Dirty Sandals

1 Samuel 15:23 (KJV) For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

      Yesterday we discussed the root of rebellion which is bitterness and the seed of bitterness which is unfulfilled expectations. The story of Johnny and his Father can be compared to countless other situations involving loved ones that have not been able to fill the desires and expectations we have projected on them. Husbands, wives, siblings, bosses, and employees have all been disappointed and faced the choice to forgive or to hold a grudge. Then the anger builds and we become even more aware of the deficiencies in our loved ones. Even the NSA could not gather as much dirt as one who is harboring the hurt of disappointment. Soon every word, every look, every non-word, and every look away becomes proof of our foregone conclusion. We have judged the one that hurt us and they are undeserving of forgiveness.

      I read this morning a lengthy poster stating that it didn’t matter if you were a man, woman, gay, straight, black, white etc. if you were nice to that person they would be nice to you. This thinking, while it sounds lofty and noble, is unbiblical. God didn’t call us to be kind to our friends and those that treat us well. He called us to love our enemies and to be kind to those that despitefully use us. I have seen those that would feed the homeless and shelter the hurting but could not bring themselves to draw close to their family members. Often the greatest challenge we face is not to love those that we don’t know but to love those that we know the best.

      In Christ we find God’s example of perfect love and forgiveness. Knowing what we had done and what we were going to do, Christ died for us. I have often wondered how He could love those that were crucifying Him. I believe that in order to complete the redemption of sinful man Christ had to love the Father. More than His love for man, more than His desire to free us, Jesus loved the Father. In the garden Jesus was ready to find another way. The cross seemed to hard and perhaps His 33 years on earth had gotten His sandals a little dirty. Christ was not eager to carry the cross but in that quiet place with God He found the strength to love the unlovable, to die for the uncaring, to pay the ultimate price for those that would reject Him.

      When, in our own human effort, we try to find forgiveness and love there might not be a compelling reason. But when we draw close to Abba Father our hearts are filled with His great love. When we trust in God no matter what may come our way, we find that obedience is always better than sacrifice.