salt-shaker.blog

As I slide open the patio door to let the dog out first thing in the morning, I am serenaded by a choir of birds harmonizing despite all their different species. This year, with a record four occupied birdhouses full of babies, it gets pretty loud. I like to join with them in lifting my hands and thanking the Father who has orchestrated an entire universe so that we might enjoy such beauty. They sing no matter what the weather, and it humbles me to think that God gives us the choice to honor Him, while nature does His bidding naturally.

Reflecting on the choices I have made over the years, I am profoundly grateful for the mercy and humility of an infinite, wise, loving God with unimaginable power. My journey included rejecting Him as a possibility for a while in my ‘enlightened’ college days, then brazenly seeking and accepting His help when I was desperate in my early twenties. Next I was loving Him passionately, then turning Him into a religion for many years, and finally stepping out of that prison into the ‘glorious liberty of the sons of God’. That verse refers to that coming day when all of nature is released along with us from the bondage that our sin imposed on it. It holds unimaginable promise, but we get a taste of freedom and connection with creation right here and now. To embrace mercy and forgiveness rather than performance and failure is a delight. To fear that I am not worthy to be heard is replaced by expectant anticipation of how God will answer. The arduous journey to this reality is totally worth the time, effort and commitment!

Retracing the trail of the wreckage of my mistakes and unbelief can bring tremendous sorrow, but I am compelled to ‘forget those things which lie behind, and press on…” This does not mean I don’t care about those I hurt – both by my legalism as well as by my obedience – but I must exercise the humility to allow the Lord to heal them as He has been doing with me. My goal is to focus on the grace that is greater than all of our sin. The forgiveness that began the journey must be demonstrated to both myself and companions on the way.

My reading today reminded me that how I live reflects the character of the God I proclaim. I think the easiest way to defame Him is with my tongue in the way I speak of others. It is natural to evaluate, compare and criticize, but it has become an art form thanks to cultural norms. It is so easy to dismiss such talk as harmless since it is so common, but this verse smacked me upside the head today: “Don’t bad-mouth each other, friends. It’s God’s Word, his Message, his Royal Rule, that takes a beating in that kind of talk. You’re supposed to be honoring the Message, not writing graffiti all over it. God is in charge of deciding human destiny. Who do you think you are to meddle in the destiny of others.” James 4:11-12 msg

In a day and age when people are literally fleeing from church, we have a responsibility to live humbly and love extravagantly. No graffiti on the Message! It starts with a repentant heart, but it must travel to the lips. There is a saying that the greatest distance in the world is the fourteen inches from the heart to the head. This would be impossible were it not for the empowering of the new life within us, the Holy Spirit. Let us cultivate – make room for, water, fertilize, nurture, – that precious Spirit that we have received. God will magnetize us to attract others to the truth that will set them free also. The King and His kingdom depends on us – at least for now. Let us help one another to reflect Him and His gracious care as we journey to our destiny.