Today's post is by guest writer Lucas Ward.
Sometimes I hate my parents.
They taught me to be self-analytical, self-critical, and brutally self-honest. And being that way when Iāve just taught a two sermon series on anger is painful. Something at work doesnāt go quite right and Iāll let everyone know that Iām not exactly happy about it. Then Iāll remember āA fool's vexation is presently known; But a prudent man conceals shame.ā (Prov. 12:16); and Iāll think to myself āWell, fool, everyone has seen your shameful vexation now, havenāt they?ā
The lesson I taught on love isnāt any kinder to me. The old phrase āHe doesnāt suffer fools gladlyā could probably apply to me. There are a few of my co-workers who could be lumped into the category of fools. Know-it-all teens who donāt know anything and canāt even recognize a logical argument because they donāt know what clear reasoning is. Iāll get so frustrated that Iāll stop trying to help them and let them fall on their faces. Then Iāll think āLove suffers long and is kind. . . is not provoked. . . bears all things. . . endures all things.ā When those thoughts run through my head I shout back at myself, āYeah, but I donāt love this person, I donāt even like this person. Heās never done anything for me and usually is against me.ā Then I sigh as I remember āLove your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.ā (Matt. 5:43)
Itās really easy to āAmenā the preacher on Sunday mornings or nod my head as I read the Bible. Maybe I even think āThatās something I can work on and get better at.ā But recognizing the moments in my life when there's a chance to do better is harder. Actually living the Christian life as taught in the Bible on a day-to-day basis is hardest yet. Changing from a hot-headed fool whose vexation is known into a wise man who conceals his shame isnāt something thatās going to happen just because I read those passages or even taught them at Church. It takes daily effort and awareness. It may become more natural in a few years, but I doubt it will ever be easy. The same is true of showing love (as taught in 1 Cor. 13) to people I donāt like. Sometimes acting that way towards people I claim to love isnāt easy! I have to make a decision and then follow-through, with constant self-analysis.
Amen-ing the preacher on Sunday morning is easy. Living the Christian life day-to-day is hard. It requires me to change who I am, to grow into a new (and better) person. It takes a lot of effort. Luckily, God has promised to give me all the strength I need.
Eph. 1:19-20 āand what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly placesā
So, God has promised to help with the same power He used to raise the Lord. Which is good because the more I read the Bible, the more things I find that I need to change. Self-analysis can be painful. Yeah, thanks Mom and Dad.
No, really, thanks.
Lucas Ward
Sometimes I hate my parents.
They taught me to be self-analytical, self-critical, and brutally self-honest. And being that way when Iāve just taught a two sermon series on anger is painful. Something at work doesnāt go quite right and Iāll let everyone know that Iām not exactly happy about it. Then Iāll remember āA fool's vexation is presently known; But a prudent man conceals shame.ā (Prov. 12:16); and Iāll think to myself āWell, fool, everyone has seen your shameful vexation now, havenāt they?ā
The lesson I taught on love isnāt any kinder to me. The old phrase āHe doesnāt suffer fools gladlyā could probably apply to me. There are a few of my co-workers who could be lumped into the category of fools. Know-it-all teens who donāt know anything and canāt even recognize a logical argument because they donāt know what clear reasoning is. Iāll get so frustrated that Iāll stop trying to help them and let them fall on their faces. Then Iāll think āLove suffers long and is kind. . . is not provoked. . . bears all things. . . endures all things.ā When those thoughts run through my head I shout back at myself, āYeah, but I donāt love this person, I donāt even like this person. Heās never done anything for me and usually is against me.ā Then I sigh as I remember āLove your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.ā (Matt. 5:43)
Itās really easy to āAmenā the preacher on Sunday mornings or nod my head as I read the Bible. Maybe I even think āThatās something I can work on and get better at.ā But recognizing the moments in my life when there's a chance to do better is harder. Actually living the Christian life as taught in the Bible on a day-to-day basis is hardest yet. Changing from a hot-headed fool whose vexation is known into a wise man who conceals his shame isnāt something thatās going to happen just because I read those passages or even taught them at Church. It takes daily effort and awareness. It may become more natural in a few years, but I doubt it will ever be easy. The same is true of showing love (as taught in 1 Cor. 13) to people I donāt like. Sometimes acting that way towards people I claim to love isnāt easy! I have to make a decision and then follow-through, with constant self-analysis.
Amen-ing the preacher on Sunday morning is easy. Living the Christian life day-to-day is hard. It requires me to change who I am, to grow into a new (and better) person. It takes a lot of effort. Luckily, God has promised to give me all the strength I need.
Eph. 1:19-20 āand what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly placesā
So, God has promised to help with the same power He used to raise the Lord. Which is good because the more I read the Bible, the more things I find that I need to change. Self-analysis can be painful. Yeah, thanks Mom and Dad.
No, really, thanks.
Lucas Ward
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