Have you been taught to never back down when you are right? This sounds like better advice than it is. Have you found it to work well in the area of human relations? You may well distinguish between ultimate and universal truth and your own preferences. Most practical questions you face are not about eternal truth but about who gets their way. Is it ever appropriate to back down when you are right if that is the cost of preserving a relationship?
Some soldiers perform feats of such valor in combat that they receive decorations. These are considered great honors and presented in ceremonies with great acclaim. What do you think was going through the minds of those when they did the feats that earned such honors? It wasn’t the recognition to follow. In the moment they probably thought they were having the worst day of their lives. You may have never received such recognition or even served in the military but the same principle still applies.
Do you know that I can do anything? So what do you ask me for? What do you pray for? I have written you a ‘blank check’ in the sense that I have promised in advance that you can have anything you ask for. Do you prefer to pray that your situation would change or that you would change? Most people would prefer that their circumstances would improve rather than that they would learn grace through them. But which is more important, and which of these is more closely aligned with the purpose of your life?
Most people can do arithmetic. Some people can solve high order non-linear partial differential equations. These are all mathematical operations, but some are at a higher level than others. Do you see a spiritual parallel? I am prepared to receive those who make any gesture in my direction, but some are more serious and highly motivated for spiritual formation than others. Everyone is free to choose and follow his own path.
When I was asked in a seminar this week how I defined “anointing,” I was astounded that I couldn’t answer the question with a precise, clear definition. So I admitted that I couldn’t adequately answer the question, and decided on the spot that I would explore Scripture and get a simple, practical, working definition of what it means to “be anointed.” On reflection, I realize that some believe the anointing is shaking or falling down or roaring or shouting. These may all be responses to the anointing, but what exactly is the anointing?
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Do you like to boast? You may find this quality tedious in other people, but who can resist passing along information that reflects favorably on them? Even Paul couldn’t resist presenting his credentials although the account is interspersed with his apologies and chagrin for doing so. Would you rather boast about your achievements, or the things you have suffered, or the things that have transformed you? Paul mentions all three, but declares himself a fool for bringing up the first two, and comparing himself to others.
Do you ever get sore muscles? How do you treat them? Most people will intuitively stretch a muscle that is tight or cramped. They will do this even though the stretching is uncomfortable. It is beneficial for the body and serves to restore proper function and range of motion. Have you ever been “stretched” in ways other than physical? Did you seek out these opportunities or did they come to you? Athletes, dancers, and others who take physical performance seriously are smart to do intentional stretching even if it hurts.
What do you do when you come together for worship? Do you join together to engage in deliberate intentional practices that honor me? Do you come to meet with me? Do you desire my presence? Yet there is nothing you can do to make this happen. The wind blows where it will and you cannot control it. I come and go as I please as you do. Yet I am drawn to you as you are drawn to me. If you seek me I will find you. Seek me with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and I will come to your meeting and inhabit your intentional practices with transcendent presence and divine glory.
Do you hold contempt for other faiths? You accept the truth claims of your own faith and reject those of others, but you can do this in a gracious and loving way. Contempt like bitterness is a characteristic of the one expressing it, not of its intended target. Consider my own example. I was Jewish, but I lived in a culture in which many faiths were practiced. On rare occasions I would affirm the claims of my own faith relative to others, but did I ever hold them in contempt? I invite you to follow my example.
Do you go to a church with a printed order of worship? Some churches use these, and others do not, but in nearly every case there is an agenda planned in advance by someone whether it is printed or not. Have you ever seen a printed service bulletin with an entry that says, at this point in the service the Holy Spirit takes over and we don’t know what will happen after that. Have you ever been in a service where this happened? Even if you can’t arrange this in advance you should consider it to be desirable and be prepared to abandon your planned sequence order when it occurs.
