I’ve been a little gun-shy about writing out here in the wide-open spaces. Even as I typed that sentence I felt the need to clarify that “gun-shy” isn’t referring to the second amendment and the right to bear arms! See, where I live the environment feels hostile right now, and I find myself so afraid I’m going to mis-step, accidentally squish someone’s toes, hurt feelings, unintentionally offend. My heart is not to offend or hurt, my heart is to display the grace and goodness of God, through His Word as it relates to my everyday life.
If there was one thing I could magically give to everyone I know, it would be this: A genuine love and hunger for the Word of God. With everything in me, I believe that so many of the painful situations we are facing politically simply stem from a sharp departure from God’s enduring, life-giving Word.
Every Wednesday night, a group of us women gather to get into God’s Word and let Him guide our lives. We don’t have a workbook or videos (although those are great), we just journey through the New Testament together, book by book. This is our third year doing this, and I’m always floored at how much God allows us to glean collectively, so much more than when I just study alone. We each see things so differently, and yet God’s Word never changes, so while we have differing perspectives and opinions, the Scriptures anchor us to unwavering truth. I wish that every woman had the joy of being part of a group like this. It has been life-changing for me, not because our group or method is special, but the living and active Word of God exposes the thoughts and intentions of the heart, and accomplishes the work of God through its immeasurable power.
The book of Judges describes,
“In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”
It seems that more than ever we are living in a day like this, even among Christians. We want to pick and choose which parts of the Scriptures are applicable for us, we are masters at making a god in our own image. I’m just as susceptible as anyone else, which is why I have to read the WHOLE Bible, every single year, just to help guard against my tendency to only turn to the parts I like.
We so desperately want to feel great about the way we’re already living.
And honestly: If it wasn’t for the Bible, I would think I was awesome.
Right?? But every single day, the Bible confronts me. Every day it holds up a terrifyingly magnified mirror that exposes all those things I’d rather hide. Perhaps most importantly, every day is shines a light into my motives, my intentions, the all-important reason why that no one else can see.
As I’m finishing my reading for the year, I’ve been journeying through the minor prophets and Revelation, and here’s just a spattering of what I’ve seen:
“For 3 transgressions of Israel, and for 4, I will not revoke punishment, because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals — those who trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth and turn aside the way of the afflicted;”
“Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of your devise evil against another in your heart.”
“And this second thing you do. You cover the LORD’s altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards your offering, but you say, “Why does he not?” Because the LORD was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth. For the man who hates and divorces, says the LORD, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence. So guard yourselves in your sprit, and do not be faithless.”
“Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs (cruel devourers of others) and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”
So, we’re all nailed. Right? God is grieved by oppression of the sojourner AND by divorce. By murderers AND sexually immoral. We decry racism but celebrate “sexual freedom” — BOTH grieve the heart of God. We shrug our shoulders over divorce but are up in arms over tax-payer funded abortions. BOTH are never what He intended for His beloved people. Blue and red alike, liberals and conservatives, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. He loves us so much, He desperately wants our best.
If only we would listen.
So, the solution isn’t to pull our Bibles out like swords and hack each other to pieces. The solution is to RETURN. Return to a humble acknowledgment that God is GOOD. That His Word is good. That I, yes I, have personally fallen short. And as often as He convicts (which is often!), I will repent, which just means to turn around, and I will seek His best, as revealed through His Word.
And, once we have been forgiven, there is no need for shame. The hero of our faith, humanly speaking, was the Apostle Paul who was once a murderer. There is NO SIN that the blood of Jesus cannot cover, completely, forever.
His sacrifice is big enough for us all. It is for all who would receive it.
Let us receive. Let us return to God.
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which is able to save your souls.
James 1:21
{Seeking to do this, right alongside you. Thanks for reading.}