The Hardest Post to Write

Tip: To achieve that perfectly blurred background, have your subject somewhat far away from your lens, then zoom it as much as you are able to. Your subject will be crisp and your background will not be a distraction!

"Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding." (Proverbs 10:23)

"The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off. The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse." (Proverbs 10:31-32) I was reading Proverbs 10 this past weekend and these verses really hit me. It's easy to skim passages like these and think "Oh, I'm not bad. I definitely like gaining wisdom over doing wrong and I don't run around cussing people out or anything." Reading passages like the ones below, however, clarifies things a little:

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31)

"Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

We are to do EVERYTHING to the glory of God. Think about that for a moment. How many things do we say and do each day that really do not bring God glory? What do you talk about with your friends, family, and co-workers? How much time have you wasted on useless things? Do you live your life as if the potential to displease God is a joke? If we are commanded to do all things to the glory of God, it would mean that we are doing wrong when we act in a way that doesn't please Him.

To be completely honest, I'd have to say I fail miserably. I waste countless hours mindlessly scrolling down my Facebook news feed, repeatedly insult the government leaders that God has put in place (see Romans 13 if you doubt this!), and laugh at humor that ought to be flushed back down the toilet from whence it came. These activities and attitudes cannot qualify as good works that will cause others to sense God's presence in my life. Ouch.

What can we do? Pray. Pray that God will change our hearts and minds; that we would really desire to please Him in all that we say and do. Pray that you'll have the will-power to stop zoning out online and to be able to walk away when everyone is laughing at that Youtube video that is spattered with language and crude humor. Pray your conduct will tend more to reflect God rather than sinful human nature. Living this way won't be easy and it won't come naturally, but it is so worth it in the end.

Wait, love who?

Tip: It's a fact: self-portraits are on over-load these days. If you are going to take one, don't be generic or make that stupid "duck face"; use the photo to tell a story or show a thought process.

A little bit ago I stumbled upon an image that both surprised and convicted me. In bold text it said "#PrayforISIS"; below that, the caption read "we are called to love our enemies". Whoa. Isn't that a little radical? Whenever they are brought up on the news or in conversation, aren't we scowling and saying that we hope they get what is due to them? Don't we instantly want to avenge the lives that they have taken and the damage they have caused around the globe?

I saw the hundreds of "pray for Paris" posts over the past several days and nodded with a sad smile. I saw others posting that we should not pray just for Paris, but for all of the other countries of the world as well. I agreed and clicked 'like'. But the "#PrayforISIS" post? I stopped and raised an eyebrow. Pray for who? Love them? But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that it is right.

The book of Matthew has this to say on the topic:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48)

Umm, ouch. That hits hard, does it not? Love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. You read it right. So, let's stop and think before we go spouting out our anger over current events- both terror related, political, and anything else. Are we being examples of Christ's love in the things we are saying and the actions we take? If you're like me, that is a painful thing to spend much time thinking about in regards to how you handle your conversation and views of current events.

So, let's pray. Pray for yourselves and one another that we all may have the hearts that God desires we have. Then, pray for our enemies and pray for the world. Everyone needs Christ, and as much as we may dislike certain people and groups, it brings no glory to God if we are wishing destruction upon them.