Blessed and Rejected

Luke 6.22-23 MSG

We often struggle in daily life to understand our purpose and meaning. Looking back it does seem that life didn’t used to be complicated before we had handheld gadgets. I think we didn’t know how much more complicated life was about to become. While we did have connections to the outside world, there were fewer voices screaming at us daily for attention.

In terms of mass communication we didn’t have the means to know everything all the time. My Grandmother grew up with voices from the daily newspaper. My mother grew up with the radio. I grew up with television. My daughter grew up with a computer and a phone that went everywhere.

My granddaughter has a ‘watch’ that pretty much supplies everything she needs to know. With each step communication became more accessible but more complex.

With each generation communication became more accessible. Even Bibles (The Word of God) are available on the ‘watch’. But the ‘watch’ can also access thousands of sources of communication.

Suddenly life and the choices we have at our fingertips are complex. I considered getting a watch but my eyesight and my need for large print prohibits using it. I’m not sure I would like it anyway.

See…I’ve grown accustomed to being able to walk away from my phone and my tablet.

I like silence and experience has taught me that it’s good to shut out the world. That’s because God is in the silence and God is really all I need.

The problem with the continuous use of mass communication is that by always being connected to the world we are not intentionally seeking to connect to God. I include myself inthe mass communication hurricane. Because of the noise I need to remind myself to seek the eye of the hurricane because that’s where we find still waters.

That is not a new phenomenon. By the time word got out that Jesus could really heal and even raise people from the dead he was caught up in a hurricane of people. He had to intentionally seek the still waters of God the Father.

People in my circles know I am from God’s camp. Being so inner-connected to our broken world means minute by minute those who are in God’s camp can be a target.

In Luke 6:22-23 we are told, “Count yourself blessed every time someone cuts you down or throws you out, every time someone smears or blackens your name to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and that that person is uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—skip like a lamb, if you like!—for even though they don’t like it, I do . . . and all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company; my preachers and witnesses have always been treated like this.”

Jesus knew the truth of this all too well for He was the target.

When we speak truth and it makes someone feel uncomfortable, they will push back. When they are confronted by their lifestyle that is not of God they want to either run and hide or stand and fight. As a result it becomes an uncomfortable moment and they don’t generally like being told the life they are living is unacceptable.

Most people I know want to be revered and loved. It’s the nature of man being human. Especially in today’s world humans don’t like being confronted with their infallibility.

Fortunately, God stands ready to help us. The Spirit of God wasn’t named “the helper” by accident. Let the Spirit help and guide you. Listen.

Wait for truth to emerge.

Deborah

acrazyjourney.com