A Humdinger, That's For Sure

This week has certainly been quite a a humdinger and I am happy to see it is coming to a close.  Whew.

On many fronts, it’s been emotionally and spiritually charged.  It feels – at least from my perspective – like everyone (and I mean everyone) has been under attack at one point or another by someone or some group of people who disagree with something they said or did or are doing or thought about doing.  I’ve hardly known what to make of it, but I know it’s left me with an unsettled feeling.  And I can’t help but wonder, in the midst of wrap-around lines of cars & people, photo ops, crowded restaurants, gay protests, and chicken shortages – did even one person come to know Christ because of what’s taken place?

I’ve heard this song on my car radio no less than eight times this week and I think it was a message meant for me:  Jesus, Friend of Sinners by Casting Crowns.  I’ve been convicted by the words and they’ve been echoing in my head for days now.

Jesus, friend of sinners
We have strayed so far away
We cut down people in Your name
But the sword was never ours to swing
Jesus, friend of sinners
The truth’s become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You
But they’re tripping over me

. . .

Nobody knows what we’re for
Only what we’re against
When we judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs
Crossed over the lines
And loved like You did

{If you’d like to listen to the whole song, the video is at the end of this post.}

The last thing I ever want to be is a stumbling block that prevents someone from coming to know the love of Christ.  I’ve spent more than my share of time up on my high horse of self-righteousness.  The world doesn’t need more of people like me.  It needs more people like the woman I want to be.

• I want to be the woman who accepts that not everyone thinks like I do (thank goodness, right?) and that’s their right.  We are all still precious people, made in the image of God.
• I want to be the woman who can accept that there are those who will passionately disagree with her and her only response to them will be full of grace and mercy.
• I want to be the woman who truly believes Christ died for all of us – not just the good ones, not just the ones who say the “right” things – all of us as flawed and sin-filled as we are.
• I want to be the woman who doesn’t view someone else’s need as an inconvenience, but an opportunity to love them and be the only Jesus they might ever experience.

That’s the woman the world needs more of – not more of who I am now, but who I am trying to become.

Casting Crowns
Jesus, Friend of Sinners

{If you are reading this in email,
you may need to click over to the blog to watch the video.}

Love you guys.
Rachel