Issue 778 – Foggy Morning – June 17, 2022
The forecast was for light mist, but a heavy fog rolled in instead. I couldn’t see across the street, and driving was, to say the least, challenging. Had it been mist, there would be some reduction in vision, but not nearly as much.
Life is often like a misty or foggy morning. We can see a little bit of what’s coming our way, but we never really see much of what is to come and most of what is around us. Our perception filters obscure the world around us.
We don’t like to think about poverty, so we look through the street people or drive around the “rough” neighbourhoods. The street people distrust the “suits” because they have filters too.
We don’t like the idea of domestic violence, so we close our eyes to it. If it’s happening in our lives, we put up our fog to keep others from seeing it because of our shame.
We fear death, so we don’t talk about it. That doesn’t stop people from dying or help those who are grieving.
We’re self-focused, so we don’t see the needs of those around us. That doesn’t fill the needs.
People are starving, but we block it out because it’s far away. People are being persecuted for their faith, but we don’t want to hear about it, so we say the reports must be exaggerated. Injustice abounds, but as long as it doesn’t impact us, we keep it out beyond the mist, so we don’t have to deal with it.
The sad part is that our mists often hide where we can do the most good. There are untold ministry opportunities, countless people waiting to hear of the love of God and His forgiveness, and innumerable people waiting to learn that someone cares. When we step out of our comfort zones into the fog, we become the ambassadors Christ intended us to be.
From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
When we step into the fog, we not only bring Christ to others but also grow. Our prejudices are shattered, our pride is humbled, and we realize we’re not the centre of the universe (sorry to shatter your illusions, but the sun doesn’t revolve around you and me, and most of the billions of the people in the world don’t know we exist).
When we step into the mist in the name of Christ, it’s never in vain. It pleases the Father.
His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ Matthew 25:23
The choice is yours. Stay within the comfortable little world you have created in your mind and never know what our Heavenly Father has in mind for you, or step into the mist to be challenged, grow, share the truth, and please the Father.
Our salvation isn’t dependent on our works; that is by grace through faith. Yet, our work and love often either enhances or impairs our witness to others.
Until next time, I pray you go out into the misty morning and declare to a lost and hurting world that “Jesus loves you” through your words, deeds, generosity, and love.
Kevin.
Gleanings From The Word.
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (for the glory of God alone.)
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