Critical thinking
March 31, 2009 | community, faith, feelings
“If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and He shall give him Life for them that sin not unto death.” 1 John 5:16
From Utmost for His Highest: If we are not heedful of the way the Spirit of God works in us, we will become spiritual hypocrites. We see where other folks are failing, and we turn our discernment into the gibe of criticism instead of into intercession on their behalf. The revelation is made to us not through the acuteness of our minds, but by the direct penetration of the Spirit of God, and if we are not heedful of the source of the revelation, we will become criticizing centres and forget that God says – “. . . he shall ask, and He shall give him life for them that sin not unto death.”
I was hanging out with a friend. It was late at night. She was messed up. Enough said. She sat next to me and the night’s events played out as she snored softly. It was a bad night. It was supposed to be good, and yet she had completely fallen apart, taking a few people down with her in her anger.
I was frustrated. Disappointed. And I wanted to walk away.
She reached over in her sleep and wrapped an arm around me, and that’s when I felt it. Overwhelming grace and mercy and love.
Not mine. But God’s. For her.
In her brokenness. In her rage. In her messed-up state.
And I cried. Because for the first time I was able to see past my version of things to feel the immeasurable love that Jesus had for her. He was reaching and she didn’t know it.
So I prayed. For the rest of the night.
While she snored next to me.
While God loved.
That was a pivotal moment. I feel like I am a compassionate person, but I have limits and I had reached them. But God’s compassion was so much greater and deeper than mine.
I was reminded of that moment this morning when I read Oswald Chamber’s Utmost for His Highest devo.
It made me ask all over again: When I see someone who is hurting, or hurting others, or wrapped up in brokenness, what is my response?
I hope it will be prayer. No. I know it will be prayer.
Thanks, God, for reminding me of the way you view humanity. Thank you for your vast love.
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