What a week this has been for our country! Normally I stay far away from political topics in a social setting. What can I say? It stems from years in the cosmetology industry where you meet people from all walks of life with all kinds of different views on each subject!
I don't want to address the ISSUE that was so victoriously celebrated this week...but rather take a look at what brought us to this point.
The paths I have traveled thus far in my life have been many. I have seen many different things, met different people with different views and personalities and had my beliefs challenged to their core. I am thankful that my faith has grown stronger even as it has been tested.
The common thread I see through all the issues regarding sin (oohh...did I really say the "S" word) and the choices we make each day is that of pleasing and doing what is best for ME and makes ME happy. While this sounds like the ideal way to live your life (I mean really, who can you really completely depend on but yourself?) I would suggest this idea is at the core of the falling apart of our families and our country.
There are many people more knowledgeable than I and better able to explain the reasoning behind this thought...but let me say this: If each of us were to truly put ourselves and our own desires aside we would have a vastly different world to live in.
Selfishness is at the root of every sin, every crime, every type of abuse, every type of wrong in the world. And how many innocent people are hurt by our selfishness each day? And they in turn, more often than not turn to something that validates themselves and eases the pain wrought by being a victim of someone's selfish acts toward them. I am heartbroken when I think of how many times I respond to my own husband or children motivated by selfishness. When I don't want to so something I was asked to do, or play with the kids, do something with them or take them somewhere simply because I am tired or busy or...you get my drift.
It's the same with drinking, participating in any type of alternative lifestyle (I am NOT just speaking about homosexuality! Adultery, Promiscuity, Divorce, Affairs, Porn. All of these are contrary to how God intends for HIS CHILDREN to live!) the pursuit of money and stuff above investing their families (you think I am joking? I just heard a friend tell me that her husband's company CEO thanked the employees for sacrificing their families to grow the company!), the list goes on and on.
Again...I am not talking about those in the lost world, those who don't know Christ and His life giving message of the Gospel. These are things THEY do with no reason to do or be anything different.
Unless we (we as in those who claim to follow our Lord) are willing to give up our selfishness and stop living in a life of JUSTIFIED SIN we cannot expect anyone to desire to live and believe as we do. (Of course I know the scriptures about drinking...I know if I wanted to I could choose to drink and it not be counted as a sin against me...but my question is...why would I choose this?) What possible benefit could these activities have? I have seen more brokenness, hurt, hopelessness, mental abuse (of which I myself have been a victim!) suicide and countless other things! Simply because people choose satisfying themselves.
Those from outside our faith are exactly right when they say we need to take care of our own sin before we try address theirs. We need to be credible messengers! As God's children we have been lax about letting sin creep in our door. And because of our pride in putting on a facade that we think people want to see and expect us to be, we have really damaged God's reputation. And He Died For Us! We need to build strong families who love with God's love. Each sinner that He met, he challenged to leave their life of sin and embrace a life wholeheartedly devoted to serving Him and sharing his message with others. Many went away sad because they knew they were not willing to do this...(i.e. the story of the Rich Young Ruler) and then there were those whose lives were changed because they gave up everything to follow Him.
I have often told my husband that as we raise our children I want to compel them to choose our life devoted to Christ. To show them a family where we talk about and explain things as they happen. Where we provide answers and are honest about our pasts, mistakes we have made, struggles we have, and choices we make. Where we open our doors to whomever God sends to us, we love them, we challenge them and watch them seek God! If we are not living it before them, only demanding it of them (I HATE thou shalt and shalt not's!), how can we expect them to follow the path God desires for their life?
Whew! This has turned into quite the book. These words are hard to read even as they were hard to write. I guess I put them down as a big reminder to myself to make sure I am humble. Letting those in my life speak truth and challenge me, that I am a better wife and mother, not because I am perfect or have "arrived" to some great place, but rather because I recognize in and of myself I have not power to be anything. It is only as I seek my Father and pattern my life after his that I become a useful tool and credible messenger.
Oh Father...that we would show true love and take care of our own lives and hearts. That we would surrender and turn from our sin in a heart of repentance! May we humble ourselves before you and seek you... Then we could truly change the world. Is it hopeless? Because of HIM...it is NOT!
