“Some people never change.”
We've all heard it before. What do you do, where do you turn; when life presents these people to you? Is it true that most people are truly incapable of change? Why do we long for others to change in the first place? I believe the general consensus is that when someone has wronged us in one way or another, causing us to hurt and or grieve; we generally aren't fond of them.
When it would be immoral to cut ties and move on without them in your life, when there are innocent parties involved, what is the resolution? Does one exist? These uncertainties compelled me to examine my own life in all its splendor as well as its faults, my thoughts and prior knee-jerk reactions.
Pray For My What?!
“You have heard that it was said, love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:43-44
Surely God doesn't comprehend the difficulty in His request. Or does He? This, for me, has to be one of the most difficult aspects of living a Christian life. I am asked to pray for those who hurt and torment me along side those who love and support me and whom I love and support. I assure you I struggle with this more often than not. I find that I have to first pray for God to soften my heart; to help me find the good in my enemies so I am able to pray for them with my heart and not just because it is what I'm instructed to do.
I have prayed for God to help me see people as He sees them. I was sharing this with Jason and he said to me, “I don't want to see people through God's eyes. I want to see people how God wants me to see them.” I expressed that God loves us all as His children. He sees more good in us than we see in one another and why wouldn't we want to see others that way? I soon forget though that God sees our sin as well. Jason has a point. The last thing I want to see is more sin so perhaps it has been one of those unnoticed blessings that God blinds me to that which I am not intended to see.
Can I Have A Verdict, Please?
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1-2
“Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.” 1 Corinthians 4:5
Aside from the difficulty of praying for my enemies, I struggle with passing judgment. I know these particular teachings well, yet when I grow closer in my relationship with God, that is when I feel Satan at work; tempting me, aggravating me, prodding me, to judge those who plague me. I do this only to those who have sinned against me or my family and judging them for their sin transcends my initial true curiosity and desire to find the root of the issue, understand and reconcile it.
"If your brother sins against you go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” Matthew 18:15-17
It seems simple enough, though when he alone makes the effort while the other blasphemies and defiles him nothing is accomplished. I do not necessarily consider myself to be the type of person to accept that “this is it” if I believe things can be made better. I want resolve. I need resolve. I need a bottom line. I need a verdict.
Equality of Sin
Is all sin equal in the eyes of God? Jesus answered, "You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin." John 19:11
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
