15.4.06

[from a daily devotional. Please take the time to read it, it's very inspiring.]

Wednesday, April 12

Imperfect Community Still Works

Read Luke 22:14-15:
“But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

PEOPLE DISAPPOINTED JESUS, BUT HE DIDN’T ABANDON THEM. Most of us remember a time when someone deeply disappointed us. Maybe in your case, your life right now is defined by that hurt- it is all you can think about. Or maybe it was a long time ago, but the pain is still getting the best of you. Whether recently or in the past, whether by a family member or other trusted person, you know very well what hurt and betrayal feel like.

So when someone tells you that the Christian life is missing something without close relationships and that are characterized by trust and vulnerability, you bristle. Maybe other people can find that, but not you. Life’s been one disappointing friendship after another, and while you don’t want to create hurt, you’re not about to be hurt either.

Believe it or not, Jesus understands that feeling. He was committed to relational depth, but people were a disappointment to him. Many of the lessons he tried to teach his disciples got lost. When he asked them to stay with him during his darkest hour, they fell asleep. Consider this: his inner circle deserted him, his most trusted friend denied knowing him, a close follower sold him out, and his enemies ganged up on him and prevailed against him in court… all in one night!

If anybody had a cause to give up on relationships, it was Jesus. But he didn’t. Even knowing what was coming, he still loved people. Aware of their shortcomings, he still got involved with the. When it was revealed to him- in advance- that his “main man” Peter would deny him, he told Peter he would pray for him, and gave him an assignment anyway.

Jesus knew people didn’t have to be perfect to be loved. He knew they could be a blessing to him, even though there were times when they let him down. He could love them as they were even as he sought to help them grow into what they could become. He was willing to take them in their unfinished state and allow them to disappoint him if that was the price of a relationship.

When God calls you to deepen your relational world, he is saying there will be benefit in doing so- but he isn’t saying you won’t get hurt. It’s just that he knows the relational hurt is worth it for what it produces in us. With God as our ultimate source of confidence, even the pain people cause us can be used for our improvement. Those disappointments are part of our learning, just as much as the joys and pleasures that come when relationships work well are God’s blessings.

What difficult relationship do you need to reframe as an opportunity to deepen your trust in God, and stretch into your ability to give unconditional love? Like Jesus praying for Peter with full knowledge of his impending denial, who do you need to pray for even though they’ve hurt you? Community among believers is a good thing, even when it’s not perfect. And that’s a relief- because if we all adopt this as our standard, it means you’ll be welcome when it’s your turn to be imperfect!

tea is served @ 1:53 p. m. --------------------------------------------------------------