Today I feel led to share some lessons I am learning from an older and wiser woman I respect very much. She wouldn’t like the recognition, so I’ll leave this post “nameless” – but if you know me at all – you can guess exactly who I am talking about. She is the most amazing person I know.
The way she lives her life is teaching me to focus on the positive. She breezes past mistakes others make and insults just fall right off her. Sadness and anger do not linger in her presence, but are instead transformed into projects and focuses of her love and prayers. Yes, we have called her “The Queen of Denial” – but I am learning that this may be much closer to the way the Lord has called us to live.
Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” And this is exactly what she does.
Think about it - aren’t we all living in “capital S” Sin? And, if we are all sinners in desperate need of grace – who are we to judge? Yes, Christ has armed us with the “sword” of His truth (the written word of God: the Bible – Ephesians 6:17) to fight our daily battles here on Earth, but He alone is the sovereign judge and He alone can separate light from dark. Instead of commanding us to judge one another – He has commanded us to LOVE one another (1 Corinthians 13:13, Luke 10:27). We are called to correct and encourage one another according to His truth (Ephesians 4:15, John 3:18, Proverbs 27:17) – but the Bible is clear – it is more important to show mercy than judgement:
“For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.” -James 2:13
Let us walk in complete surrender to God’s will today – knowing that His grace is sufficient for us. He has tossed our sins so far away and allowed us to begin afresh – let’s learn from His word and wise people around us to forgive and love, just as Christ has loved and forgiven us.
The way she lives her life is teaching me to focus on the positive. She breezes past mistakes others make and insults just fall right off her. Sadness and anger do not linger in her presence, but are instead transformed into projects and focuses of her love and prayers. Yes, we have called her “The Queen of Denial” – but I am learning that this may be much closer to the way the Lord has called us to live.
Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” And this is exactly what she does.
Think about it - aren’t we all living in “capital S” Sin? And, if we are all sinners in desperate need of grace – who are we to judge? Yes, Christ has armed us with the “sword” of His truth (the written word of God: the Bible – Ephesians 6:17) to fight our daily battles here on Earth, but He alone is the sovereign judge and He alone can separate light from dark. Instead of commanding us to judge one another – He has commanded us to LOVE one another (1 Corinthians 13:13, Luke 10:27). We are called to correct and encourage one another according to His truth (Ephesians 4:15, John 3:18, Proverbs 27:17) – but the Bible is clear – it is more important to show mercy than judgement:
“For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.” -James 2:13
Let us walk in complete surrender to God’s will today – knowing that His grace is sufficient for us. He has tossed our sins so far away and allowed us to begin afresh – let’s learn from His word and wise people around us to forgive and love, just as Christ has loved and forgiven us.
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