Today's writing is about when we have expectations that are not me, especially within the church. The title is "HALL OF FAME OR HOSPITAL?" and discusses some of the different reasons this happens, and what we need to do when it occurs.
May your Sunday be blessed!
Jan................ and Corinne
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Today's Devotional:
"HALL OF FAME OR HOSPITAL?"
by
Jan Andersen
It can be so frustrating when people don't live up to our expectations. At home, at work, in society in general, there are certain things we assume. But other people don't always have our same ethics, or they just make different suppositions, see different possibilities, or were raised with different standards. Our expectations aren't necessarily universal. It is especially disappointing when people within the church say and do things that seem very un-Christian, because we feel they, of all people, should have the same outlook on things and the same values as we do.
People in the church are not perfect, so things will happen that seem incongruous with Christian living. Sometimes they say or do things that are upsetting, and they don’t even know it. Other times they are totally aware of what they are doing but just don’t care if they hurt someone else. There are even some who intentionally choose destructive ways to attain their desired outcome. This is no different than the world around us. We just don’t expect it out of other Christians.
We have to remember that a church is like a hospital for the sick sinners, not a hallowed hall of fame for the honorable. As much as we hate to admit it, we, too, are imperfect and sinful and will disappoint others at times. God comes to the sinful world to offer his free forgiveness and salvation. He doesn’t come to honor the good. None of us would be able to earn our own way to heaven, because the passing grade is 100% perfection. That is why He sent his Son, Jesus, to die on the cross in our place… not just for those people who disappoint us, and not just for those who appear to be “good Christians”… but for ALL of us!
Luke 5:31-32 (NIV) Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Just as God forgives us, we need to forgive others. Sometimes in these difficult situations all we can do is remain faithful and do our best to do the next right thing, even if others do not. It can be difficult and disheartening to deal with problems within the body of Christ like this, but we need to remain humble and not abandon our faith. We must confess our wrongs (whether we are aware of them or not), know that we are forgiven, and trust God to take care of us in every situation.
Dear Great Physician, we thank you for healing our sin-sick souls by forgiving us. Help us to be forgiving to others as well. Be with us and keep us faithful as we go through trials in this life. Help us to bring you glory as we witness to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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Song:
JESUS FRIEND OF SINNERS
Casting Crowns
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Prayers are lifted up daily for
you by the Devotional Writers
and the Monthly Writing Staff
of Women's Focus Ministries.
Blog Writers:
Jan Andersen, Sandy Billingham, Carol Steficek,
Brother Thomas Ukwute, Jody Ward, Karen Bennett,
Bre Miller, Cathy Friberg, and Corinne Mustafa
Occasional Contributors:
Kathy Bireley, Lynda Kinnard, Mary M. Wilkins,
Terri Baker, Beverley Napier, Kelly Dobyns
Glenna Williamson, Shelly Keith, Amie Spruiell,
Lisabeth Lipp, and Nandita Bhatnagar
I love that graphic you put about what Church is. This is so true. Some people let their disdain for the broken be a "reason" to avoid attending Church. Those are the very people who need a Church family, and we are all broken in one way or another. There aren't any people who are perfect. We all need God.
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