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- Written by: Don Goulding
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him. (John 3:17)
“Bothell, has anyone ever told you that you’re a strange Christian?” Rupert said over his white picket fence.
“I’m a strange Christian? What do you mean?” Bothell thought about the other fence that divided them.
“Most people shun Georgi and me, they don’t want our type in the neighborhood. If you know what I mean.” Rupert nodded toward another house. “But you’ve been a real friend. Not that I’m complaining, but it’s not what we’ve come to expect.”
Bothell smiled at Rupert’s florescent yellow and pink robe. He sent a silent prayer up, Lord give me the right words.
“When I read my Bible I don’t see that Jesus condemned anybody except the self-righteous. He was a friend of sinners like me.” Rupert seemed to be tracking. “I hope what you see in me is a little of the real Jesus. You and Georgi are loved.”
“Oh, you are just so sweet.” Rupert reached over the fence with a hug and a flutter of pats.
“Rupert, on behalf of Christians I apologize that we’re judgmental. It’s very wrong. We’re all sinners who need forgiveness and second chances to do better. That’s why Jesus came.”
Rupert’s eyes moistened and Bothell knew the fence between them was dissolving.
Prayer: Savior of the world, lead me across fences.
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- Written by: Don Goulding
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. (1 Peter 1:22) (NIV)
It was a simple scene—a dilapidated mobile home, a dying tree, and a rope-swing. The Holy Spirit used these three elements to expose a rotting cavity in my soul.
Lightening had shattered the top half of the tree until it looked like a hunched man. Any decent arborist would have cut the thing down.
But what about the swing? There must have been a child that treasured the stumpy oak. The rundown house hinted that the tree-swing may be the kid’s only solace. He or she would grow up with fond memories of the dear bent trunk—the eyesore I would’ve removed.
My fixation with perfection leaves a void in my heart. If a tree isn’t symmetrical, I want it chopped. If a human isn’t beautiful or rational, I want them to change. When a disciple backslides, I disregard them. I only love God’s creation when it measures up to my judgmental standards.
My heart needs to repent because real love doesn’t care if the recipient has value. It simply overflows the goodwill it receives from God, without regard to where the overabundance spills.
While serving in the Solomon Islands, Melanesian boys led me to their favorite hiking destination in the jungle. An emerald pool overflowed crystal water down a waterfall and into another fern-laced swimming hole.
From the purity of God’s being his love overflows my heart. For me to look down and decide the next pool is undeserving goes against every natural law. It dams up the river that I would drink from in heaven.
Prayer: Jesus, help me pour love into whomever you put beside me.
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- Written by: Don Goulding
So then, brothers and sisters, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh (for if you live according to the flesh, you will die), but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live. (Romans 8:12-13)
Of the three enemies that plague me—the world, the flesh, and the devil—the most dangerous is my old nature that craves self-rule. Satan and the world are menacing to be sure, but neither of them can touch the real me in my spirit. Only my own flesh can drag my whole being into hell.
I am my enemy. The battle of life is against my own carnal nature. I fight human injustice, and I’m zealous to attack Satan, now it’s time to stop shaking in the knees before my flesh.
Today, I admonish myself—know your failures. Study your weaknesses then diminish their territory. Don’t compromise with your darker self. If you lose a battle, don’t wave the white flag of surrender, but pick up your weapons and resume the war. The danger is far too perilous to quit.
Most importantly, deploy the nuclear bomb that demolishes temptation—the filling of the Holy Spirit. The world, the flesh, and the devil all melt in the presence of the Spirit of Jesus.
On this battle ground you will be made or destroyed. Be strategic. Be bold. Rout the enemy before he overtakes your eternity.
Prayer: Present Holy Spirit, help me in today’s mighty battle against myself.