‘Wrong’ Way on a One Way Street

I’ve been finding that the road the world wants to take me down and the path that God has for me are clashing more and more. It seems like I’m faced with “forks in the road” everyday, where I have the choice of taking the path that leads to destruction (but that can look pretty nice sometimes) and the more difficult (but more fulfilling and rewarding) path of righteousness.

God has been making clear for me the line between the world’s ways and His ways that the devil makes so blurry. I really cannot be on the fence, where it appears to just be comfortable and cushy.

Right now God is showing me decisions I have to make regarding relationships, caring/not caring what the world says about me, and what I’m willing to do for him. But every time I choose to follow God, it seems like I’m immediately faced with opposition.

But I know that God is not leaving me alone in these decisions. He has been putting some really wise and encouraging people in my life and has been lifting me up through those people and through his Word. Rachel has been one of those encouragers and has set an awesome example for me of following Jesus even when it’s not the ‘cool’ thing to do or when you face opposition. My high school small group leader said that we will face a lot of difficulty and conflict when we mess with Satan’s plans and try to ‘swim up-stream’, but that all of the hardships that force us to depend on God for strength can bring us so much closer to him in the end. I believe her, even though the ways of the world seem so much easier at times. I know I was never promised that following Jesus would be a piece of cake, and sometimes it’s really hard for me to stick with him. But I was also promised that he will never leave me, and that when things get hard, he will guide me through it. I hope that during all this, God will teach me how to fall on him and trust him completely. It’s so easy to get overwhelmed and swayed by the sin and deception in the world, but fortunately, God is so much bigger than all of that.

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

Hayley

Baggage part 2

So, Baggage stinks.  It really does.  But what do you do with it?

Give it to Jesus should be the default answer.  If you don’t know Jesus, then the world would offer you various other baggage mitigation devices, none of them actually working.

That’s great, I kinda covered this last time.

but,,,

What do you do when your baggage raises its head?  Like, how do you react when your baggage is especially heavy on you?

Example: Early on in my Christian life a brother and sister in Christ invited my wife and I over to dinner.  The dinner was nice but the purpose for the invitation came to light after we were finished.  They lovingly informed me that I was the single rudest person either of them had ever met.  I might be exagerating a bit, but you get the point.  Baggage…

Now, I want to talk about this in two different lights, and from two different perspectives.

I’ve been studying the Book of James.  In Chapter 1 James says: “2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

Basically, trials are good when you finally get through them.  Like the scholar Hannah Montanna says “Life’s a climb, but the view is great.”

James also says: “12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.”

Basically, James gives some crucial clarification here.  Temptation to sin is not the same thing, from the same motivation, and does not result in the same rewards as the Trials of your Faith.  Temptation to sin has it’s source in our own sinful hearts.

So, when we’re faced with a difficult situation, like dealing with our baggage, we’ve got two choices.  We can look at it as a trial from God through which we’ll grow and come out better than before.  We can also look at it as yet another temptation to sin.

Lets go back to my example, the two lights, the two perspectives.

•    Light 1:  Me
o    Perspective 1:  Temptation…   I was really tempted to defend myself.  This was my gut response.  I wanted to lash back out.  I came up with at least 15 snappy responses.  I was just being funny.  This isn’t my fault, they shouldn’t blame me.

o    Perspective 2:  Trial…  Holy Toledo, I’ve been hurting these people.  This is God’s way of finally opening my eyes to it.  This is so embarrassing, so humbling, so not what I’m used to dealing with.  I need to except this, apologize, and try to learn how to stop this.  God, give me the strength to love them like you do.
•    Light 2: Brother and Sister
o    Perspective 1:  Temptation…  Ben is such a jerk, such a looser, I hate him.  He must not be a Christian, no real Christian would act like this.  I hope he feels like he makes me feel.  Ugh, I hate him!!!

o    Perspective 2:  Trial…  This isn’t going to be fun.  Ben’s a good guy, he doesn’t realize that he’s being mean.  I don’t want to make him feel bad, or hurt our relationship, but I’ve got to say something to him.  I love him, and as a Christian I’m supposed to hold him accountable.  God, give me the strength to love him like you do.

My sinful nature tempted me to respond in sin.  The Holy Spirit urged me to go to God.

My brother and sister were tempted to respond in sin because they too have a sinful nature.  Praise God they took the higher road and opened up to me that night.

The weekend I spent with my brothers and sisters recently was like this for me.  There were several times I could actually realize the decision was before me.  My baggage, their baggage, whatever, the choice is still there.  Do I respond with sin, or with strength?

I had an opportunity to see them make these choices too, both types.

It was a good weekend.

If anybody understands what I’m trying to say, let me know, cause I’d like to talk about it more, but I don’t want to spin my wheels.

Thanks everybody!!!

Ben