FOCUSING ON WHY WE WALK WITH GOD, NOT WHAT WE NEED TO DO

I have been thinking a lot lately about how fortunate I am to have some solid brothers and sisters in Christ who share so much wisdom and bring so much deep discussion about our Walk With God. In a recent discussion we began sharing how much more difficult it seems to be a parent of children who are in their mid twenties. They are constantly bombarded by culture and judgement. America was always a place where different opinions could be shared and it was ok to have different viewpoints. From where we sit today, sadly those moments are becoming more and more uncommon. As a father, it is hard to watch your children move down certain paths in life. We want our kids to avoid the pitfalls and stupidity that we recall becoming involved in at times ourselves. It is easy to find ourselves as parents telling our kids WHAT NOT TO DO ! You shouldn’t be doing this. You shouldn’t be doing that. If your children are Christians and Believers, it becomes all the more crushing when they veer away from God. The term “my body, my choice”, or “ i’ve Got This “ or “ You just don’t understand….things are different today” are often times hard to take. Arguments erupt. Anger and frustration lead to hurt feelings. It’s like being on a battleground and suddenly you are fighting someone you love and cherish deeply. What to do ? It is amazing that when we find ourselves in that place, the TRUTH is that God always brings us back to one key thing. LOVE.

KNOW THIS , MY BELOVED BROTHERS: LET EVERY PERSON BE QUICK TO HEAR, SLOW TO SPEAK, SLOW TO ANGER; FOR THE ANGER OF MAN DOES NOT PRODUCE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD. James 1:19-20

LET ALL BITTERNESS AND WRATH AND ANGER AND CLAMOR AND SLANDER BE PUT AWAY FROM YOU, ALONG WITH ALL MALICE. BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER, TENDERHEARTED, FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, AS GOD IN CHRIST FORGAVE YOU. Ephesians 4: 31-32

WHOEVER RESTRAINS HIS WORDS HAS KNOWLEDGE, AND HE WHO HAS A COOL SPIRIT IS A MAN OF UNDERSTANDING. Proverbs 17:27

FOR THIS VERY REASON, MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ADD TO YOUR FAITH GOODNESS, KNOWLEDGE; AND TO KNOWLEDGE, SELF CONTROL; AND TO SELF CONTROL, PERSEVERANCE, GODLINESS; AND TO GODLINESS, MUTUAL AFFECTION; AND TO MUTUAL AFFECTION, LOVE. 2 Peter 1: 5-8

Perhaps when we start by telling others, our wives, husbands, kids, exactly WHAT THEY ARE DOING WRONG, we are missing a critical ingredient. LOVE. Starting with Love, and explaining WHY something might be harmful or difficult always comes across better than a judgement and criticism, doesn’t it ? All of us have that inner pride to stiffen our back when we are told We Are Wrong ! STOP DOING THIS comes across subtly different than Why it might be a good idea to examine what the action might lead to. Isn’t it amazing that Jesus always seemed to have a tender and loving conversation with those He encountered. Gently and lovingly showing them the “WHY” in their behavior would lead them astray and push them away from God and His Righteousness. The woman at the well knew very clearly who she was and what she had done. Jesus showed her love and forgiveness, and He SET HER FREE to know WHY she should change and pursue a different path. To GO AND SIN NO MORE. Make no mistake, Jesus would not tolerate sin, and He would come against it strongly, but there was such wisdom in how He handled every single person and situation. HE Turned Over Tables when His Father’s House was violated. He asked those who Judged to pick up the First Stone IF THEY BORE NO SIN. He made the Unclean see His Love and Power, setting them free from fear, pain, and rejection. All With Purpose. All With Control. All With Love and Forgiveness.

THEREFORE, IF ANYONE IS IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATION. THE OLD HAS PASSED AWAY, BEHOLD, THE NEW HAS COME. 2 Corinthians 5:17

AND OVER ALL THESE VIRTUES PUT ON LOVE, WHICH BINDS THEM ALL TOGETHER IN PERFECT UNITY. Colossians 3:14

LOVE, IT ALWAYS PROTECTS, ALWAYS TRUSTS, ALWAYS HOPES, ALWAYS PERSEVERES. 1 Corinthians 13:7

MY COMMAND IS THIS: LOVE EACH OTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU. John 15:12

The world today is BIG on SELF RULE, especially if it leads away from God and His Principles and Commandments. The amazing thing about the world and those who speak for it is that it doesn’t set you FREE, it binds you in the chains of groupthink and immorality. It preaches division. Think like WE DO or else. This is how YOU NEED TO THINK AND THIS IS WHAT YOU DO ! Do you see the difference ? Jesus quietly calls to you. Hey, I’m here, knocking at your door because I want to know you and let you know me. I want to break bread with you. Be In Relationship. Love, Friendship. I died so that YOU MIGHT BE FREE TO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. LET ME TELL YOU WHY :) I walk with JESUS because I want to know more about Him. I walk with Jesus because I want to know WHY HE LOVES ME SO MUCH despite not doing everything correctly. HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE FOR ME GOD ! THANK YOU FOR SHOWING ME WHY :) WHY NOT ?/JAA

BUT GOD DEMONSTRATES HIS OWN LOVE FOR US IN THIS: WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US ROMANS 5:8