April 25, 2010
The Ethic of Anticipation: Week 3
Posted by Will
Listen in: Hypocrisy at it’s best
Isaac reminded us that Jesus didn’t promise a smooth ride to his followers. The road is still narrow. Effort (not earning) and sacrifice are still required if we are going to become the people God calls us to be. We do not have the power to change our own heart or desires. We only have the power to surrender them to a God who can and will change our desires if we invite him in. This does not mean we sit back and let God do all of the work. As Paul describes it in Colossians, we have “put off” our sinful nature and “put on” the characteristics that Jesus calls us to.
Where in your life do you need to “put off” the sinful nature and keep surrendering your heart to Jesus?
We are not always going to feel like doing the right thing even if we know what it is. The best thing we can do in such a situation is to go ahead and do what is right and pretend like it’s what we want to do. Eventually it will become like a second nature to us. There is no shame or guilt involved in behaving like this, we have to work at it. We have to start somewhere. We have to trust in Christ and what he says about how to live more than we trust how we feel at any given moment, or how we think we will be perceived.
What could you do to “put on” the nature of Christ in the areas of your life where you feel pulled in another direction?
This way of living starts with recognizing we are all human. Not every hurt we experience is going to require forgiveness. Some of the situations we experience no matter how painful or confusing at the time are not anyone’s fault. It easy to become bitter or resentful in such situations and try to place the blame on someone or something. We are called to be patient and long-suffering when times are tough.
Do you find yourself thinking how your life would be better if only a particular situation had turned out differently or someone had behaved differently? What could you do to move forward in that hurt?
Of course there will be hurts that will require us to forgive someone. The best thing we can do in those situations is not to de-humanize people for what they have done to us. We must also be patient with those who have wronged us and be quick to forgive them. Justice is up to God. It is not our job to repay evil for evil. We can choose to become consumed by bitterness and resentment by trying to enact justice on our own, or we can choose to have mercy on others just as it has been given to us. This is a radical standard of Christianity.
Is there a hurt you have not been able to let go of and find yourself bitter towards and resentful of someone as a result?
We are called to pray for the people in our lives who have hurt us. We are to offer them forgiveness as many times as it takes, and ask God’s blessing on them. Try putting this into practice this week as you experience and remember hurts.
