Day 9 - I Can see Clearly Now....

Day 9: Matthew 7

I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW...(7:1-6)

Read Matthew 7 first

 

I struggle with Matthew 7, verses 1-6. I'm a hypocrite. I see other people's failings far too quickly, while brushing past my own issues as if they didn't matter. There are loads of things that frustrate me. If I may, let me run through a few of them here.

• Being disorganised - Deep down I think I'm a bit OCD and I like things to be planned out. I guess it's the accountant in me.
• Possessions –We are obsessed with owning stuff. I get frustrated with us wanting fancy holidays, nicer cars, and nicer houses when a chunk of the world lives without clean water.
• Lateness - I hate lateness. Again, I think that's my OCD. It may also be the fact that I hang out with youth workers a lot.
• Laziness – As a lecturer, I often get told by students that they haven't really revised. Well, you're going to fail then. Well done.
• Moaning – Anna once came with me to a Grimsby Town game. Within minutes she'd asked me if everyone from Grimsby was that miserable. We probably are.

Like I said, I'm a hypocrite. I get frustrated but struggle with quite a bit of it myself. As I look at that list, there's so many times when I've sent last minute texts around regarding the Gathering or Life Group. I may not spend loads on cars (I drive a car which is effectively a go kart for an old woman) I waste far too much money, and I feel that urge to get more comfort, knowing full well that there are huge needs that I should help with my finances. When I have better things to do, I can be found crashed in front of the TV. When something bad happens, I dwell on it and am negative about it, moaning to Anna.

The problem is that as we deal with people, we deal with a massively flawed bunch. We will annoy each other, hurt each other and sadly let each other down. Jesus must have so often got frustrated at the disciples and how fickle the crowds were as they deserted him at the first opportunity. As Jesus walked with the disciples, he would have seen their flaws, known who they are, and chosen to love them all the same.

I remember a time when a friend of mine tried to put on as many coats as he could at one time. He had about 15 on, and then someone pushed him over. He lay on the floor, unable to get up, and like good friends, we watched him roll around and left him. So often we can be like this. We build layer upon layer of how good we are, or how happy we are in life, afraid that if people really see who we are, they will reject us and walk away. After a while, we can get so tired of putting on layers and masks that we can feel lonely, that no-one really knows us. In my experience, that can lead to resentment and loneliness, feeling that no-one cares.

As I've been reflecting on this today, I've just read a Donald Miller blog that he posted this afternoon. In this he says “We impress people with our supposed perfections, but we connect with each other in our flaws. I'd rather be connected than perfect.”

I completely agree. As I've been married, Anna has seen more and more of my flaws. I don't want them there, but I feel closer to her knowing that she truly sees who I am and chooses to love me. I am determined that these things won't always be part of my character, but I appreciate Anna not condemning me, judging me or rejecting me as I strive to let God mould me more and more. It's a frightening, horrible thing to do, but it's essential that we take off our layers of coats and masks so that people can really see the heart of who we arte. It is my genuine experience that as we do that, people will come together to help, support and really love each other.

We all carry our own specific flaws, and the truth of the gospel is that these don't have to always be part of us. However, as we work through these things, offering them to God, we must walk together in it, a close-knit community who loves each other, supports each other and doesn't take each other down as we strive to live out our lives for Him. That's how God sees us, and how we are called to be towards each other.

I've already quoted him, and I will do so again, but there's a guy called Jamie Tworkowski who really lives this out, setting up an organisation called TWLOHA (www.twloha.com) and he said a couple of things that I try to carry with me daily: 

"We often ask God to show up. We pray prayers of rescue. Perhaps God would ask us to be that rescue, to be His body, to move for things that matter. He is not invisible when we come alive. I might be simple but more and more, I believe God works in love, speaks in love, is revealed in our love."

He also says,

"We are only asked to love, to offer hope to the many hopeless. We don't get to choose all the endings, but we are asked to play the rescuers. We won't solve all mysteries and our hearts will certainly break in such a vulnerable life, but it is the best way. We were made to be lovers bold in broken places, pouring ourselves out again and again until we're called home."

Who better to finish with than Jesus. To prove how important living in community with each other is, Jesus said “They will know you are my disciples by your love.” A tough calling, but I can think of nothing better for us to be known by. Let's be known by our love. When it hurts. When it's tough. When it costs us. Jesus models this throughout his life. People are never too much of a hassle, they are never too bad for him. His reputation means nothing, and calling a broken world His people means eveything.

As we strive to live this out, don't be afraid to open yourself up, to God and others, pouring your heart out so that others will see the real you. That will be tough, but know one thing for certain:

You were created to be a lover.
You were created to be loved.

You are loved.