I have two elderly mutts, Penny & Midnight. Midnight lays at my feet in the office most week days, Penny lays across the office door way or on the couch most days.
Today she was sound asleep on the couch for her serious, do not disturb me unless you are giving me wonderful, human food, taking me for a walk or a ride in the car nap. As she slept, the lawn service my husband hired to come twice a month pulled up, started mowers, edgers and weed eaters...the princess was disturbed...she looked with disdain out the window and stomped down the hall and got in our bed.
Christians can be like that sometimes, can't we??? Sometimes we feel contempt or disdain for someone who we perceive as different from us, or has a different opinion, or maybe is of a different faith.
I know at our church we have people who sing with their arms uplifted...others who would not do that to save their lives and some of them look down their nose at those who raise their arms in praise. The next time a negative thought comes into your mind or mindset about someone, ask the Lord to show you that person or idea through His eyes. Look at it through the lens of the Gospel because Jesus died for all people. He wants everyone to be saved. Our job is to love and pray, not save...
For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten ([a]unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.
For as in one physical body we have many parts (organs, members) and all of these parts do not have the same function or use, So we, numerous as we are, are one body in Christ (the Messiah) and individually we are parts one of another [mutually dependent on one another]. Having gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them: [He whose gift is] prophecy, [let him prophesy] according to the proportion of his faith...
We are 1 body not lone rangers...go out and share His love....
4 comments:
That is funny about your dog. Our old lab will give us a grumble if we get too close to her spot on the couch, then she gets up and gives a heavy sigh as she lies on the floor! And so true. We Christians need to be gracious to EVERYONE but especially to the house of beleivers. We are all different with different needs and different ways God motivates us! Worship God in your way and be sure your heart is right. Leave the other hearts up to Him. Amen!
Love those dogs. They almost seem human at times!
I wonder what we reflect sometimes. I suspect I'm a grumpy old dog more often than I should be. Hope your day is wonderful!
love,
karen
To see everyone through the lens of the Gospel, to not judge but love--I don't want to be the grumpy dog. Yet, every church has 'em. The division must delight Satan. Lord, keep us from stumbling over one another.
You give us another good word this morning! Love, Annette G
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