Got big opinions?
Got big opinions?
Me too.
Problem-solvers, critical-thinkers, leaders, activists, justice-warriors: UNITE!
If the whole world were as perfect as we are, there would be no problems. Or if they would at least just ask, we could tell them where they’ve gone wrong and how to fix it. It’s true; I agree with you. What is plainly obvious seems to not to be so plain these days. But we’ve got the answers.
Sweet bleeder for humanity, pause.
Stop. Just wait a moment.
Good intentions and intellect may well be talents and abilities endowed to us by God Himself. But it does well to remember they are not God Himself.
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”
1 Corinthians 3:19 (NKJV)
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9 (NKJV)
So how do we reconcile the gap in the middle? The wisdom of man and the wisdom of God. And how do we submit our God-given, Spirit-led convictions to perhaps a notion greater that we do not know? How do we simultaneously do our job and give God His job back?
Oh, the dance of faith and obedience.
The intimate dance of trust and conviction.
Which foot goes first? When is there a turn? A bow? An embrace? A swing outwards?
Lord, give me Your wisdom.
Job’s friends… Though they spoke in earthly wisdom and from personal experience, they had not been privy to the essential cosmic conversation involving his life, which would have informed their sentiments more accurately. And neither are we regarding another person’s life; ever.
In 2022, we are granted the bird’s-eye-view when we read Scripture. We know now that Job was not being punished. But he did not know this and neither did his friends.
None of them knew, or could even consider the fact that Job’s hardships were a display of God’s immense pride and trust.
Job’s friends were governed by a simple, earthly, experience-driven arithmetic, which only allowed them to conclude his guilt.
Action leads to consequence.
Bad action, therefore, leads to bad consequence.
It’s simple 1+1=2.
Although Job could not reconcile the reason or origin of his pain, he maintained his innocence. (It stands to be mentioned also that he maintained a heart of worship unfailing.)
It is human nature to sympathise with the victim or the good guy in the story. I’ve rarely heard Job’s story taught from the perspective of his friends. Mostly, we side with Job and see our selves through his lens of trouble and questioning. However, I have noticed from the behaviours in others as well as my own, that more often than not we are Job’s friends - passing judgement because we believe we know the answer. I wonder how often we are wrong, as they were.
The world was wrong about Noah when they mocked him.
Joseph was wrong about Mary when he planned to divorce her.
Israel were wrong about the prophets when they killed them.
So where is the answer?
Make a judgement but don’t judge.
In Layman’s terms, while the situation may be wrong, the person at the centre may not be.
I may not agree with the person, I may have done things differently, but I am not the judge and jury of their life. Neither do I know what cosmic conversation has taken place in the Heavenly realms in their regard.
If I have to be right then I am making the other person’s situation about myself; and that immediately makes me wrong.
We may not know who is right and who was wrong for many, many years; it was a significant portion of time before God showed up for Job. Be assured though, time does always tell; so be careful what you do or say in the meantime.
Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.
Matthew 7:1-2 (NKJV)
Who do you think you are to sit in judgment of someone else’s household servant? His own master is the one to evaluate whether he succeeds or fails. And God’s servants will succeed, for God’s power supports them and enables them to stand.
Romans 14:4 (TPT)
We live in a day of heightened opinion and heated division. If you know me, you know I want to stand for what I believe in. I’m not suggesting we back away from our convictions. What I am suggesting is we allow God to measure and judge. I’m suggesting we release our brothers and sisters into the grace of the Heavenly Father who can bring revelation to their hearts. And while I’m on that note: it’s that same Heavenly Father who must be given the authority to bring revelation to our own hearts as well.
Stay soft my friend.
Soft heart; thick skin.
The apostle Paul softened more and more as he went on in his life; we should do the same.
Turn the tables and remember you’ve come along way; you’ve made mistakes, you appreciated Grace and trust, you were drawn to those who respected you, even when you were wrong at times.
