a few weeks ago I was talking to a good friend Joey Kozak about ice cream which spiraled into possibly one of the biggest metaphors I’ve ever thought about (with the exception of echo which was just a solid year of huge metaphors about living our lives for God.) Basically we were talking about the difference between homemade and store bought ice cream. There’s really no comparison. Homemade ice cream is just better. It takes a lot of work and patience to actually get the ice cream. However in the long run, the pay off is so much greater than the ice cream you buy from the store which is a quick fix. The same can be said about relationships. The fruitful ones usually come from putting a lot of effort into making it grow and florish and it takes a lot of self control. The relationships that are rushed usually don’t end well. They’re simply not worth the satisfaction they bring for a short time. If a relationship is not rooted in God, and therefore love, it just isn’t healthy.
But all of this metaphorical thinking resulted in bitterness. More and more it seems like people just aren’t patient enough for the real thing. My hate for worldly relationships lead to judgement which I absolutely despise. I know and believe with all of my heart that all sins were died for equally and the ground at the foot of the cross is level. I don’t judge the people that I love. I don’t even judge complete strangers. But lately I’ve been passing judgement on those who have done a pretty good job of breaking me down. I have absolutely no right to judge them.
- “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumblles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” James 2:10
- “Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgement on disputable matters.” Romans 14:1
- “Therefore let us stop passing judgement on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.” Romans 14:13
These are all verses that I decided to live my life by a year ago but the devil is really good at getting into our heads and attacking us when we are weak. Lately I’ve been telling my brothers and sisters that I’m not of this world and absolutely do not judge them for their past. I am called to love radically but forgiving my brothers and not passing judgement on them is not radical love. That’s easy. I love them already. Radical love calls me to never pass judgement on my enemies (or in my case people that have hurt me.) Instead I am called to lift them up. I am called to love not only my neighbor but my enemy as well.
- “If I have faith that can move mountains but have not love, I am nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:2
- “Love is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” 1 Corinthians 13:5
Tuesday I was feeling extremely convicted and knew God has something in store for me to rock my world and at Breakaway Ben Stuart said something that hit me. “Legitimately love people.” I was so convicted. I hadn’t legitimately been loving people. So I went back to my dorm and really prayed that God would heal my heart. I opened up my bible and read.
- “Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts. and he said to them ‘Why are you thinking these things?’” Mark 2:9
- “‘My power is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladlt about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in my weaknesses, in insults, in hardhsips, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Jesus knows my heart. He knows my thoughts. He knows my brokenness. And he saved me once again. In my weakness God is strong. He prevails. Love wins.
To those I have judged I am truly and deeply sorry. I love you. Glory be to God. For He has washed my heart white as snow.
praying and praising =)
