I've been thinking recently about Godly living. In fact, I touched on it in my last blog. But a situation came up just this week, one I've sadly seen many times before. Being unkind to anyone is never okay, but it's especially disconcerting when Christians are cruel to one another. And if we think we can do it in the dark where no one will know that's not true--God sees everything.
Psalm 139:1-3 says, "O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sittng down and my rising up. You understand my thoughts afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways."
Frankly, I have mixed feelings about these verses. My first emotion is comfort and I feel protected. I can rest in the knowledge that God truly knows me and yet He loves me just as I am. But I also feel shame. My Father sees it all. He knows everything there is to know about me, and yet I'm thankful I'm never out of His sight.
I've been witnessing a small crisis. Well, it feels small to me but to one of the people involved it's a heartache and it is being inflicted on her by a friend. Irritability and a short temper feels as if it's aimed directly at her on purpose and it's making her feel that she isn't valued. It's a wound that may leave a scar between her and this friend, which is a true sorrow.
I'm almost certain the person inflicting the wounds is not doing so with evil intent, although he's probably aware of his sour mood. If we are honest with ourselves I'm sure we can remember doing something similar. Circumstances in life cause us to lash out at the people around us. Though we know it's not right we still do it.
Wouldn't it be better if we chose to pray and quiet our spirits and then spread a balm on our loved ones instead of acid. We should do so out of obedience and a high regard for God and His family. Maybe knowing we can't truly hide our wrong doings from The One who matters most will help us to turn away from this sin and find a way to love instead.
For when we think no one knows He does.
Grace and peace to you from God.
Bonnie
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Very wise. Our Bible study this morning looked at how Jesus answered people who were trying to trip Him up with questions. His responses seem calm rather than provocative, inspiring thought rather than blind reaction.
ReplyDeleteYep, Sheila. That's right. He is our example.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Bonnie
sometimes ohhhh, sooo much easier said than done. Living with a 94 yr old manipulative, crusty, old mil drives me to the point of an almost meaness--which I don't even recognize in me, and it brings sorrow every blessed day--Thank God the days ARE blessed--otherwise I wanna smack her, sob sigh. But with prayer, all things are possible, and we've been working at this for 28 yrs, so why I whine about this now is plain weird--but tis gettin' harder! But thanks for the reminder... patti
ReplyDeleteOh Patti, it's loving the unlovely that really tests us. But don't beat yourself up, you've got a truly difficult task.
ReplyDeleteWhen I have someone in my life that's really hard to love I ask God to give me His eyes and heart to see with. It helps.
Hang in there. I'm praying for you right now.
Grace and peace is abundance.
Bonnie