Sunday, a friend of mine made a minor offense in our relationship.
Wednesday, I had a great conversation on Skype with my friend Cree. When I asked her what she had been learning from God, she started sharing about being engulfed in grace that we feel peace in the reality of who we are...both before God and before those we fellowship with. (I hope that was accurate, Cree).
Wednesday night, the friend from Sunday called to apologize about Sunday.
Thursday morning, I am dwelling on I John 4:18 "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love."
My mentor has coined the phrase "So what?! Relationships are messy!" She uses the statement to diminish the drama of being hurt in an arrangement that will inevitably be painful in some way or another. I think the command for Christian relationships doesn't prevent hurt in relationships, but rather helps us work through the after math.
I John reiterates that all are guilty of sin (1:8,10; 5:16-18...). At some point the faults of each of us will harm another. Again the test comes in how we respond to these situations.
I guess my conversation with Cree and my reading this morning has given me two directions:
1.) Fantasy says that our friendships will be perfect. But reality says that Relationships ARE messy. Forgive.
2.) In my pride I become fearful that my flaws have possibly ruined relationships. But the above statement needs to be reciprocated. Let the perfect love cast out fear and free us to love courageously. Forgive yourself.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
I've been reading through the Chronicles in my quiet time lately, and this afternoon I ran across a king I'm not sure I've ever been aware of, King Uzziah of Judah.
King Uzziah's story is found in 2 Chronicles 26. Appointed to the throne at the ripe age of sixteen, Uzziah begins his reign seeking God's will and is blessed. And even more typically his reign ends in tragedy.
"But after Uzziah became powerful his pride led to his downfall," reads verse 16 and we have a continuing narrative that the king enters the temple of the Lord to burn incense--a duty reserved for the consecrated Levitical priests. A few (eighty-one) brave priests follow him in order to confront the sin. Amidst the confrontation, Uzziah gets angry, waves a smoldering incense stick around, and is immediately struck down with leprosy. He finishes his life in seclusion.
I find Uzziah's story intriguing because his pride does not lead him to forsake God and turn to other gods as we often see in the other Kings' examples. Instead, his pride leads him to make hasty assumptions about God, His worship, and His power.
As I read this story, I instinctively saw myself standing in a most holy place, waving around a smoldering stick, feeling vindicated but looking ridiculous...only to be struck with the holiness of the One I seek to serve. I'm usually the first to jump on the bandwagon of things the church is doing wrong. My cynicism breeds an un-teachable and judgmental spirit. My assumptions about God and His worship are many--tipping the scales away from humble recognition of His power.
Though the church may need reform and God sends prophets to cleanse of corruption; may we all receive the grace of learning from Uzziah's story. Tread lightly, God alone can judge...even our own hearts.
King Uzziah's story is found in 2 Chronicles 26. Appointed to the throne at the ripe age of sixteen, Uzziah begins his reign seeking God's will and is blessed. And even more typically his reign ends in tragedy.
"But after Uzziah became powerful his pride led to his downfall," reads verse 16 and we have a continuing narrative that the king enters the temple of the Lord to burn incense--a duty reserved for the consecrated Levitical priests. A few (eighty-one) brave priests follow him in order to confront the sin. Amidst the confrontation, Uzziah gets angry, waves a smoldering incense stick around, and is immediately struck down with leprosy. He finishes his life in seclusion.
I find Uzziah's story intriguing because his pride does not lead him to forsake God and turn to other gods as we often see in the other Kings' examples. Instead, his pride leads him to make hasty assumptions about God, His worship, and His power.
As I read this story, I instinctively saw myself standing in a most holy place, waving around a smoldering stick, feeling vindicated but looking ridiculous...only to be struck with the holiness of the One I seek to serve. I'm usually the first to jump on the bandwagon of things the church is doing wrong. My cynicism breeds an un-teachable and judgmental spirit. My assumptions about God and His worship are many--tipping the scales away from humble recognition of His power.
Though the church may need reform and God sends prophets to cleanse of corruption; may we all receive the grace of learning from Uzziah's story. Tread lightly, God alone can judge...even our own hearts.
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