Bruce the Bald Daily Devotional ONLY A TEST!!! I Samuel 16:7 Man looks at the outward appearance. The Lord looks at the heart. As I was scanning my Facebook page today, I came across this video. (Thanks, Lisa Calhoon) What it had to say was spot on, but the speaker and his manner of speaking might potentially negate his message. Four letter words. Foul language. Backwards hat. It shouldnt do that, but it might. I have moved now, across town, to an affluent part of Denver. Affluent minus me and my daughter (-B On another Facebook post last night, there was a list of the most affluent zip codes in the Denver area. Mine, 80129, was listed as #8. When I pick my grandson up from middle school, where I sit waiting for him for him to show up, I see a stream of kids coming out of school, getting on buses, filing into cars. Having spent 44 years teaching in a school district where 90% + of the students are limited English proficient and on free and reduced lunch, it is quite an eye opener. Attending the Christmas concert at church the other night, I saw mink coats and very few minorities. Please understand, this is definitely not an indictment of the people of Highlands Ranch. I have a feeling that most churches I might attend would reflect the community around them. We tend to gather with those who look and live as we do. It feels more comfortable. But God didnt call us to be more comfortable. Honestly, He called us to be a little bit of a burr, a rough edge that challenges the thinking of those around us. When I was a little smudge growing up, I remember vividly when, in 1957, Tommy Lewis, my fourth grade classmate, said the word HELL. It was shocking. People didnt say words like that. Obviously, that means I didnt grow up around a lot of cussing. Honestly none. When someone said a four letter word, I instantly could think of nothing else. Yew!!!! Tommy said that!!!! I posted this video today because I wanted you to see how it strikes you. Can you consider the validity of what the speaker has to say, or are you sidetracked from the message by his looks and his language? You may have not stopped to think about it before, but Jesus did not choose a homogenous group to be His disciples. He chose people who were racially, spiritually, and socially different from one another. It was one of their strengths. When they discussed things, they didnt automatically all agree. They had to learn to get along, to listen to each other, to see Gods workings in those around them. One of my favorite evidences of this came right at the end of Jesus earthly life. John 21:20-22 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” WHAT ABOUT HIM??? Peter wondered if Jesus used the same standards to measure Johns worth as He used to measure Peters. That takes us back to what Eazy had to say in the video. When something occurs as it did in Ferguson, we tend to jump on one bandwagon or another. Blame the police. Blame the black people of Ferguson. Blame the government. Eazy said that if mankind is going to get better, then it is going to require a kind man. The problems of this world are not going to change at a societal level until they change at an individual level, and for them to change at an individual level, we need to start thinking outside the box. The truth is, because of our sin nature, things will never truly get better until Jesus returns, but until then, individually, we can make a difference. Look for the good in people. Dont evaluate them by how they look, how they talk, where they live. Their value in Gods eyes is based on the condition of their hearts and nothing else. Laying on highways, boycotting businesses, combating violence with more violence, will NEVER change anything. Change will only occur when it happens inside of you. Not your next door neighbor. Once it occurs in you, it will be like a flashing neon light to those around you. You SHOULD seem different. When people saw Jesus, they KNEW He was different. It oozed out of His pores, was seen in His smile, was demonstrated by His words and actions. Examine your prejudices. Would God approve of them, or are they the product of comfortable thinking and finger pointing. In the end, the truth will be known, and you WANT to be addressed by God as good and faithful servant. 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. BUILD WITH CARE!!! MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!! IT STARTS WITH YOU!
Posted on: Sat, 20 Dec 2014 22:44:18 +0000
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