If you have ever seen the movie, "Mean Girls" then you know exactly what part of the movie I am referring to....but incase you haven't, there's a scene in the movie where Regina George is told she couldn't sit with her friends because she was wearing sweatpants....on a Monday...gosh, how DARE she?! She broke the "law" according to the mean girl code of ethics. She no longer blended in...instead, she stood out...she was now considered a "misfit"....at least for the rest the day.
Misfit (n): something that fits badly, as a garment that is too large or too small; a person that does not fit in; not suited
Think about the message this sends...and sadly, how many times do we as Christians (many of us atleast...) send this message to the world around us? At arms length we silently scream, "YOU CAN'T SIT WITH US....YOU'RE NOT SAVED....YOU'RE STUCK IN YOUR SINFUL WAYS...DON'T COME ANY CLOSER...I MIGHT GET DIRTY"......as if we were born clean and saved. It's no wonder people don't trust Christians or want to even step foot inside a church. I don't know about you, but I'm not perfect. There are moments each and everyday I find myself in need of the grace of God to make up in the areas I lack. There are moments daily I have to remind myself "God, you're grace is sufficient".
Romans 3:23-24 (NLT)
"For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God freely and graciously declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty of our sins"
If you really reflect through the accounts of the Gospel, Jesus spent more time correcting the Pharisees than He did anyone else. When the Pharisees (religious leaders) caught a woman in the very act of adultery, they took her in accusation before Jesus...and He was the ONLY one qualified to throw a stone at her, but instead....He corrected the Pharisees who acted like they were all that and a bag of chips and one by one the stones fell from their hands....He didn't condemn her, instead He forgave her and loved her back to life. We have to really check our hearts and ask ourselves what we see in others...is all you see in other people their sin? Or do you see the King in them? Do you see the Queen in them? If you can only see what's bad, you will never be able to see what's good. Begin to look for the beauty in others, to see the good and encourage them.
Happy birthday Rachael!
Matthew 9:10-11 (MSG)
Later when Jesus was eating supper at Matthew’s house with his close followers, a lot of disreputable characters came and joined them. When the Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company, they had a fit, and lit into Jesus’ followers. “What kind of example is this from your Teacher, acting cozy with crooks and riffraff?”
Jesus spent time "reclining" and relaxing (see definitions below) and "acting cozy" with what the bible refers to as, "especially wicked sinners, crooks, and riffraff". In other words, that would be me...and that would be you (yes, you!). He made himself available to humanity, to broken people who were sick and in need of a Doctor. He wasn't closed off with his arms crossed or jumping down people's throats for every shortcoming, failure and mistake. He wasn't uptight, anxious and religious about life. He was able to act cozy with sinners without acting cozy with sin....there is a difference. He was intentional and built relationships with them, connecting with them, meeting them where they were at and loving them back to life and we are called to do the same. Paul imitates this same example in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 where he became a "slave" to all people to bring many to Christ, even though he was free. Paul made himself relatable and found a common ground with those around him so he could meet them where they were at and love them in ways they needed to be loved.
Recline (v): to lean or lie back in a relaxed position
Relax (v): to become less tense, rigid, firm or anxious
We live in a fallen world with broken people who are crying out for help, yet we fail to hear their cries...or even worse...we hear their cries and turn the other way. We can be so consumed in serving in the church that we fail to go out and be the church. We fail to love that friend, that family member or that co-worker and instead we judge them. We criticize them for being in the very place we were once in. We keep them at arms length instead of getting to know them. We don't know what they have been through; what burdens they carry or what pain they may be dealing with. Everyone has a story and sometimes we have to take the time to slow down and listen to those who are willing to share. Many of us act like the priest and temple assistant in the parable of the good samaritan who passed right by the Jewish man left stripped, beaten and half dead on the side of the road. It was the Samaritan that came along and took care of this wounded man. He soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. He took him to an inn where he was safe and cared for. He even payed for the medical expenses needed to help this man get back on his feet. (Luke 10:25-37)
God is calling for us to be a Samaritan (one who is compassionate and helpful to a person in distress) in the lives of those around us who need some extra TLC. He is calling us to soothe their wounds and carry them to the inn of our heart where compassion resides...where they can be loved back to life! I challenge you to look around you and ask God to open your eyes to the people who may need an extra dose of His love...that might simply mean to extend a helping hand or lend a listening ear. Let God lead you.
Love,
Beth
4th of July camping trip!!
If you missed my last blog post called
"No Man Left Behind" <--- check it out here
