Positively Unpopular

This year seems to have been one of transformation --and not necessarily in ways we would typically label "good." We've lost iconic talent and steadfast Christian leaders. From Bertucci's to Burger King to Bear Grylls, bankruptcy impacted them all. The closure of hospitals, schools, churches, and even our own national government caused people to go without services. 

Or seek them elsewhere.

A friend expressed an opinion that would, in the public forum, likely be unpopular. I think it's a good thing people had to do without SNAP benefits. They were forced to find other resources. I hadn't considered that, but I understood the hope behind her thought process. Imagine never having to depend upon the government again; being free of all of their shenanigans and pretense at the expense of citizens. Imagine discovering a family of believers who stand with you --not only in your time of financial struggle, but when you are forced to decide next steps in the care of an aging parent --all because you went to them for food one day in October. Imagine being a taxpayer who no longer has to support the ridiculous salaries of self-serving career politicians because, through a government shutdown, we learned how to come together as citizens, to support one another, and to do away with the excess at the top. Could this ever be?

And the closure of our local hospital several months ago. As people raged and speculated over the loss of life that would occur absent the presence of our nearby trauma center, as people panicked over the burden that would place on other hospitals in our region, a thought came to my mind: Haven't we been praying for abortions to cease? Of course, they didn't cease completely, but in our little corner of the world, the reduction of resources (or difficulty obtaining them) has been a blessing. I know, unpopular; but the willingness to see how God is working even in the midst of change and pain is important.

Lastly, Pope Leo. He recently made a historic visit to Istanbul's Blue Mosque, a distinguished place of worship for Muslims, where he was invited to pray. This was a tremendous opportunity to stand with leaders of Islam in a show of unity and peace; to make a general statement about the power of prayer and the importance of worship in the lives of all people. It could have gained the pope worldwide accolades for his diplomacy and commitment to seeking faith. Instead, he declined. He took off his shoes and walked the halls of the mosque, but he refused strange fire; he stood for the worship of the One True God who is worshipped in spirit and truth. Definitely unpopular on the world stage, but integrity is rarely popular with those who are unwilling to seek it or live by it when it costs. I certainly can't speak for the leader of the Catholic Church, but I'm inclined to think that, outside of personal conviction, he understands what God can do with those who are willing to follow His rules for their lives. He can demonstrate his conviction because he knows the cost of disobedience and compromise; he can do the unexpected and unconventional because he serves a God who did the unexpected, suffered the unconventional and died to save an entire world. 

It's not popular to be positive when all the "facts," all the tangibles scream Tragedy! We're labelled hatemongers and warmongers. We're said to be anti-Christ: Christ is loving, after all. We're condemned for our exclusivity. We're chastised for our resistance to compromise. But maybe it just boils down to the ability to see what God can do. Maybe it's because those who tend to be positive, visionary, uncompromising, and unpopular have for their Master a God who can do exceedingly, abundantly above all we can ask or imagine. 

Midweek: Step Seven

 Step Seven: Humbly asked Him to remove these wrongs.

I know I already covered Step Seven in my last post on Walking the Twelve Steps with Jesus Christ. But something occurred to me as I was spending a little more time with the text: the act of going before our God and His mighty grace is indispensable. And worth addressing with a little more depth. 

Have you ever watched a child begin to walk? It all begins with intent. From the first moment a child raises that one leg to crawl or begins to rock on hands and knees, there is an idea, a desire to move forward. Once in a while, when the standing doesn't go so well or the falling becomes too frustrating, you will see the child abandon the idea of walking upright and return to crawling. However, when surrounded by plenty of things upon which the child can pull himself/herself up, when encouraged by parents and caregivers, the child will persevere and, eventually, walk. The intent, with the proper support, has stimulated the action necessary for success. 

Walking the Twelve Steps with Jesus Christ requires us to understand and act. Intention without action remains intangible. If you recall Step Six: I was ready to have God remove all the wrongs of my past life, it's a condition of preparedness, desire, intent. And while it's important our hearts are made ready for change, it is not change itself. Step Seven is that movement toward change.

I'll be honest, when I read through the steps for the first time, the word that came to mind was "redundant." I admit that..., I came to believe that..., I was ready to have... Why so much focus on our attitude? Why, after we know these things, do we have to take time to decide next steps? Let me answer that second question first. Because this is a process. If we go back to the example of the baby, God, in His wisdom, designed walking as a process; the strengthening of bones and muscles, the formation of muscle memory. Little by little, the mind of the child and the body come into sync to accomplish the task of walking. One can take the lead if the other is prepared to accompany it. Our intentions are formed by information, examination; from there we decide next steps. That is why the focus on our attitudes. How we perceive ourselves, what we know about God, impact the decisions we make. Our decisions then (hopefully) align with our behavior to lead a better life, to handle situations in a way that does not destroy us. This is why Step Six by itself is not enough; being ready is not enough. We must consciously, humbly, gratefully ask God to remove wrongs. And not just until the urge passes. The sincerity of our request is demonstrated by our willingness to allow them to stay removed. When faced with the wrongs of our life again, we turn to God. Is there more I need to confess about this? If so, please show me; if not, I stand on Your Word that I am a new creation. That was then; I'm trusting in You now. 

Uncovering wrongs that are keeping us bound is an important step. Knowing who God is and what He is capable of doing is as well. Those should foster in us a desire to be released from bondage. But taking that step to humbly come before God, asking Him to use His mighty grace to free us, is vital to our recovery.

The Desires of Your Heart

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Catalogs are hitting the mailbox on the daily, and our youngest is armed with pen and big dreams as he seizes each one. Does wanting end with childhood? Of course not! We've got our twenty-somethings strategizing their lists like corporate takeovers and, if I'm being honest, there are a few things I'd like to have if someone else is buying. But what are the true desires of our heart? Is it just a bunch of stuff, things we wouldn't necessarily spend our hard-earned money to buy?

I grew up hearing others talk about their "life's verse;" that verse of Scripture God faithfully, repeatedly dropped on you at every turn; or the one that always spoke hope when you needed it most; or the one that has challenged you to keep pushing toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). But years ago, the verse that stopped me dead in my tracks was Acts 20:24:

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

These are the words of the Apostle Paul. But, in his case, they were far more than words; he proved them with every assignment he completed for the cause of Christ. And in his first letter to the church in Corinth, he encouraged them with these words:

Imitate me as I imitate Christ. 

I longed to comply. Oddly enough, God sent a few other verses my way --many of them on rotation --and the one which always vexed me, left me knowing that if I was to truly complete the ministry of reconciliation I'd been given, my desires had to change.

Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart. ~ Psalm 37:4

Not that I would receive all those things with which I'd been hoping someone would fill my stocking, but that the God I serve would alter my desires, place them in my heart, that I might want what He wants. 

That I would be at peace when I am rejected by others for the glory of God.

That I would be okay with being invisible for the glory of God.

That I would cheerfully endure hardship for the glory of God.

That I would love to work --a lot! --for the glory of God.

That I would enjoy the gift of rest --even though there is much to do --for the glory of God.

That I would easily repent and ask forgiveness for the glory of God.

That I would wholeheartedly love the "unlovable" for the glory of God.

That I would rejoice in serving the greedy and ungrateful for the glory of God.

That I would be the first to give thanks in ALL things for the glory of God.

That I would obey --heart, mind, body, and soul in agreement with my Lord --for the glory of God.

That I would never try to claim anything for myself but direct every offering that so much as touches this vessel to the One who has given me all things. Including right and good desires.

You can't get that from a catalog.