I am a Christian because of the grace of God. Grace is understood as "God's riches at Christ's expense". In the life He has given me, I am a preacher, one who takes the Word of God and as led by His Holy Spirit expresses what it says to those to whom I am preaching. Now I am also an encourager, leader, husband, father, grandfather, and friend. All of these represent and define who I am, but the most important part is that I am a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ.
Let me be honest with you here. It is difficult for me to make sense out of the senseless things I see and hear each day. You may be, and I hope you are, aware of the world around you. Without a doubt, there are varying and wide-ranging thoughts on every subject. From the political to the pulpit, From the workplace to the place of worship. From the schoolroom to the Sunday School room. What I find is that in all there is conflict and division. The disagreement which leads quickly to being disagreeable.
I am appalled at the things I hear and read are said by people about or to others. Name-calling has risen to a level that is well, downright embarrassing. It is embarrassing because no one should speak that way to another and embarrassing because of what it indicates about that person. The Proverbs speak to this in several different places but let share here a couple, for you to get the idea-
Proverbs 29:11 ESV-
A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds back.
Proverbs 15:1 ESV-
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
It was reported recently of a person in a leadership role saying about those who opposed her position on a particular matter to-"Let them die" and that they should not deter her and others from their goal. Regardless of how important or unimportant a matter is, it is simply wrong to wish others to die. Whether we agree or disagree with anyone on any subject, it is never acceptable to wish death to another. This cannot be written off as hyperbole or an error in speech. To say something like that of or to another is never acceptable in any society or culture. Yet, we are seeing it become more common today In our country.
What does this say about who and where we are today? Actually, it speaks volumes as to the place we are as a nation. It is very easy to see we are divided. If indeed it is a 50/50 split then we will likely never solve our problems. Something has to give and my hope and prayer is that it will be soon.
We have had the opportunity to travel this year. We took a trip and can honestly say we met wonderful and gracious people. We met them in their travels and in their own communities. Not once was there an angry word or anything that made the experience awkward. That is the way it should be.
My personal take on this is that there are many more in this country who are disturbed by the attention focused on a vocal few. People, and I believe it is a majority, want the best for one another. I am keenly aware of those who are just not in step with reality. We see this everyday in the workplace, the church, in government. Since the day Eve ate of the fruit, sin has been the enemy of mankind. I am reminded here of what Isaiah said in Isaiah 53:6 NLT-
“All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.”
Again we find ourselves back to where we began. In need of a Savior and God saying I love you. The Savior Himself said in John 3:16-17 NLT-
16 ““For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.”
So I guess you can see that I have found the way to making sense out of the senseless. I have because first I have accepted Jesus Christ and then I follow His instructions. In
1 Peter 5:7 we are told to-
7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
Now I doubt I will ever be completely at peace with all that is going on but as the old hymn of the faith says-
But I know whom I have believed,
And am persuaded that he is able
Go keep that which I’ve committed
Unto him against that day.
A thought to ponder,
Elbert Nasworthy
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