Jumping to Conclusions

"'Yes,' the man told him.

'They have moved on from here,

but I heard them say,

'Let's go on to Dothan.'

So Joseph followed his brothers to Dothan

and found them there.

When Joseph's brothers saw him coming,

they recognized him in the distance.

As he approached,

they made plans to kill him.

'Here comes the dreamer!' they said.

'Come on,

let's kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns.

We can tell our father,

A wild animal has eaten him.

Then we'll see what becomes of his dreams!'"

Genesis 37:17b-20 NLT

The brothers were consumed with jealous bitterness.  While it was true that their younger brother was a spoiled brat who could do no wrong in the eyes of their father, there was more to their hatred than simple resentment.  Because of this boy, none of them could have a close relationship with their father.  Each of them felt like a failure around this greatly admired man.  A son wants nothing more than the acceptance and love of their dad, but with Joseph around, their father seemed to only have eyes for the favored one.  They could never live up to the patriarch's high expectations, and that gaudy robe was only a painful reminder of this difficult truth.

Anger and hatred can stem from many sources.  Whatever the root, however, the result is the same: the hurt that turns to bitterness influences the way I think which, in turn, impacts my actions.  This may be one of the most powerful reasons why God commands His people to freely offer the gift of forgiveness. (Ephesians 4:32)

When I hold onto the pain wrought at the hand of another, I may assume they are my enemy.  When I see this person enter my life, I jump to the conclusion that they are here to inflict harm, thus withholding the love of God that is to freely flow through His people.  Instead, there may be another reason for the visit, but I'll never find out unless I give them a chance through the grace that God so liberally gives.

Eyes of God

As a people, we are rich.  I don't mean with money and stuff, although that is true for the most part.  What I am getting at is that we are abundantly blessed with a great inheritance from a gracious and extravagantly generous God.  He not only offers us a second (and third, and fourth, etc) chance when we fall for the lure of our sinful nature, but He lavishes us with His abundant love, He showers us with one blessing after another, and He cares about all the little things that trouble my heart.  We are rich indeed.

Most of the time, however, I go through life without realizing how rich is this legacy of faith that I've come into through Christ. (Ephesians 1:18)  Instead I see only the damage done by destructive hands, the injustice caused by greed and selfishness, or the difficulties that naturally occur as I live in a fallen world.  

If I am to be able to respond to the people God has placed around me in a loving way, it is vital that I use God's eyes through which to view the world.  When I look through my own sin-clouded lenses, I am unable to see the goodness of God.  If, however, I take on His perspective by offering myself as a living sacrifice and refusing to buy into the ways of this world, I will better be able to see things as He does.  (Romans 12:1-2)  Only then will I be able to see people as God has created them to be, loving them right where they are as I pass on the wealth of blessings God has given me.

If I want to love people as God calls me to, I will need to have the eyes of God.

Led by the Spirit

Playing "Follow the Leader" with a group of elementary-aged children is interesting.  While I would never normally walk like a duck or climb over a pile of sand, I just may do so when being led by a young child.

Likewise, letting my flesh lead me through life will mean that I will engage in all kinds of activities and behaviors that do not please God.  I may find myself lured into thoughts of lust, tempted to explore sexual pleasures readily available through any electronic device, convinced I am justified in my hostility toward a co-worker, deceived into thinking I'm striving so hard to reach the top for the good of others, or tell myself I'll only indulge in one drink.  (Galatians 5:19-21)

When I let God's Spirit lead me, however, I will find a different kind of fruit being produced.  Instead of my sinful nature winning out, then, I will notice a compassion for those who are hurting well up inside of me, a sense of well-being that is not dependent upon my circumstances flood my soul, a calm tranquility that cannot be explained build up in my heart and a desire to do good guide my actions. (Galatians 5:22-23)  Only then can I have any hope of treating people in a way that would honor God.

If I want to love people as God calls me to, I will need to be led by His Spirit.

Kingdom-Minded

My mind whirls like a high-powered computer as I lay sleepless beside my slumbering husband.  If I can save about $50 on groceries, I might have enough to pay the phone bill.  Then, there will only be a couple more expenses to cover this month.  Or, I might be able to scrimp on gas by staying home all week, skipping all my ministry activities so we could cover the water bill.  That's a great idea.  Maybe there's more I haven't thought of.  Ugh, why can't I go back to sleep?

A mind focused on meeting physical needs is a mind that worries at three o'clock in the morning.  Jesus taught us that only unbelievers should think this way because they don't have a benevolent Father to take care of them.  As children of God, though, those who follow Christ do enjoy this benefit.  Since my heavenly Father knows what I need and is perfectly willing and capable of supplying those requirements, I am free to focus my mind of His kingdom instead. (Matthew 6:31-33)  

In this way I will be able to concentrate on the ways God is working all around me and join in with what He is doing.  A mind focused on worldly worries, however, will never detect these activities and will only tend to what will not last.  My focus, then, determines the nature of my actions.

If I want to love people as God calls me to, I will need to be kingdom-minded.

It is easy to only treat people the way they treat me, or to let my feelings influence my actions.  If I am to truly let the love of God flow through me, though, I will need to take on His way of seeing those around me, let His Spirit lead me, and focus my mind of kingdom pursuits.  In these ways, I will not jump to conclusions, but will stand firm on the solid rock of my faith in Christ.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can let go of all the hurts that can lead to hatred and bitterness. 

How do I focus on my needs, acting like I don't have a Father in heaven who takes care of me?

When do I follow only my flesh, letting my feelings be my guide?

Mind of Christ

"No one can know a person's thoughts

except that person's own spirit,

and no one can know God's thoughts except

God's own Spirit.

And we have received God's Spirit (not the world's spirit),

so we can know the wonderful things 

God has freely given us.

When we tell you these things,

we do not use words that come from human wisdom.

Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit,

using the Spirit's words to explain spiritual truths.

But people who aren't spiritual

can't receive these truths from God's Spirit.

It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it,

for only those who are spiritual 

can understand what the Spirit means.

Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things,

but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others."

1 Corinthians 2:11-15 NLT

"I can't read your mind!"  

My husband turned at the frustrated tone in my voice.  "I'm sorry.  Sometimes I think you know exactly what I'm thinking and can just pick right up with where my thoughts left off.  Let me catch you up so we can be on the same page."

This kind of miscommunication or use of false assumptions takes place quite often in our marriage.  Either my husband or I will be thinking about a certain topic and start a conversation in the middle of a thought, presuming the other will immediately understand the context, pretext and subject matter.  Most of the time, though, we're hopelessly lost.

Just as no one can possibly know my husband's thoughts except himself, there is no way to know the mind of God except through His Spirit.

God's Spirit gives us understanding of His ways but without Him, I just don't get it.

Spirit from God

"Plane crashes in Atlantic; no survivors."

"Terrorists bomb embassy, three killed."

"Gunman goes on a rampage in school, dozens of children and teachers killed."

"New findings show cancer rates are climbing."

Reading the news in this fallen world is an exercise in discouragement and despair.  I am surrounded by things that can make me fearful and worried for the lives of myself and my family.  Seeing the threats all around, I begin to pay attention to the dialogue taking place within the culture as to how we can keep ourselves safe from danger. 

Some say banning guns is the answer.  Others say we should increase our military might in countries who train and harbor terrorists.  Then there are the experts who advise us to eat organic foods and stay away from too much electromagnetic radiation.  Suddenly, I find myself living in a constant state of fear as I work hard to prevent harm.

God, however, teaches another way to live.  He did not give me, as His child, a fearful spirit, but the reassurance of an adopted daughter who is completely cared for by a loving Father.  (Romans 8:15)  

Instead of trying to negotiate this treacherous world by focusing on how I can avoid hazards, I have been given a Guide in the Holy Spirit who teaches me God's ways.  Then, as threats are hurled my way, I can sleep as peacefully as Jesus did in the boat rocked by the ferocious storm.  (Mark 4:35-41)

In place of getting caught up in the world's way of thinking, using my common sense to make decisions and looking to the opinions of experts or friends to help me know which way I should go, I can turn to God's wisdom that comes from paying attention to Him as Lord of all creation.  (Proverbs 9:10)

Once I start following God's lead in this way, I will see how backwards it is from the world's way of thinking.  Where the world advises to run away, God says to stand firm.  When all the experts say to hoard my money, God says to be generous.  While common sense tells me I should panic, God assures me of the security found in my sonship.

God's Spirit teaches me His ways as I live in a world that tells me otherwise.

Spiritual Language

My family and I lived in Germany for three years as part of my husband's Army career.  During that time, we learned some of the host country's language and culture, growing to appreciate the friendly people and rich history.  Many of the German ways were different from what I was used to in America.

In a similar way, I can't understand the ways of God using my own background and insight.  Instead, He must give me His own language with which to comprehend the lessons He teaches.  A late-blooming Azalea is just an anomaly in the natural world, but from a spiritual point of view, it is a lesson on how some people come to faith later than others.

A frustrating situation that seems to slow me down becomes a lesson in waiting on His timing and sovereignty.   The strange sight of a mockingbird hovering over the Finch nest hidden in the hanging ferns seemed odd and out of the ordinary to my eye, but to God, it was a warning to watch out for someone preying on the neighborhood children.

If I'm going to take God seriously, I will find myself thinking in a new way, using different terminology, and gaining insight into His kingdom from the most unlikely places.  His passion will flow through me as I reach out to the lost around me, giving them the hope of the Gospel as a lifeline in a sea of despair.  (1 Corinthians 2:4)

God's Spirit uses His own language to show me His kingdom ways and His heart for the lost.

Spiritual Discernment

Little Red Riding Hood is a story about a little girl and her grandmother who naively yielded to the wily ways of a clever wolf.  Unfortunately, they both lost their lives because of their inability to distinguish between a friend and a foe.

Thankfully, I am not left as vulnerable as the poor youngster in this familiar fairy tale.  God's Spirit gives me the ability to discern between the power found in the message of God and the deceptiveness of Evil.  My job is to pay attention to His quiet warnings.

It's easy to listen to the popular talk show host who dispenses advice like popcorn at a movie theater.  It sounds good and seems so sensible, but that nagging feeling inside tells me I'm not listening to godly words of wisdom.

Other times I get caught up in a popular Christian book, organizing a discussion group.  However, I must pay attention to the red flags that are going up as a sign that the message is not quite as God intended.

I often jump on the bandwagon of participating in certain activities which seem harmless but every time I take part, that uncomfortable feeling in the pit of my stomach will not go away.

Jesus said that He considers me to be His friend because He reveals everything to me just as His Father did for Him. (John 15:15)   I can then take advantage of this relationship by paying attention to His lead, allowing Him to guide me toward the truth.

God's Spirit gives me the ability to tell the difference between a message that will steer me toward Him and one that will take me away.

Just as I cannot know my husband's mind, I have no hope of understanding God's ways without Him.  Thankfully, His Spirit gives insight into His ways, using His own language and an important capacity to discern.  In this way, I have the mind of Christ.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can pay attention to His teachings.

When do I ignore God's subtle warnings and instead do my own thing?

How am I guilty of paying more attention to worldly wisdom instead of God's?