Have you ever tried to read a book and then just put it down because the characters portrayed are too unbelievable?
One of the coolest things about the Bible is that the heroes are totally authentic, with flaws, just like you and me, yet God still loves them and uses them despite this.
King David was an adulterous murderer, and yet because of his humble and repentant attitude he was called a man after Gods own heart. Rahab the prostitute is an unlikely character to be honoured in the Bible, but not only is she recognised for her faith, she is recorded as one of the ancestors in Christs genealogy. We read about Peter, the one to whom Christ entrusted the founding of the church, denying his Lord and friend, even though just a few hours earlier he was emphatic that he would never do such a thing!
And then we have Paul, who fell out with many other Christians, and we see him struggling to overcome sin as he laments I decide to do good, but I dont really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway.(Message- Romans 7:19).
If you are anything like me, you can totally relate to this. Sometimes it feels like the harder I try the more often I fail.
I was pondering this quandary a few weeks back, while preparing a sermon message, and I read a scripture that I had read over so many times before. I had one of those Aha! moments that is going to change my Christian walk. Already I notice a change.
Late yesterday afternoon I was fighting (yep.. thats the only way to describe my driving!) traffic, trying to get off the N3 highway at the William Nichol off-ramp. I found myself backing off and giving way to a taxi that was illegally crossing a solid white barrier line to jump the exit queue. I can imagine my wife Marissas jaw drop open as she reads this, and her shaking her head. I picture my kids eyes large with disbelief and exclaiming no way!
Unfortunately I too am as flawed – ok, more flawed than the Bible greats, and the worst of me comes out when I get behind the wheel to drive. Im the perfect driver and I can never understand why other road users are so inconsiderate and I often wonder out loud where they bought their drivers licences? Everyone driving slower than me is incompetent and shouldnt be on the road – everyone driving faster than me is a reckless idiot!
Prosecution or defence?
On a daily or even hourly basis we are faced with two choices when it comes to how we will react to others. Will we join the prosecution team and demand justice, or will we be part of the defence team and look for acquittal and mercy? Well which team is Christ a part of? Thats the team I want to be on.
There is a story of a woman going to a photographer and demanding of him, Do me justice. The photographer whispered to his assistant, What this woman needs is not justice, but mercy.
We too need mercy. Our human hunger for justice (usually for others, but not ourselves!) is one of our greatest shortcomings and misunderstandings of Gods love and mercy. In Micah 6:8 we read And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Way too many people love justice instead of loving mercy and acting justly, as God requires.
There is one thing that I am certain of. All those clambering for justice today will be singing a very different tune when standing before our Lord and Judge.
By this time you are probably muttering, Yes Tim, I know, but like Paul, even though I want to treat others mercifully, I usually mess up. Well it is here that the Aha verse I read takes on a whole new significance, and I hope for you it will be as life changing as it is for me.
WARNING- Dont read on unless you want your life changed forever!
Christ explains to us in Matthew 25:40 and 45, that whatever you do (or do not do) for even one of the least of these, you do (or do not do) for HIM. Think about that for a moment. Chew on it. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your mind and give you full understanding. Do you grasp the full significance of what Christ is saying to us here?
He specifically mentions the least of them – those looked down on and despised by most.
Its not about whether the person deserves mercy or not.
The Jews of the day viewed themselves as Gods elite and chosen people. All others were looked down upon. Not only the Samaritans, Romans and other gentiles, but the likes of tax collectors, lepers and prisoners. These were the despised of the day – our equivalent of convicted criminals, 419 scammers and taxi drivers! Christ is here telling us that even they deserve our love and mercy, and when we act out of love towards them, as undeserving as we may think they are, we do it directly for HIM. For me, grasping that basic reality has made it a lot easier to back off and give a gap when I realise that it is Christ Im giving the gap to.
You each have your own taxi driver. An unreasonable boss, an unloving spouse, ungrateful friends or someone who is just having a bad day. In your interaction with them, and with this understanding, the only choice you are left with is how will I treat Christ?