Colliding head on into other people's stuff draws me to the place where He clarifies all that swirls in my head. A place where, in the words of the band Casting Crowns, "I can't live by what I feel, but by the truth Your Word reveals...." Jesus prays for us to His Almighty Father in John 17:17, "Make them holy by your truth, teach them your word, which is truth."
Sometimes I am so assimilated into this earthly life that I do not notice that I have taken on a lie of the world as "just how it is." I do not realize that I have a choice to believe differently. I do not even see the need to believe differently. This is where God and I met today.
I struggled inside today. My feelings wrestled with what I knew was truth from Scripture. I wanted to justify my feelings in His Word. I saw His truth, but wanted my feelings verified. I even went so far as to research the meaning of the original Greek language in one such verse hoping to arrive at the conclusion I desired. All to no avail. God's Word is truth not my feelings.
He brought Romans 12:2 to mind, "Don't copy the behaviors and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think." I had allowed the world's views to slip in silently and affect my emotions allowing me to justify sinful behavior in others. It was here He said, "I do not want you to think like the world. Let my Truth transform you by transforming your thinking even in this matter."
So, then what? I am now left with the known sin of others that He is asking me to object to. But, I ask, "What about love?" You want me to stand against the sin, but love the person. Isn't this contradictory? "Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good." (Romans 12:9) What does this look like? Work this out in me... "And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns." (Philippians 1:6)
May I be a willing participant of Your work. "Teach me how to live, O Lord. Lead me along the right path..." (Psalm 27:11) "The Lord says, 'I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you." (Psalm 32:8)
