“When I am right give me courage. When I am wrong give me humility.” It can be the most discouraging discovery of all. Opposition often comes from people in the church. Jeremiah’s critics were not “non-believers” (not in their minds at least). They were priests and prophets and people of his city who were deeply concerned about Jerusalem. (Jeremiah 26:8) They were also WRONG about what needed to be said and done. Jesus experienced the same. The majority is not always right. Conflict is not always wrong. Loving God more sometimes means loving people less, and bearing the burden of criticism and anger that inevitably comes. Perhaps this is why God teaches us to pray when we are alone with Him. He is preparing us for the times when we, like Jeremiah, will have to stand with Him as our only source of strength. God help us. It seems to be part of the path.
My experience wrestling with the paradox that we are to love God with all our heart and yet still love others deeply/the way Jesus loves us is something I still struggle with. For a true believer loving is like breathing. When I became a true believer, although I had lived most of my life completely selfishly, I suddenly found myself with deep/0verflowing love for those around me. What I did not have, however, was a sanctified mind. The tension between my mind and new spirit got downright ugly at times. It is helpful for me to now know that it is all just a process and that loving more is always the answer. The problem/question is what is love? My mind is having to be sanctified to see what love really is. I am coming to realize it is much different than the world taught me. My new definition of love is to let the Lord flow through me to encourage/equip/supply/pray or whatever else He wants to do to get/keep the person in the center of God’s will. I am noticing that often what I think is love is not really love at all. I am not condmned by this…..I am just challenged/willing to change.
Hopefully what I have learned (so far) will help someone else who might be struggling with this as well. Anyone else have anything to share?