We don’t have to look very far to see people who are experiencing heartache and devastation – and probably feeling quite hopeless. Just turn on the television news and follow a few minutes of the coverage of Hurricane Ian and how this storm has ravaged not only Florida, but states, islands and territories northward and southward. Perhaps you have friends, neighbors and relatives who are struggling with a myriad of issues that keep them up at night and have upended their entire lives. It’s easy to get discouraged these days. Let’s face it, we’ve all been through a lot in these last few years. And perhaps you are “in the thick of things” even this day.
I have been talking to God about several dear people I know who are going through substantial challenges and heartaches. I have humbly admitted to Him that these are big problems, and I have wondered how they will ever resolve. I have also asked God, “What can I say or do that will offer these people some semblance of hope – especially when my own confidence is somewhat lacking at times?” And God has reminded me that He is still with us.
Most assuredly, I have heard God say, “Do you remember when XYZ happened? Remember how I was with you and carried you through that situation and heartache?” God has brought to my mind moments in my own life when things were completely beyond my control…times when I had no idea what would happen next – or how I would endure the challenges. God has not singled me out. In fact, I feel I have lived a wonderfully blessed life. I may not have been able to see Him at work at the time I was in the middle of something…but in retrospect, I clearly see how He guarded and guided me.
Believe it or not, God has equipped you for what you are experiencing this day. And He is with you in the middle of it all. Perhaps God is calling you this day to offer another person grace and encouragement in his/her struggle…to share in some way out of your own abundance and blessings. Maybe God is bringing you front and center with someone who needs to hear, “I got through something similar…and God will bring you through this!” Maybe God is reminding you today of the many times He has walked alongside you and met you right in that moment…and this is your moment to truly sit with Him and express your gratitude.
Take inventory and note the times that God has blessed you in astonishing ways. Ask Him to give you insight into how you can share these blessings and His grace, love and hope with others. God didn’t redeem and bless us so we could sit back and revel in our triumphs and successes. He has designed us for missions and ministries – and sharing the love, grace and mercy of Jesus. This is the day to be grateful – and to ask God, “What’s next?” Ask Him to show you what needs to be done – and how He intends for you to do your part. Alleluia!
2 Corinthians 8:7-9
You do everything better than anyone else. You have stronger faith. You speak better and know more. You are eager to give, and you love us better. Now you must give more generously than anyone else.
When things were at their worst for my ancestors, when the political and social fabric of their nation was being torn apart, when many of the things they relied on were being taken away, when their history seemed out of their own control: that is when my elders embodied their deepest values. They did not have wealth or power. But they did have one another and together they had faith. That is what got them through the hardest times: their sense of being related and their belief in the Spirit. They teach us all that nothing can overcome us if we are united and faithful. – Steven Charleston
Retired bishop, academic and author, Steven Charleston, speaks of his Choctaw heritage when he refers to ancestors who demonstrated great faith and a sense of community. We often overlook the oppression of Native American tribes when we think of discrimination, bigotry, and bias. Truly, their faith continues to be tested even today in many ways. They have suffered greatly at the hands of others, and their examples of tenacity, faithfulness and love for one another should be studied and internalized by all of us.
We would all do well to study Native American history alongside that of other races and cultures who have been so abused and exploited. We could learn a lot from their faithfulness…how they have banded together to prayerfully endure hardships and heartaches, all while trusting that God will provide and sustain them. I am fascinated by the stories of slaves who gathered at night to sing hymns and pray after spending their days in exhaustive work for their masters. They still found energy to give the real Master His time, to worship Him and seek His will for their lives.
I share these thoughts to suggest to you that we all seem to be drawn to bright, shiny objects. We seem to be more inclined to serve God when we are in the company of friends and those with whom we wish to fit in somehow. We seem more focused on the acceptance of others than we are the acceptance of Jesus Christ. Too many Christians are advocating that we stop teaching the history of how minorities like African-Americans, Jews, and Native Americans and others have been mistreated. And Bishop Charleston is among those who are reminding us that God does not see color, ethnic origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, or dollar signs.
God couldn’t care less how much you make or which social group you run in (or wish to be included). God does not love someone with a string of college degrees any more than the person who may have never been afforded the opportunity for a formal education. If you have read scripture, you know that God does not sugar-coat history or try to alter what we know about hatred and oppression – and how destructive and disobedient these sentiments and actions are. And neither should we.
Paul is reminding us that God measures how much we love Him by how we treat His children – all of them! Who is in your “community” of influence – your circle of believers? Do you pick and choose who receives your missions and ministries based on social and political criteria…or do you simply go where God sends you? Are there qualifiers to your words, actions, and demonstrations of grace in the name of Jesus? As Bishop Charleston has noted, nothing can overcome us if we are united and faithful – and I would add…operating in the love, grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. These are the “riches” that matter. How “rich” are you these days?
Today is National Sons Day. Like several others, I was a day premature and posted photos of our boys yesterday. We are not their parents, but we love them like our own. Social media is flooded with photos of sons who are beloved by their parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles. A few days earlier, the same thing happened with National Daughters Day.
Today is also the day that the state of Florida is poised to endure a potentially deadly hurricane…one that CNN.com notes could be the strongest recorded storm “to ever make landfall on the west coast of the Florida Peninsula.” All around the country, people are sharing in a celebration of male offspring…and praying for those affected by a devastating hurricane in the southernmost state in our nation. It struck me this morning that we have all managed to find “common ground” on these two topics.
I know that some are already politicizing aspects of Hurricane Ian…the talk has begun about climate change has an impact on such storms, how emergency response will occur, and who will be in charge and/or take “credit” for rescue and recovery efforts. But many are finding a way to look past this – if only briefly – and concentrate on prayers and concerns for the people in the path of the storm. We are taking a breath and talking about how to help…assembling people and supplies and preparing to move in and help the state repair and restore needed services. It seems that for many, the pervading question is…“What can we do?”
Collective efforts to celebrate sons and daughters – and to assist those facing a natural disaster – show us that we can come together and make peace among ourselves as Christ commands. We can set aside our selfish desires, personal agendas, and hateful attitudes to see others as Christ sees them…precious and loved as equally as He cares for us. In many ways, there is no time like today to forget the past and move forward with Jesus…to change how we look at others – and to see them with “new eyes” and a new heart.
This day will come and go…and all too soon, many will forget about Florida and people in other areas that have suffered from natural disasters, war, the pandemic, and more. We will go back to our daily routines – and sadly, many will fall right back into a pattern of bickering and divisiveness. But we don’t have to do this. We can keep seeking common ground. We can keep looking at each other through the eyes of Jesus. We can strive to treat others as Christ desires…and to do our part to make peace with others.
I don’t know what this looks like for you, specifically. We are all at different places/stages in this journey. Spend some time in prayer and contemplation and figure out where you need to find common ground with others and love with the love of Christ. Ask Him to show you how to begin the process of making peace with others and fully living in your “New Life” as His disciple. And pray for the people of Florida and all affected by disaster and heartache this day. Jesus has called us to love one another…and it’s time for us to answer with faithful obedience. Alleluia, and Amen!
In the words of author and television personality, Robin Roberts, “Everybody’s got something.” You don’t have to look very far to find someone with a physical impediment of some sort. Others are dealing with mental struggles…relationship issues, depression, and dementia. Some of my dearest friends are dyslexic, while others are recovering addicts and alcoholics. I am well-acquainted with several people who have become unable to drive because of age and ailments…and others who are barely able to walk. Some require assistance to transfer from one place to another. A couple of dear friends are suffering with aphasia…the inability to speak. My own grandmother developed this condition and watching her struggle to communicate was heartbreaking.
Every one of these people has been blessed with the gift of Christ’s undeserved grace. And many offer a powerful witness to the rest of us, despite whatever affliction threatens to weaken them. They are effective in their encouragement of others. They bear witness to the love and care of Jesus for all His children. Yes, Christ could surely “heal” each one of these beloved people of whatever ails or challenges them. Yes, God could stop all death and destruction…all hatred, dissension, and discrimination. But if He did this, how would we demonstrate our trust and faith in Him? The day that everything is truly perfect, you and I will be in Heaven!
Meanwhile, on this earth, we are called to rise above our “sufferings” and show others how God equips and strengthens us, even in difficulty. We are to demonstrate empathy for those who are struggling – and encourage them. We are to show the world how we work to bring people together, stamp out hatred and dissension, and include all in our circle of love and acceptance – all in the name of Christ Jesus. We are to do all we can to “heal” others and offer them God’s gift of undeserved grace.
Like Paul, there have surely been times when I have asked God to remove a certain challenge or affliction from my life. But I trust His timing…and His will. Whatever He gives me, it will always be covered in more grace, love, and care than I deserve. I am confident that with Christ in my life, all things really are possible. And I am compelled to keep moving forward toward that end.
Yes, everybody’s got something, but with God, everybody’s got love, grace, mercy and His power in abundance. It’s time we started demonstrating this to the world. Alleluia!
“If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.” – original author unknown
The year was 1968. I was eleven – my sister was 10. My aunt (Mother’s sister) was twenty, so of course, we thought she was quite fun. One weekend, she said, “I’m going to take you girls to the movie. But don’t tell your mother what we are seeing.” The title of the show was “No Way to Treat a Lady.” My aunt and my grandmother had decided that if Mother heard this title, she would never allow us to attend the film. I knew this, as well, but I was afraid we would be in trouble later when Mother found out about it. So of course, I told my mother – and we didn’t go.
To this day, I have not seen this film, but I plan to try to watch at least part of it soon on a streaming service. The IMDB.com synopsis says, “A crafty serial killer plays a game of cat-and-mouse with a harried police detective trying to track him down.” Clearly, the title was designed to attract attention and draw movie-goers – and while there is a female character, I think the title was a crafty ploy to attract movie-goers. But as an 11-year-old girl with a very strict mother, I knew she would not be pleased if we saw something with such a “suggestive” title. For the record, neither my aunt and grandmother – nor my little sister – were happy with me after that!
I probably missed out on an entertaining outing that weekend. And there have been other times when I have swallowed hard and stepped up and out, with mixed results. There are people who will not speak to me today because of stands I have taken on certain issues. There are some who have stepped forward to embrace me because of my position. I was truly blessed to receive many heartwarming messages of love and encouragement a few days ago when I shared about my brother, Tim, and his struggles as a gay man.
There are two things I want to remind you of today. First, we are supposed to share encouragement with others. When we can commiserate in a “shared experience” – loss of loved ones, physical ailments, social struggles…we should. People truly do not care what we know until they know that we care. When we can genuinely assure them, “I have been in your shoes,” it makes a difference. I remember a few years ago when a young friend was not selected for a job he really wanted. I went to him and shared how I was not selected for a teaching position I greatly desired…and it changed my life in ways I could not have imagined – all of them good! It matters when we can speak to someone from our heart and our own happenstance – and offer insight and encouragement.
The other thing I want you to remember is that the Holy Spirit is always with us. When we stand up and speak out about hard things, He is there to guide and guard us. Admittedly, what we are declaring may not be welcomed by all. We will often be sticking our necks out – possibly even literally. Even in small-town America, people “suffer” injury and damage to life and property because of a stance they have taken that is unpopular. Families divide…friendships dissolve…sometimes, a person and/or his property is physically harmed. Jesus didn’t promise us “easy.” But He did promise to always be with us.
So stand up and speak out when the Holy Spirit nudges you. Don’t be a rabble-rouser just for the sake of creating controversy…but don’t compromise your values and the guidance you know that God is giving you. Always be loving and kind in your delivery, actions, and reactions. Prayerfully trust God to use your faithful obedience to further His Kingdom. When we faithfully and obediently stand for the things that God has commanded, He will bless us – and multiply our efforts for His glory. And this is really all that matters. Alleluia!
I could give you a lengthy list of friends and loved ones who are going through hard times these days…but you probably have your own detailed and equally-long register. There is plenty of suffering and hard times to go around. This morning, I exchanged messages with a childhood friend whose wife died last week. He said, “Life goes on no matter how hard it seems sometimes. Nobody ever said this would be easy!” He is right…but God has called us to come alongside one another, share burdens, and lift spirits.
My husband’s class just held their 50th reunion celebration. At a dinner program, each class member in attendance stepped to the microphone and briefly told us about his/her life over the last half century. Every person had a story…and while some were filled with joys and triumphs, all had experienced at least momentary heartache – and some have struggled greatly. We celebrated delights and victories – cancer cured and new grandchildren. We commiserated and consoled each other over health challenges, lost loved ones, and other struggles. As we grew and matured – and many moved away – our circle of friends widened and changed…and our missions and ministries transformed, as well. But the call to care for others and encourage them as God would direct has never wavered.
Look around…someone near you is sick or suffering. Someone is feeling lonely, frustrated, isolated, forgotten, or even frightened. How are you doing your part to be there for them, as God is there for us? How are you coming alongside them as God stands by each of us – and letting these people know that you care…that God cares? Sometimes, all a person needs is a phone call, a note or card, a text message – or even a smile and nod across the way – to know that you care greatly about them. Our gestures as Christ’s disciples don’t always have to be grand.
At Greg’s class reunion, we snapped a photo with three men who served as ushers in our wedding 48 years ago. They are among a handful of people in our “wedding party” who are still alive. More times than we can count, we have stood together and lifted each other through trimphs – and tribulations. We have been reminded that life is fleeting and uncertain…but God’s love, grace and mercy endure. You and I are called to do all we can to ensure that every person we encounter knows how precious he/she is…to God and to others. We are to love others…deeply, continually, and without condition or reservation.
If we have ascertained anything, it should be that life is brief and uncertain. We might not have another opportunity to share the love and grace of Christ with another person. So make the most of this day – and each opportunity, and love others with a full measure! Alleluia!
Greg’s high school graduating class is celebrating their 50th reunion this weekend. On Friday, a tour of the high school campus was arranged, and several class members attended. The Student Council sponsor (a teacher) graciously met us at 4:00 p.m., along with several Council members, and they gave us a tour and chronology of how the school campus has evolved since we once inhabited this footprint. There were many additions/remodels, but the group found their class composite hanging on a wall and posed for pictures beneath their “senior pictures.”
Then we entered the older portion of the high school building…the “hallowed halls” we roamed for six years in grades 7-12. And the stories and memories came flooding out of us. We laughed until we all but cried as we remembered the times we shared there. Even the “troublesome” events were remembered with a laugh. And you should have seen the young students’ faces as they learned how things were “back in the day”…how girls were sent home for dresses that had hems measuring too high above the knee…how the principal took one boy to the restroom and cut his long hair…how there was a “smoking tree” at one corner of the campus (beneath what is now a beautiful Performing Arts Center).
As I read this passage today, I thought about this group of “kids.” Greg and I began dating when he was a high school senior, so I spent a lot of time with them – then and now. What struck me yesterday was that none of us were “rich” in terms of money. Some of our families had it better than others. Some of the students lived with grandparents – and yes, some struggled to find food to eat at times or had to work their way through high school. But in the scheme of things, I cannot think of a single classmate I would have classified as coming from a “wealthy” family where money was no object.
As adults, many classmates have “done well” and are quite comfortable. I don’t know that even today, any of us are what the world would consider “wealthy,” but we are well enough. But as I looked around at the group, I realized that when we get together, nobody thinks about material riches…and really, we’ve never thought of each other in those terms. Long, abiding friendships were cultivated and nurtured between many of us without a single consideration for who had what – or how much.
We are having a dinner party tonight at the home of a classmate. It occurred to me that three of the attendees were ushers in our wedding – 47 years ago. Many people from our wedding party left for Heaven already, but these three men are still here…and we continue to have deep friendships with all of them – and many of Greg’s other classmates. That is a true “treasury.” God has blessed us with these riches!
Here’s how this relates to you and me spiritually. God is calling on us to look past another person’s outward appearance, possessions, and perceived “value” and see what and who He sees. God is calling on us to encounter others with grace and love and an understanding that their heart is all that matters. Truthfully, the “playing field” is leveled in God’s eyes…and it should be in ours, as well. Do not miss out on the joy and blessings of a deep and abiding relationship with someone else because he/she is different – or not up to your standards in some manner. Love others with the abandon of high school kids from a small town in Arkansas who, for the most part, formed an unlikely band of brothers and sisters that has lasted for half a century or better.
Treat others as you wish to be treated – and give people the benefit of the doubt. Remember…someone is likely doing this for you, as well! Store up the riches of love, grace, and relationships with other precious children of God. When we pile up God’s riches and what is important to Him, we gain so much – far more than money could ever buy. Seek this day to love others with the love of Christ – and maybe build a lifelong relationship in the process. Do this to the glory of God forever and ever. Amen!
1 Peter 5:7-10
Let him have all your worries and cares, for he is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you.
Be careful—watch out for attacks from Satan, your great enemy. He prowls around like a hungry, roaring lion, looking for some victim to tear apart. Stand firm when he attacks. Trust the Lord; and remember that other Christians all around the world are going through these sufferings too.
September 7, 1998 (Labor Day)…my sister Suzanne, me, our grandmother, and my brother, Tim.
September 23, 1998, at approximately 7:00 a.m., I whispered into the ear of my 37-year-old brother, Tim, and told him it was time to go. He opened his eyes and looked around at me, my parents, my sister, and his dear nurse-friend Ginger. Then he closed his eyes, and Jesus gave him eternal glory. Tim’s struggles were over…the worries and cares of this world were all behind him…and he experienced complete and enduring love and acceptance.
For several months now, I have been talking in this space about unequivocal love and acceptance of all people. For me, this is extremely personal. My brother was not perfect by any stretch. He was human. And like any “little brother,” he got on my last nerve more times than I can count. But as we grew and matured…and I grew in my relationship with Jesus Christ…I came to see Tim in a whole different light.
I saw the teenager who loved medicine – and was good at caring for others. As a high school student, Tim worked nights and weekends as a hospital orderly at our rural county facility. Because the hospital was small and understaffed, Tim was soon watching heart monitors – and even administering CPR to patients until doctors and nurses arrived. He once stopped his car on Main Street when he saw a man in distress, and he gave this man CPR until a doctor could arrive on scene. This doctor later credited my teenage brother with saving the man’s life.
Tim did the hard work to conquer chemistry and other subjects, and he graduated from nursing school a few years later and became a Registered Nurse. Tim had a beautiful voice, and he sang with fellow nurses at his graduation from Baptist School of nursing. He then moved to Los Angeles, where he served as a nurse in Cardiac Care for more than a decade. He was also a private duty nurse for several patients…including Edgar Rosenberg, the husband of the late comedienne, Joan Rivers.
As I noted, Tim’s life was not perfect. Tim was gay…and in the 1970s, this was not something one discussed or declared openly – especially in a rural Arkansas community. A lot of people who knew Tim were aware of this…but the struggles and pressures of trying to be true to himself – and keep up the façade of being straight by “dating” beautiful girls and keeping his head down – led him to seek solace in drug use.
In California, Tim found love and acceptance. But he was such a loving person that far too many took advantage of his generosity, and more than once, a roommate robbed him blind, and he literally had to start over once again with just the clothes on his back. Before returning home to live in 1996, Tim made several trips to visit with the intention of telling our parents about his sexual orientation. But he was never able to have the conversation. He would collapse in tears as he told my sister and me, “I just can’t tell them.” He finally returned home in 1996, where my mother made it her mission to help him rebuild his life. And he did. He got clean from the drugs. He got a job as a Home Health nurse for our county. His patients adored him, and he worked long, hard hours caring for them and writing reports about their care. Tim worked as long as he could before liver disease made it impossible for him to keep up the pace. He helped my mother care for our dad, who was suffering from renal failure and required daily home dialysis.
Tim was a great brother, uncle, cousin, grandson, and friend to many. But he told me often, “There is no social life for a gay man in our town.” There were a few friends in our community who graciously included Tim in their social functions, and for that, I am eternally grateful. Tim began to attend church with my parents, until the day their pastor declared from the pulpit that… “AIDS is God’s punishment for homosexuality,” and declared that all gay people were destined for hell. Tim never went back to church again. The day before he passed to Heaven, that pastor showed up on my parents’ doorstep. To Mother’s credit, she refused to allow him to come inside.
Tim was a faith-filled Christian who loved Jesus and followed His command to love one another better than most. Tim never met a stranger…and he did not discriminate on any basis. As I noted (sometimes to his detriment), Tim welcomed everyone into his circle of friends – and even his home. He longed to have a family…a husband – and maybe children of his own. He would have been a wonderful, devoted father and partner. He was simply born a couple of decades too soon for the legislation and acceptance that is offered to people like him today. But at the same time, not enough has changed…and there are plenty of “Tims” in this world who suffer disparagement, exclusion, and hatred – and turn to coping mechanisms such as alcohol, drugs – and even suicide.
On this day when even 24 years later, my feelings are raw and real…hear my message. If you are still discriminating against someone – for any reason – this is the day you need to fall to your knees and ask Jesus to forgive you. If you believe for one second that members of the LGBTQ community are sinful because of how God made them, I urge you to carefully and prayerfully seek the counsel of those who can show you what God’s word truly says about how He intentionally created each one of us…and how precious we are to Him…every single person. If you think that someone can “pray the gay away” or use any other method to change how God made them, please know that this is neither helpful or true.
It has always astounded me to think that the same people who would gratefully and eagerly accept Tim’s medical care if they were having a heart attack would not want him to attend their church – or to serve as a teacher/leader or marry in their chapel or sanctuary. I am equally dumbfounded when people are surprised that a person of color is intelligent, professional, caring, and “not at all what I expected” – and how so many “Christians” in this world are filled with hatred and seem to feel that God’s love is selective and exclusive to certain people or groups.
As I think of Tim, I know he would want me to tell you that I still love you, even if you cannot accept people like him. That was one of Tim’s best attributes…he loved all others with the love of Christ. I learned a lot from my little brother, but this might have been the best lesson of all. I am fully confident that on that September morning in 1998, Jesus personally came and picked Tim up and set him firmly in place in Heaven, where he is stronger than ever – healthy and whole. Someday, I will join him there. My prayer is that you will be there, too. In the meantime, we should all make it our aim to be like Tim…to love all others – and to serve Jesus as He commands. Alleluia!
There is a cartoon I follow in our daily newspaper called “Pickles” – written and illustrated by Brian Crane. It features an older couple and some of the things they experience in day-to-day life. Recently, the husband told a friend that he had asked his wife if she would like it if he folded the laundry. She told him no thanks…she would just have to fold it again. The man sat quietly with his friend on a bench, and then he said, “Man, I love that woman!” Clearly, laundry folding is not this man’s gift – but manipulation might be! No one ever said ALL gifts come from God!
While each of us does indeed have specific gifts that God has granted us for use in His service, we are all commanded be kind and love others. Whether you use your specific gifts to accomplish this is up to you. But kindness and love are not optional.
Today marks the beginning of fall…a change of seasons. This is a good time to have a spiritual season change, as well. Spend some time in conversation with God – talking and listening. Figure out where, when, and how He wants you to use your gifts to bless others in the name of Jesus and share His love and care. Leave behind the missed opportunities of the past and boldly step into a future of serving God with everything you have – and all that He has given you! Alleluia!
1 Peter 1:18-25
Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ’s sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately—at the end of the ages—become public knowledge, God always knew he was going to do this for you. It’s because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God.
Now that you’ve cleaned up your lives by following the truth, love one another as if your lives depended on it. Your new life is not like your old life. Your old birth came from mortal sperm; your new birth comes from God’s living Word. Just think: a life conceived by God himself! That’s why the prophet said,
Last winter, I got a new vehicle. There was really nothing wrong with my “old” ride. In ten years of ownership, we had put somewhere around 50,000 miles on that SUV. But Greg wanted me to have a new vehicle with all the latest safety features, including a back-up camera. We had not purchased a brand-new car in decades, so we spent weeks and months reviewing all the options and selecting just “the one.” I nicknamed her “Pearl.” She is a beautiful white frost color. The children call her “The Spaceship” because of the high-tech dashboard and all the features, lights, and ports for charging their devices.
We had not owned Pearl very long when I lifted the back hatch one evening. I thought I closed it again when I had finished whatever I was doing. But as I lowered the garage door, I heard this horrible noise. Whether I had not given the hatch time to close – or it did not activate, and I didn’t realize it – the garage door had caught on the hatch and was pulling it downward…until it stuck. I rushed to raise the garage door and relieve the pressure on the hatch – and survey the damage. I was incredibly upset, but thankfully, it’s not terrible…a scratch many would never notice. But I know it’s there. My first “ding” to my new car. Let me tell you, I am ultra careful now about that hatch and the garage doors!
The hatch still works just fine, and the car drives like a dream. As I said, unless you know the scratch is there, most will never notice it. But we worked long and hard to buy this vehicle, and it pained me greatly to think I had created this unnecessary blemish. Now I know this is a stretch, but when I read these words in 1 Peter today reminding me of the sacrifices God made by sending Jesus to die for my sins, I thought of the countless sins we commit against Him. Some of them seem like “scratches and dings”…and others are more extensive and require some serious mechanical or “body work.” But ALL of them were of our own doing…and thereby unnecessary and unworthy of our faith and commitment to Jesus.
As I noted, I am now far more conscious of the new vehicle and my surroundings. The scratch serves as a reminder to be more aware and careful with Pearl in the future. We cannot change our past, but Jesus has paid the price for our sins…scratches, dings, and more. Now we must show Him our gratitude and devotion by following His commands and doing what pleases Him and brings glory to God. This means we must “love one another as if our lives depended on it.” Notice Peter didn’t say love those who look, think, speak, and act like you. He reminded us to “love one another.” That means everyone. I know…it’s hard to love some people. But that is the point. If we really, truly want to show Jesus how much we love Him – and how grateful we are for His sacrifices – we will carefully and thoughtfully do what He asks…without exception.
I have made my peace with the scratch on my new vehicle. I have also made peace with my past sins – and accepted Christ’s forgiveness and redemption. Now I must make every effort to never say or do anything again that would add another blemish or dishonor His great sacrifice on my behalf. My prayer is that you will make this your intention as well. Life is short, and there is much work to be done. This is the day that the LORD has made. Alleluia!
Daily Devo Time 