Scripture
Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.  For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Saviour and His love for mankind appeared,  He saved us…. Titus 3:1-5

Observation
Behind the rusting Iron Curtain of the Cold War, a peasant farmer and his wife kept their faith in God through intense persecution. Their son John told me the story of a police raid on their property. A truck loaded with workmen pulled up to the farmhouse. The workers clambered up onto the roof of the little house. As a reprisal for their stubborn faith in Christ, the farmer and his wife would lose the roof of their house that day. The tiles would be removed one by one and they would be left open to the elements. Around lunchtime the old farmer sang out to the men on the roof, “Boys, come on down. Mama has fixed you some lunch.” John told me that the workers put all the tiles back in place and drove away.

Obedient and ready to spring to action that describes the motive of the Christian. When treated unfairly we are to not talk badly of others but to be peaceable and gentle.  No matter how much our point of view may not be considered, we are to consider the perspective of others, even if that means feeding a work crew that is tearing down your own house.

If Paul’s words stopped at verse 1, it would all be hard to take and impossible to do. But thankfully he adds a few more verses. He reminds us that there was a time in life that we supposed that rebellion is the way to authority. But then kindness appeared and that changed everything. It is impossible to watch the injustice of the cross and not to be moved by the tenderness of Christ. He died not for himself but for us. He forgave those who killed him. He showed mercy to his mother and to thieves. He refused anaesthetic so that he could be fully awake to love us.

Application
In the face of Christ’s kindness, of the Father’s kindness, it is hard to live selfishly. This intention of Jesus lubricates our stiff joints into action when we are asked to do what we don’t want to do. My call is not just to do good, but to do good for the right motive and to package it with the tenderness that Christ gave to his suffering. The only way we can surrender rights in that way is to have full trust in God our Saviour. What we release he will bless. He just might give us our roof back.

Prayer
Father, help me to live the Jesus life. Jesus live through me. Amen.

Listen to music while you read this entry.

Mercy Me So Long Self 

Scripture
“Frustration is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart.” (Ecclesiastes 7:3)

Observation
When I read those words today I had a ‘monback moment” – you know, when the Bible snags your soul like a rosebush and says “come on back here now and study this bloom.” Most translations say “sorrow is better than laughter.” But this translation uses another word that sends me hunting to find the true definition of the word “sorrow” or “frustration”. (By way, here’s an easy way to do word studies on line.)

My dictionary tells me that the word in Hebrew means both “sorrow” and “anger” at the same time. It seems that the word “frustration” is a good compromise between the two. Grief is accepting that something lost is lost. We can feel sorrow and anger about that loss at the same time. That frustrating sadness is a good thing.

Learning to live without something we once depended upon is good heart exercise. It obviously brings us to our knees but it also brings to the surface what laughter will only disguise. Not getting our way is the best way forward.

Application

This scripture leads to a radical new direction in prayer. Instead of praying, Lord change my condition! It calls me to pray, Lord change me!

Prayer

Today, Father, I thank you for the loss of things I’ve depended on. Let the limp I walk with cause me to depend upon you more. Amen.