under the roof of my back porch, watching and breathing in the storm. I do understand why storms are scary though. They're so powerful, and so unpredictable. They can cause so much damage.
We have storms in our lives sometimes. Days, weeks, and months when it seems like things are out of control and there's so much damage occurring. Those are the storms that I am afraid of.
We often talk about bad things - fights, injuries, crises - as the raindrops of life. They all fall down at once and make us feel cold and miserable. It's hard to find shelter. But if we look beyond our present misery, those raindrops might be doing some good. The rain that falls from the sky, though sometimes inconvenient, is essential to our earth. Maybe those hard times in life are also essential. They teach us so many things. They teach us to look for the good in life and be thankful in all circumstances. They teach us to be content. They teach us patience. Psalm 40:1-3 says:
"I waited patiently for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to out God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the Lord."
It's always interesting after (or during) a long ordeal to look back and consider how God is using the rain to bring forth new growth in your life. He is a master of using everything in our lives for our good. What is an unexpected way in which God has blessed you lately?
There are two common viewpoints that I've encountered in my life. I never really gave much thought to either. And I certainly never realized the connection until this morning. It was a beautiful Spirit-filled moment.
First, there's the view I've gotten from society about rules. How often do we appreciate rules? If I'm being honest with myself, I'd have to say not very often. Generally the viewpoint is that rules are hindrances. They make life less fun and too complicated.
Second, there's the view I've heard from church about sin. Often we hear in church that sin puts us in bondage. It makes sense that those things which go against God's plan would cause chaos and hurt in our lives.
So how are these two viewpoints connected? As usual, the viewpoint of the church (or more accurately, the Bible) is healthier than that of the world. As I've grown older and developed a broader mind, I've been able to see the usefulness in laws and rules. They keep us safe and protect our rights. The same goes with God's law. His law, when kept perfectly, is the perfect rulebook for a happy life.
A friend of mine gave me a devotional book for Christmas called Breaking Free Day by Day. As I've read through each day and gone about my daily life, it's really hit me how bound we are by sin. Particularly those "harmless" sins of the mind such as despair, hatred, pride, and jealousy. Why do we hang on to them? Why do we allow ourselves to be chained up daily by thoughts and attitudes that hinder our ability to love? The answer is simple: We are sinful beings. It's our human nature to cling to the sins that seem so natural to us. I will admit that sometimes it feels good to be angry or arrogant. But the momentary rush that comes from allowing those feelings to have control cannot even compare to the lasting relief of letting them go.
As I said, sin comes naturally to us. We're born with it. So it's hard to let go. That's why we have to rely on Christ Jesus, giving our sins to him. He's the only one who can take them and truly make them disappear. He even says it himself! "Jesus replied, 'I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.'" (John 8:34-36)
It's a daily process, but it's so worth it. Confession is difficult, but there is peace to be found in the forgiveness of God and any others affected by our sin. Although the law may seem a burden, it's actually the best way to avoid the burden of sin. God gives us rules so that we can live peacefully with each other and enjoy his blessings.
"I have chosen the way of truth;
I have set my heart on your laws.
I hold fast to your statutes, O Lord;
do not let me be put to shame.
I run in the path of your commands,
for you have set my heart free."
Psalm 119:30-32
Let go of your sins, live by the law, and be free!
I had the privilege of spending this last weekend at the Ongoing Ambassadors for Christ (OAFC) New Years Gathering, and I must say, this year may have been my favorite ever. Many different factors contributed to this, but a large part of it was the theme chosen for this year - "Unity Through Humility". The devotions and Bible studies that saturated the weekend came at just the right time with just the right theme for my life. Hopefully I can implement the lessons learned. The theme verses for the event came from Philippians 2:1-11, which I've already talked about before in this post. So I thought I'd look at another section associated with the theme that was the subject of one of our Bible studies.
1 Corinthians 12 talks about spiritual gifts and our role in the body of Christ. Verses 17 and 18 say, "If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be."
I could go on for quite a while with the literal meaning of these verses. Our physical bodies are truly miraculous in the way they are arranged for maximum efficiency. Just the other day I got a good laugh from a friend who was musing about the complications that would arise if our mouths were in the back of our heads, rather than the front. Anyway, the passage is really using the physical body as an analogy for the "Body of Christ" - the growing, moving, and working church. This doesn't even just apply to one congregation or denomination. All Christians are called to follow Christ's example and work together in His service. We are called to Christian unity. We must make peace with each other and be unified to fully live out our Christian purpose. And the best way to do that is by taking on an attitude of humility. This doesn't mean that we cannot recognize the importance of our own individual gifts. The verses above speak to the contrary. Each personality carries with it special abilities and functions that are necessary. These gifts are from God, and should be celebrated and esteemed! However the danger comes when we begin to esteem our own abilities more than those of others.
It is all too easy to look at a situation you are in the midst of and convince yourself that you're contributing more than someone else. That attitude is prideful, and quite honestly narrow-minded. It breeds jealousy and contempt. My personal experience has made it clear that jealousy and contempt are poisonous emotions that drain time and energy. If we go back to 1 Corinthians 12:26, we find a better suggestion for relating to people around us: "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it." If we are truly unified and truly humble, this is how we should react to each other, showing compassion for each others hardships and joy for each others blessings. There is no room for jealousy and contempt next to such strong love. Love is an emotion that really satisfies.
I know very well that it's often hard to swallow our sinfully selfish human nature. We have our own sorrows, how can we bear the sorrows of others? In the end however, it's always worth it when you find yourself being the one who needs sympathy or congratulations. Compassion is a sacrifice that often reaps great rewards. Strive every day to see the value in everything around you, and recognize the importance of people's actions. Everyone deserves to feel appreciated.
