Sometimes in the Bible the words are difficult to interpret and it is left up to the individual reading it to dig deeper in the scriptures and to seek God for an interpretation.  This isn’t one of those verses – it is very clear.  Being like-minded was the only thing that kind of had me searching for a clearer definition.  The Amplified version says to “be one and of the same mind (united in spirit)”.  That, I get.  It means (to me) that we are to see the purpose of furthering God’s kingdom with the same goal in mind – to bring others to Him.

The other attributes, however, are pretty straight-forward – we are to be sympathetic, loving, compassionate and humble.  We know what these attributes mean, but they can be much more difficult to put into practice.  They are easy enough to accomplish if all is going well and people are behaving and doing what we think they should, but they can often go flying out the window when we are hurt by someone or someone is doing something we feel is wrong.  I heard something once that has stuck with me.  The saying went something like this – “Christians are the worst at eating their own”.  Say for instance, a couple in your church is living together, or a young woman is pregnant and not married, or someone else is battling with homosexuality or pornography.  Instead of being sympathetic, we judge.  Instead of being loving, we gossip.  Instead of being compassionate, we turn our backs.  Instead of being humble, we run others down and puff ourselves up.  This is how  things usually go – not always and not with everyone, but usually.

I’m not saying it is easy and it may require us to take a step back the next time someone hurts us or we see something we don’t like and think about this verse.  And if we, or someone we love, were in a difficult situation (even of our own doing) wouldn’t we want others to treat us with sympathy, love, compassion and humility?

The difficulties of life have been larger than usual lately:

• the soil in our state (along with many others) is parched and in dire need of rain
• many families around the world are dealing with other natural disasters, having had their lives turned upside down
• a young man in our church, who is a talented athlete, that has been battling with joint/muscle problems and was tested this week for rheumatoid arthritis (this was an especially tough one for me this week)
• a dear family friend, who is senior citizen, living on a fixed income had surgery and is off work (which supplements her income) for a time
• our nation’s economy is hanging in the balance with no apparent solution on the horizon

These are the things that have been heavy on my heart these past few weeks.  One more item that hit our family directly this week was a payment that was 13 days past due for my husband’s business.  It’s a long story, but the short version is that on Wednesday he received a call that if the company didn’t receive their money today (Friday) they would be out on Monday to pick up his equipment.  Well, if you’ve followed my blog, you know that God has been working for some time with both my husband and me in the area of not worrying.  I’m getting better…much better and I wish I could say that I didn’t spend any time worrying – but I can’t.  I battled back and forth throughout the rest of Wednesday and into Thursday between the peacefulness of knowing that no matter what, God would take care of us aaaaaand not having such peaceful moments.  I spent time praying and listening to Gospel music, which really helped, but Satan kept pounding with the “what ifs”, and I’d start worrying all over again.  One of the things God brought to mind was something that I heard a few weeks ago.  Mom and I had gone to see our dear friend (mentioned above) after her surgery.  Her daughter shared with us that her mom had been worrying about how she was going to pay for the hospital stay, surgery, etc.  Her response to her mom was, “MOM, when has God NOT taken care of you?!?!?  When??”  I repeated that over and over to myself throughout the day Thursday.  The end of the story is this…I received a text from my husband on Thursday afternoon and not only had he received his check, but it was $500 more than we had anticipated!!!  Yes indeed, God is good.

I was visiting with my Mom today and she was sharing her concern about the economy of our country.  She, as many of us do, become worried as we read about and watch on TV the crisis we are in.  She said, “Satan just keeps asking me, ‘What are gonna do if you don’t get your social security check’?”  My response was (and this was completely a God thing), “Just say, ‘I’m gonna keep trustin’!!!!”

We know from experience that bad things will happen and things that turn our world on end will continue to be a part of this life.  God may not always answer how or when we want him to, but we can be assured that we can keep trustin’ and He will keep taking care of us.

This is something we as Christians know.  We believe that God is sovereign and that He has the power to do anything at any time.  Letting go and trusting this truth, however,  isn’t always easy.  We question if God really knows what He’s doing or even if He’s “in” some situations.  We wonder where God is when life becomes difficult.  The answer is pure and simple.  He is there – in the midst of it – taking care of us, working for our good, and comforting those who will let Him.

I read a devotion today by Max Lucado that says it much more eloquently than I can say it.  He talked about how even Christ asked the Father to change His circumstances the night before he was crucified.  He even knew what the answer would be.  Still…he asked.   Then, he willing accepted His Father’s answer, knowing that His suffering would mean life for generation after generation of people.

When my daughter was suffering with relentless seizures to her little brain, I was able, by the grace of God, to see that He indeed is who He says He is.  My dad, being the wonderful Dad and Grandpa that he was, struggled with why it was happening.  Why people that he loved more than life itself were having to suffer.  He kept telling me, “Tammy, I believe God is going heal her.”  My response was always, “Dad, I know that He will too, I just don’t know when.  It may happen tomorrow, but it may not happen until we get to heaven.”  It was long haul, but God was working and Dad got to experience the beginnings of Courtney’s healing on earth. It wasn’t until after he died that she had an even bigger miracle – that of being seizure free.  She remains seizure free and God continues to heal her at a steady rate.  Her complete healing may not happen until she stands before her God.  Although there are days I don’t understand why she still struggles with the effects of her seizures, I know that He continues to work in her life.

As we learned, God doesn’t always work on our time frame and more often than not the experiences we go through are a strenuous journey.  They take time to complete.  In our journey through life, there are mountains and there are valleys.  We love the view from the top of the mountain…but have you ever noticed not much grows on top of the mountain?  The majority of growth is down in the valley.  Just like the beautiful terrain God has given us, the times that we grow the most are during those times we are in the valley.  In the end we are stronger, richer people who have walked with our Maker in a real and intimate way.   And…”God is God” whether we are trudging through the valley or we are basking in His glory on top of the mountain .

The opposite is also true.  During these times we have the opportunity to be an ambassador for Him.  As those around us see the injustice we are suffering, but see us respond with integrity and grace, it is a great testament to who we are in Christ.

Have you ever had someone say to you, “You are showing great character (in not acting out or retaliating)?”  This provides us with the perfect opportunity to say, “It sure isn’t something I can do on my own.  It’s only with God’s help that I am able to keep my mouth shut.”

I don’t accomplish this very often.  It is an area that I need to strive to do better.  I must keep in mind the great promise of Philippians 4:13  “I can do all thing through Christ who gives me strength.”

I’m not a person that usually minds change.  I like to change my furniture around, change the color and decor in the rooms in my house (when I can afford it), I like to try new dishes (I’m always looking at new recipes).  One area I don’t like change in is the singing groups I like.  Today I found out one of my favorite groups (Ernie Haase and Signature Sound) is losing their bass.  Tonight I decided to link up to a YouTube video that features Tim Duncan.  It’s a fun video – it should make you smile – it always does me.  If you like what you see and live near Wichita, they will be in concert on April 8th.

“I expect and hope that I will not fail Christ in anything but that I will have the courage now, as always, to show the greatness of Christ in my life here on earth, whether I live or die.”

I saw a part of it in a Max Lucado devotional posting and liked it.  I have decided to use it as my second memory verse for 2011.  I certainly don’t feel that this verse describes me, but want to commit it to memory in order to give myself something to strive toward.

Many times I like to go to biblegateway.com and look at a verse comparing the wording in different translations.  I really liked the words “to show the greatness of Christ in my life” that the New Century Version has used.  The New Living Translation said “that my life will bring honor to Christ” and the NIV says that “Christ will be exalted in my body”.   I hope that in memorizing this I will keep all of these thoughts in mind.

It is my goal to show how great Christ is and that I would bring honor to him!  I don’t feel at all adequate in this, but strive to exemplify it more – especially to those who don’t know Him.  Showing how the greatness of Christ and honoring Him to me comes from one’s character – in the way we react – how often we keep our temper in check and react to what happens around us – basically, how we live our lives on a daily basis.

What came to mind with the NIV’s translation was a little different.  It made me think of my body as a temple (2 Cor. 6:16).  A few years ago I lost quite a bit of weight.  I didn’t ever reach my goal, but was pretty comfortable.  I was exercising regularly and felt pretty good.  Over time, I have gained back a few pounds and my exercise plan has been moved to the back burner.  Every day I think that today is the day that I’m going to get back on track.  When I saw this in the NIV, I thought – maybe this is what I need to get myself back into good physical shape as well as spiritual.  I’m going to give it my best shot.

I believe that God cares about every aspect of our life.  He will be there to encourage us and give us the strength to carry out our goals.  So, whether you want to get in better shape spiritually, physically or emotionally, He will be there to help you show the “greatness of Christ” in every area of your life.

John 16:8 is where we find the passage that talks about the Holy Spirit convicting the world.  “And He (the Holy Spirit), when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness, and judgment.”  The definition of convict in this sense is “to place the truth of the Gospel in clear light*”.

Jesus provides examples of this throughout His ministry.  Two stories come to mind rather quickly.  One is from John 4 where Jesus meets the woman at the well.  In talking to her He shares with her about the Living Water He can provide to her.  He doesn’t berate her for her lifestyle, but offers her a change of life that only He can.  We could say he “brought to light” her need of a Savior.  The other story is found in Luke 19 and tells of Christ’s response to Zacchaeus.  Being a Roman tax collector, Zacchaeus’ reputation was less than stellar.  The system of tax collection by the Roman’s “was open to abuse and extortion was common*”.   Upon seeing Zacchaeus, Jesus didn’t respond by calling him out for the corruption he was involved in.  He called him down from the tree so He could go to his house to stay.  Again, Christ shows love and the response of the sinner was to accept His salvation and turn from the path of sin he was on.

If Jesus didn’t heap guilt on sinners to receive the gift He came to die for and it isn’t the Holy Spirit’s job to heap guilt on us, then it sure isn’t our job to heap guilt on each other.  An old saying often comes to mind.  “You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar”.  Maybe the next time we feel like being critical or pointing out the sin in others lives, we should choose to show love instead.  It may just be what ends up turning their life around!

*Charles Ryrie

“Long ago (down on my knees), long ago (I settled it all),
Yes, the old account was settled long ago;
And the record’s clear today, for He washed my sins away,
When the old account was settled long ago.”

The word settled means resolved, ended, paid.  Christ paid the price for anyone that would ever call on His name.  At the time of our salvation the record books are cleared.  The word clear means to “become free of something that marks, darkens, obstructs, or covers something else”.  Sin once covered us, darkening our lives and obstructing our path to God.  Christ broke through that obstruction, clearing a way for us to be reunited with the Father, settling all our accounts and freeing us to live a life of blessed by grace.

Johnny Cash singing “The Old Account Was Settled Long Ago”

My favorite scene in “Prince Caspian” is a beautiful illustration of this.  Lucy and Aslan have finally met up after much chaos a destruction have taken place.  Lucy is feeling guilty and asks Aslan if things would have turned out differently if she would have followed her heart and done what she felt was the right thing to do instead of following the others down the wrong path.  Aslan’s response to her was simply, “We’ll never know.”  There was no berating her or telling her she was wrong or foolish.  It was over; there was no looking back.

We can’t change what has happened in our past.  We need to get things right with God and others (if need be) and then move on.  Just like the fear of what might happen robs tomorrow of its strength, guilt of what happened yesterday can do the same thing.  We need to look forward.  Forward to what lies ahead.  To touch as many lives along the way as we journey through life.