Thankful for the World

If you have eyes to see it, every person -- no matter their interests, beliefs or background -- was created by God to be a blessing to the world.

A thankful heart recognizes that while we acknowledge that all have sinned: resulting in evil and darkness that causes real pain and needs to be repented of -- that there is still real good in people that if recognized and received as gifts from the Lord, that will greatly enrich our lives.

He first Loved us

I think this really helps us to see the world through Jesus' eyes. Who looked on us, even when we were sinners, saw our value and gave everything to make a path for relationship.

I want to see God's goodness in both my brothers and sisters in the Lord at the Church house as well as in the people who populate our streets, stores and schools. I want to discern that which God put in even those who hate Christians -- who though they may hate Jesus, still can display kindness, intelligence, creativity and generosity.

Its my belief that when we see people like this, that it helps us to treat them the way Jesus would -- yes affirming that they need to repent and have faith in Christ in order to be saved and have a relationship with God -- but also that even before that happens that we love them first -- even as Christ first loved us.

No more US vs THEM

There's an interesting verse in 1 Timothy 4:4-5 which reads

For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

These 2 simple verses, along with meditating on the life of Jesus, have become the theological lenses through which I'm learning to view the world. Its very easy to have a black and white worldview. Political parties, journalistic editorials, nightly exposés and talk radio all seek to pit people with different perspectives against one another. Whatever the issue is, we are pushed to believe that all who think differently than we do are more than wrong, but they are inherently bad. And while this might make for a good meme and in the short term might help to win elections, it has very adverse effects on our culture.

If you haven't already seen it, there are fragments of our society that are pulling against each other. If the world is a novel, then the country is reading two very different stories -- both of which make the other side out to be the antagonists, seeking to destroy prosperity and justice. Making them "all that is wrong with this country" _{I'm so tired of that phrase :(}

What if "the other side", whatever that means to you, aren't the entitled imps or greedy goblins that they've been made out to be. What if they were at best simply taking the other side of a complex issue or at worst merely incorrect yet with good intentions? Imagine how much less stressful that would make life.

Acknowledging the Source of all Good

Even on the single most important issue of a person's life -- whether or not they have justifying and saving faith in Jesus Christ -- even on an issue so paramount that it effects their eternal destination. Even then, at best they are ignorant and unable to see the Truth due to spiritual blindness or at worst know the Truth, yet refuse to come to the Light because they like sinning and don't want to stop. But even in the worst circumstance, God still created that person with real gifts and a glorious destiny and though they don't walk in obedience towards the Lord, they still carry His Image and when they are being themselves still shine a degree of His greatness.

So when they make a joke that is truly funny and doesn't demean someone, then that was a flicker of God's goodness shining through them. Or if they come up with an idea that makes life easier for people and blesses the local economy, that was a display of God's gifts coming from their lives.

We understand that though sin damages our character, that we were initially created perfectly pure -- so that like a car after it has been dinged up by fender-benders and accidents, we can become darkened, perverted versions of who God made us to be; but it is still the original engineering of the car that causes whatever good that still comes from the machine to work. In a similar way, though all have sinned, the world still functions in traces of its original design, yes showing much brokenness, but sometimes shining forth the glory of God.

So thank you Jesus, for all those you have put in my path. Whether they love You and acknowledge Your greatness, or whether they still occasionally show Your greatness even when they don't.