Overcoming Evil with Good

Charleston names another place where where a heinous act results in earthly lives being suddenly cut short.  Jesus says:

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.  JOHN 10:10

Any time we do not honor another human being, the thief has come. 

Jesus came with honorable intention, stepping into the mess of humanity, bringing God's love and restoration to a hurting world.  

In the New Testament, St. Paul writes about love in action, calling those who follow Jesus to live in the same way:

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.  On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.  ROMANS 12:9-21

WOW!  Slow down and re-read each sentence!  

Living this way is so contrary to human nature.  It is only by knowing the love of Jesus that one can even begin to function in this way.  Oh yes, it's not so difficult when we are minimally infringed upon.  It is another matter as the issues become larger.

The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi has been in the forefront of my thoughts.  Just imagine how wonderful the world would be if all people lived the way this prayer reads!

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, 
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; 
to be understood as to understand; 
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive; 
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.  

If each and every day,
we lived in honor of
the one who created life,

living for the good of another 

instead of self gain, 

knowing others are doing the same,

we would all be living LIFE TO THE FULL!

Fragrance Diffuser

They're quite popular, coming in a variety of scents, colors, and styles.  Fragrance diffusers are intended to make the air smell good and create the desired mood in that space.

Paul writes: 
Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.  2 Corinthians 2:14

The diffuser can only disburse
that which it is drawing in!

Jesus invites us to abide
He says, dip your life into mine
Take in all I have to offer
Soak it up!

When the fragrance is empty, the sticks can no longer diffuse.  What a lesson that becomes for us! In order to diffuse the fragrance of God, we must be constantly connected to the source, soaking it in to share it with those around us.

The source of grace and mercy is Jesus!

When the sticks are dry, there is a trace of fragrance that remains...  It doesn't permeate the air in the room, it is soaked into the wood and you have to hold them close to detect any remaining fragrance.   

Jesus said, Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,
unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.  JOHN 15:4 

Have you soaked in the Word of God,

the grace and mercy of God,

in such measure
that it just emits from you,

without effort?

Imagine the people around you...  

In what way are they breathing in God's goodness and love, just because of who you are? 

My prayer today is to soak it up and be saturated in such measure that God's love is at the forefront of my mind, knowing His enduring love for me, and His desire for every person to know this for themselves too!  May all who know the love of God through Jesus be diffusers of His knowledge in every place!

Absolutely Everyone!

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.  MATTHEW 7:7-8

Jesus is teaching about the Kingdom of Heaven.  If we take this out of context, there are times we
might wonder if God really does answer prayer.

David writes in Psalm 37:

Trust in the Lord and do good;
    dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
    your vindication like the noonday sun.
Be still before the Lord
    and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,    when they carry out their wicked schemes.  PSALM 37:3-7



Jesus is saying...
ASK, beg, call for, crave, desire, require that God reveal insights about His Kingdom...
SEEK after these insights, searching for the less obvious deeper understanding...
KNOCK, literally rap on God's door, imploring him to share his thoughts and wisdom... 

Jesus is saying that
absolutely everyone
who earnestly asks, seeks, and knocks 

will discover God himself and His wisdom.   

Will everyone receive the answer they are hoping for when asking about their own desires? While we may hope for this, and sometimes conclude that God isn't answering if it doesn't come through just so...  the opportunity is there to gain deeper understanding.

Whenever it's difficult to make sense of circumstances, I look to Jesus.
On the night before his crucifixion, he instructed the disciples: Pray, that you will not fall into temptation.  

Then he moved about a stone's throw away, knelt down and prayed.
     "Father, if you are willing, take this cup of suffering from me; 
      yet not my will, but yours be done."  LUKE 22:42

We know this prayer was answered.  The cup of suffering was not removed, and yet God's will was done.  Jesus fulfilled the work he came to do.  He fulfilled God's will perfectly.  

It is much easier when God's will aligns with ours, and much more difficult when our desires aren't aligning with what's happening...  

And so I pray:
Good and gracious Lord, your ways are not our ways.  You tell us that we do not have because we have not asked.  Especially when it is difficult, when in times of trouble or tragedy or disaster, may we A.S.K. you first.  May we pray for your wisdom, to see how your will continues to be fulfilled, particularly when the immediate circumstances may not seem that way.  As we pray, may we seek where and how you might call us to be in it.  We give thanks for your longsuffering-patience and your everlasting faithfulness and your love that extends through eternity.  We pray this in Jesus name, AMEN.