Photo by Paul Gilmore on Unsplash
God spoke to me how He usually speaks
to me — in an unanticipated way.
He reminded me of the ways I think
and live and judge situations wrongly.
Times when I notice:
1.
a car not
give way to me, I often hear God remind me that I’ve done that several times
myself — usually without intending to. And so, His reminder of my hypocritical
nature stops that judging thought in its tracks. I have more empathy for the
humanness in people operating a motor vehicle.
2.
another Weinstein-gate
story hit the news, as I experience anger toward such men, God highlights my
propensity to have my glance drawn toward attractive women. I may not act on my
desires, but I do think inappropriate thoughts. Again, in my hypocrisy my Lord
speaks. I’m slower to condemn the fallen.
3.
someone
being ridiculously harsh on themselves, a memory flashes before my eyes of my
proclivity to do that. Sure, as a pastor I find it ridiculous how
self-condemning people often are, yet so too do I struggle with that from time
to time.
4.
a person
parading a faith-system different to mine, by way of attempting to convert me,
God shows me how I think — ‘don’t they know I’m devoutly Christian — like, how
dare they!’ Then, I’m shown how quickly I evangelise when given the
opportunity. Is it my right to speak of my faith and not theirs?
5.
someone
doing something I would never do… He
helps me remember the truth. Like Peter said he would never deny Jesus, I
imagine myself never betraying the Lord; yet I am a Barabbas. And still the
Father does not condemn me or them, He only loves us. I’m no better or worse
than they are.
6.
a person make
a silly moral error, and not pick it up, God opens my eyes to the situational
blindness that hampers many of my moments. He shows me how He speaks, and
through the Holy Spirit’s direction, I confess and repent the best I can to
make things right again. I begin to have compassion on my brother or sister. I
pity them perceiving their fault, yet I know it is good for them to know the
truth.
7.
a troll on
social media, and I begin to think how crude and evil the person is, before God
shows me how rude my communications have occasionally been. He then shows me again,
a fundamental truth, how hurt people hurt people. I can pray especially for the
person who cannot see why they should be courteous and respectful. Remember
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
8.
my wife’s impatience
with me ticks me off, and, if I listen in carefully enough, the Holy Spirit
shows me my own coarse dealings with her at times. It’s good to know how she might
feel through knowing how I feel. God motivates me to be gentler.
It’s hard living the authentic
Christian life when truth lands on the runway of our awareness. But that’s the
dependable Voice of our faith counselling us through gentle though firm rebuke.
We only grow when we listen with humility.
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