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- Written by: Don Goulding
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:2-3) (NIV)
In the Winnie the Pooh story by A. A. Milne, Rabbit suggests they cure Tigger of his bouncing by losing him in the woods overnight.
“Oh, we'll find him again next morning, and mark my words, he'll be a humble Tigger, a sad and small Tigger, an ‘Oh, Rabbit, am I glad to see you’ Tigger. And it'll take the bounces out of him, that's what!”
The plan backfires, and it’s Rabbit himself who gets lost. He comes out of the long night humbled from his pride.
When it comes to nonessential theological doctrines, I feel like Rabbit. I used to be confident of my beliefs and critical of those who differed. What came out of my mouth was intended to win debates rather than honor Jesus.
Students of theology are soon faced with the thorny disagreements that have plagued church history. Our limited human intellect leaves us thrashing in brambles far removed from God’s path.
From outside the thicket, I hear Jesus searching for me. I need only follow his voice, return to the simple gospel, and let him bring me into the fullness of grace.
I went into the forrest of nonessential doctrines with an attitude of “I have answers that will unbounce others.” I’m coming out of those same woods a broken Rabbit, an “Oh, Jesus, am I glad to see you” Rabbit.
Prayer: King Jesus, may humility close my mouth except to glorify you.
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- Written by: Don Goulding
You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you. (Isaiah 26:3) (NIV)
Dani and I met a missionary couple, who’s story changed us.
“I wanted to attend Bible college in Europe,” blonde Californian Leah said. “But I had a brain tumor. Churches around the world prayed, and a torrent of God’s peace overtook my heart. I wanted it to swallow me. I told my doctor I would forego treatment and trust God. He told me I was foolish.”
Leah enthusiastically sold her belongings in preparation for college or death.
Balazs took over the story with his Hungarian accent. “I was forced to drop out of college because I had testicular cancer, with less than a ten percent chance of survival. Hundreds prayed for me, and peace filled my heart also. I didn’t know Leah. But I knew the same peace.
“When treatments were no help, I discontinued them and waited to see when I’d go to be with Jesus. The doctors called it suicide and fought my decision with legal actions.”
Back in America, Leah’s doctor raised his eyebrows over her latest test results. The tumor had disappeared. As a result, he became a Christian and left for the mission field.
Leah left for Bible college in Hungary. Leah met Balazs. They had a lot in common, including God’s peace and a miraculous cure that later came to Balazs as well.
“Then he asked me to marry him,” Leah said.
After his parables, Jesus often said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” His point was that some stories are meant to change the listeners. Like this one.
Prayer: Prince of Peace, reign in my heart above all else.
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- Written by: Don Goulding
The LORD will protect you from all harm;
he will protect your life. The LORD will protect you in all you do,
now and forevermore.
(Psalms 121:7, 8)
At his orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico, a big-eyed boy glided a shard of broken mirror through the air, complete with sound effects. A wedge of glass isn’t a safe plaything, and I considered taking the fragment away. But I couldn’t confiscate his toy without deflating an entire universe of souls desperate for rescue by the heroic Shard of Mirror.
I also live in a make-believe world. In my fantasy, I take up a shard of life’s brokenness and pretend it protects me. I’m so busy playing with fragments of human acceptance and pieces of financial security, that I don’t notice demons are handing them to me.
We all have our shards—those consolations we imagine will complete us. Mine make perfect sense to me. It’s yours that seem make believe.
“Wake up,” Jesus says. “You don’t need your invented remedies. You have me.”
He’s right. Because I said yes to his love, I have him and he has me. He is in me and around me 24/7, 365 days a year. My spirit thrives under his protection.
At the end of our week of construction at the orphanage, we gave real toys to the children. The broken mirror was replaced by a safe gift. The orphan boy happily traded in his shard.
Now it’s my turn to exchange my fragments for the real protection offered only in Jesus.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I trust in your care over my life.