Our hearts no doubt have been wrenched by the events that have unfolded over the last few days- the injustice of an officer called to protect and serve, who instead took the life of George Floyd and the violence in our cities and the anger over racism that still exists in our country. Our prayers are for the Floyd family and a loss magnified by the painful circumstances. May God bring them peace and comfort. And may God work peace and comfort in all of our communities at this time.
How can these things happen in 2020?
Shouldn’t we have grown beyond this and discovered that loving our neighbor (that means everyone despite race or history or even character) is better than hating? As long as humans have human hearts, then no, it’s not surprising.
There will always be bias and hate. You see it happen throughout history. Our feelings of superiority over others clouds our hearts and smothers our love. That’s why God said
Genesis 6:5 The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
If we think we are “out of the woods” when it comes to properly loving our neighbor and God then just repeat Jeremiah “The heart is deceitful above ALL THINGS.” I fell for a scam once that was pretty deceptive, and I’m sure there are others I don’t even realize I’m falling for. And my heart is more deceitful than that?
- Deceitful in making me think I’m decent enough so I don’t have sinful biases lodged in my heart, or at least they aren’t serious enough to address.
- Deceitful in making me think, I’ve done pretty well with loving my neighbor.
- Deceitful in thinking that my love doesn’t have to change and grow with our current circumstances.
- Deceitful … my heart
Don’t dismiss the need.
The Bible tells us that this will keep on happening
Ecclesiastes 9:3 This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all. The hearts of men, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead.
We must be careful to understand, this is not a way of dismissing the problem. Sin is going to keep robbing the world of love for one another, but it would not be right to dismiss taking action say, “That’s the way it is! We’ll wait for Jesus to come back and make everything better!” Because then we are resorting to a no gospel way of life. Philippians 2 is dynamite passage for this:
Philippians 2:1–7 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
Any comfort from his love? We have all the comfort from his love! How he died for our deceit and paid for our death and saved us from hell! We constantly come to his forgiveness because we need it so desperately day after day. He never stops being there and never builds an excuse to leave us and doesn’t disqualify us from his love. That’s gospel action- and we need it! We never stop needing it! And he never stops bringing it!
Even though there is nothing new under the sun, having been made alive in Christ we are called to keep bringing the gospel led life marked by the “same love, one spirit and purpose.” This takes work and intention. We always reflect how we might slide into selfish ambition and ask for forgiveness for it. Looking for the interests of others, especially when they are calling out for tenderness and compassion so that we might show the comfort of Christ’s love to all who need it. That means being ready to change if it means loving my neighbor.
For me
God’s Peace
Pastor