When we want to win....

But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels, and the bondservant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance, leading to the knowledge of the truth 2 Timothy 2:23-25

I have started this post at least ten times. But each time, I can’t seem to quite get it right. I don’t know - maybe I chicken out, fearing rejection or being misunderstodd. Today, I am going to get these thoughts down and pray that the Lord speaks instead of me…

Let me begin by saying I love to win. I am not one of those “it doesn’t matter if you win or lose, just have fun playing” kind of people. Nope. I like to WIN. Whether it’s an argument or a board game or a ball game (well, my TEAM - I don’t play anything :) ), I like to win.

And while I am uncomfortably sure that my pride is involved in liking to win (at least the arguments, anyway), it is important to acknowledge that I want to be on the side of RIGHT. Not merely BEING right but being on the side of right. More than a few times, I have changed by position after study and contemplation when I became convinced that I was initially on the wrong side.

So let’s begin with understanding that I am by no means a “peace at all costs” or “avoid confrontation” kind of gal. Not at all. Remember - I like to win!

That said….I want to talk about us Christians and our arguments. Or “stands” or “convictions” or maybe you have another term for when we take issue with another viewpoint and attack. We’ve all seen different issues play out on social media and maybe even in person. And often, we jump right in, on one side or the other, in an attempt to prove we are right…to win. So many times, I want to react to posts or comments and share “my two cents’worth” but the verse from 2 Timothy often restrains me.

I have seen alot of attacks and arguments. But I have lately seen alot of humble and gentle correction. And I just want to applaud those who are standing for truth - not so much in an effort to “win” but it seems instead a desire to lead those who are in opposition TO TRUTH….to Christ. How I pray that we all can see that our desire to argue or attack is an indication of pride. Respectful, gentle debate in pursuit of truth should rather be our goal. But may we do so NOT out of a desire to please MAN but rather to honor GOD. The fear of man leads to a snare…but whoever trusts in the Lord will be safe (Proverbs 29:25.

And ultimately, what we want is for others to see that JESUS is right…not us.

Celebrate Easter

This Sunday, we will head to church to celebrate Easter. New clothes, pretty flowers, yummy food. All good things but what are we celebrating? The arrival of spring? An obligatory religious observation?  Let's take a few minutes to focus on what the day really means.

Jesus died. The One who healed folks who couldn't see or walk. He even brought some back to life. The One who fed the hungry. The One who loved people to wholeness, showed them how to live. The One who called people to repentance from sin. The One who said if we saw Him, then we had seen the Father.

This One, the Hope for all the world, died. And He said He had to. That it was why He came. To be the perfect sacrifice, required for the sin of the world. Can you imagine how His followers felt? Talk about grief and disappointment and confusion. I mean, really, they followed this Man and believed that He was going to change the world. They gave up their way of life to answer His call. They saw actual miracles and placed all their hope in Him.

 Then He ups and dies. Certainly they must have had a few moments of doubt - if He were really who He claimed to be, wouldn't He have asserted a little Divine power and wiped out the bad guys?? Ponder for a moment what your feelings would have been – disappointment, confusion, disillusionment, fear, maybe even anger?

Then, to the amazement of them all....even though He had told them...His body isn't in the tomb. He appears! Living and breathing! NO WAY!!!

The initial response must have been shock. Then, I imagine that Jesus’s words and explanations from the preceding three years began to sink in. They finally grasped what He meant, why He came, why He died and that He had come back to life. I wonder how long it took for them to understand what His death on the cross accomplished.

He paid the debt we owe God . Sin is costly - it exacts death from those who commit it. And Jesus's voluntary death was the only means by which our debt could be paid. So He paid it. Mercy. Amazing mercy. Love beyond compare. I hope we never get over being amazed at such great love!

But then He did the impossible. He defeated Death! No longer would man have to fear Death because Jesus overcame it! Not only can our sin be paid for so that we can be acceptable to God, but we now don't have to fear Death. He conquered it! Because of His resurrecting Himself, He gives to us the promise of resurrection. To live forever, without sin or death. Oh hallelujah!

This year, as we celebrate Easter,let's focus on what His death AND His resurrection do for us. And ponder, just for a moment, that this same power that raised Jesus from the dead resides in us. NOW. Is there anything in your life that could use some resurrection power? A relationship? A dream? Finances? Self-control? Joy? Hope? Because of Easter, that power, that Glory, can be present in our lives through Jesus. Those of us who are Christ-followers have resurrection power that enables us to live supernatural lives. If that doesn't describe you, do you want it to?

Celebrate Easter. For real.