I’ve had a rather horrid realization:
Just because someone already loves Jesus doesn’t mean I stop
being a witness.
The terrible part is I haven’t been living up to that. I tend
to assume that my behavior around and toward my Christian friends can be
different because “they know what I mean” or “they understand me” so much
better than others or “they’ll forgive me.” More often than not all three are
true.
But what excuse is that?
So often I am captured by how I feel and made slave to it by
my own will. I hold on to how I feel and project it however I see fit. I don’t
wait to see if it is beneficial. I just do it.
Nike would be proud.
Jesus isn’t.
I heard my uncle talk about the churches in Kenya. They have
this saying called the “Monday Church.” They say that to remind the Body of
Christ that it isn’t just Sunday we are the bride of Christ but at all times in
all things. I originally thought it was such a cool movement. Go Kenya!
It hit me that I don’t live that mindset very well.
I tend to remember love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control around non-believers. But my
Christian friends? I’m willing to let my attitude slip into one of
over-familiarity.
How disrespectful to them.
How appalling to Christ.
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| Bound together with love. |
It’s easy for me to be frustrated with the “slow” person in
the group. The one who is always a few steps behind and not quite sure of the
direction everyone else is headed. I’m realizing why my frustration is directed
at them:
They’re a reflection of my weaknesses.
I am the slow friend.
I’m the one who is constantly given grace.
I’m the one who goes too far in the sarcastic banter.
I’m the one who takes a serious conversation and makes it a joke.
I’m the one who stutters when speaking truth.
So clearly I see where I
fall short in those other people. Rather than use it as an opportunity to
drive myself closer to Christ, inward toward Perfection, I scoff and roll my
eyes. Then continue languidly to wonder why things aren’t changing.
Why I’m not changing.
God has been so gracious to me. In every way.
He saved me.
He sustains me.
He shows me where I lack.
He loves me through all of it to Him.
He gives me friends and family who’s love pushes me toward
Christ.
He teaches me to forgive, to release what I so tightly cling
to.
He makes me new.
He is always turning my heart of stone into one of flesh.
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