I am tired. And I am tired of being tired. Both my morning meditation verse and today’s sermon was about being tired. God wants me to both know it and do something about it.
Proverbs 17:22,” A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”
I am tired of the negative political campaigns that try to divide us. I am tired of the conspiracy theories concerning who, what and why of the pandemic. I am tired of the politicalizing of the message of hate. I feel that the world is so hell-bent of distracting me from the truth, that the truth no longer matters. I am tired of people who have been so brainwashed by what they want the truth to be, that they think everyone else is lying. I’m tired of the endless debates, the emotions, the hate.
This morning God reinforced that I was made for a time such as this. This is not a time to lament; it is a time to rejoice that God has opened the world to us. It is a time to step back and let Him lead. God will fight the good fight for me.
Romans 12:12, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
What if every time we are tempted to enter the debate, we chose to focus our conversation, not on what man has said, but what God says? What if we quote scripture rather than the latest media post? What if we craft our position on God’s word rather than our selected party or candidate? What if we focus on the long view, not the short view?
Titus 3:9, “But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.”
In the end, God wins. He does not represent a political party, ethnic group, or geography. He represents truth as dictated by Him. That truth is grounded in love. If we are tired of all the chaos around us, take a deep breath, and focus on love.
Proverbs 10:12, “Hatred stirs up trouble, but love forgives all wrongs.”
What do you think it would do to your world view if your conversation were to heal the divide not expand it? What if you had so much confidence in God’s omnipotence, that you didn’t feel the need to fight this battle? Sometimes it takes more faith to not fight than to fight. The battle was already won, you can afford to rest in love.
2 Chronicles 20:17, “You will not need to fight this battle. Set yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of Yahweh with you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Don’t be afraid nor be dismayed. Go out against them tomorrow, for Yahweh is with you.'”
This time is a time specifically meant to divide. It is a time to demonstrate to non-believers that God has lost control. It is a time to prove that Christians don’t believe God is in charge; we have joined the fray. We have allowed worldly distress to distract us from the truth. We have become just as stubborn, just as headstrong, just as fearful. And I am afraid that we have become just as hateful.
Now is the time to recapture what we believe. If you are afraid that God will not fight your fight maybe you should reassess either your faith or your battle.
3 John 1:4, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”
We are all tired of trying to be heard. We are all tired of fighting the good fight. Today’s world is exhausting. God’s word is a day off from the fight. God’s word every morning, means every morning starts with a day off from the fight. Our only job is not to convince others of our world view; it is to show others God’s love and grace. Don’t get distracted.
1 Peter 2:1-25, “So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”