When I signed off three weeks ago, I could not have imagined all that would have transpired in those three weeks.
Actually, like almost everyone I know, one week ago I could not have imagined some of the things that transpired in the past few days.
Here’s what I know: None of these events took the Lord by surprise.
Here’s something else I know: He is not in a panic.
Here’s something else I know: Silence is not an option for followers of Jesus.
But I don’t mean by that what some might assume.
I mean that we have an immediate opportunity to speak peace, blessing, and life into our circles of influence.
We have an immediate opportunity to tell the incredible good news that the Kingdom of God is a present reality that never comes up for a vote.
We have an immediate opportunity to point people to a King who neither wraps Himself in a flag nor burns it.
We have an immediate opportunity to be identified as followers of Jesus and children of God by doing it in the way Jesus described.
Jesus said,“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9)
Jesus said,“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35)
For many years, Proverbs 11:11 has been one of my go-to verses when I consider how I will speak, write, and post:“Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.”
May I let you in on a little secret?
Far too often our compulsion to speak our opinions on the issues in the world that offend us has had absolutely ZERO impact on those issues.
But we think if we shout louder and dig deeper, we’ll make a difference.
Far too often our compulsion to speak our opinions on the issues in the world that offend us has had absolutely ZERO impact on those issues. But we think if we shout louder and dig deeper, we'll make a difference. Share on X
The truth is that we have made a difference, but it is a difference of unintended consequences.
We are destroying our families and our communities by turning family members, friends, and neighbors into enemies.
We are isolating ourselves into little echo chambers where the litmus test for the value of the other person is how much they agree with us and support our views on these worldwide issues.
And all the while we are missing opportunities to speak peace, blessing, and life into our homes and neighborhoods.
We are missing opportunities to love our neighbors.
We are missing opportunities to highlight how God is at work in the world.
We are loving “if” and “but” and “because” yet we are not simply loving as an extension of who we are because of who Jesus is in us.
We will never discover our Amazing and live into it if our focus is on everything that is wrong with the world.
And we will never be the people of God if we write off relationships because of politics.
Listen to me carefully: If you say you can’t be friends with someone because of their politics, you are being dishonest with yourself. What you really mean is that you are choosing your politics over relationships.
Listen to me carefully: If you say you can’t be friends with someone because of their politics, you are being dishonest with yourself. What you really mean is that you are choosing your politics over relationships. Share on X
By the way, I can’t find in my Bible a green light for me to be a jerk because someone else started it.
People I love are all over the map on the events of the past week.
My firm commitment and declaration is that I will always come back to those first three words:
“People I love …”
It’s time to speak up.
Speak blessing, peace and life.
Be amazing today, my friend.
