My heart is deeply saddened as we witness things that have been going on in the world and specifically of today. It shows how deeply depraved man really is. This post is to address those who are followers of Christ as we believe Jesus is the hope of the world.
I understand a lot is going on in the world today as we face injustice, prejudice, racism, and flat out wickedness. People are hurting deeply. People are tired, and down right angry that many of these things have not changed. I empathize as I also live in America and very aware of what is going on. It can be so easy to allow these things that we constantly see turn our hearts cold and be filled with rage to the point we in turn reflect the heart or actions of those that caused us to feel this way in the first place.
As Spirit filled followers of Christ we are not to be lead by emotions or feelings. That doesn’t mean we don’t have feelings, or that they aren’t justified, it just means we need to filter them through the Holy Spirit. Our feelings and how we response are two different things. Following our feelings can lead to sin that of which are anger, hatred, revenge, strife, bitterness, hostility, etc.. However if we filter our emotions and feelings through the Holy Spirit He can direct us on the best way to respond in a manner that will please the God we serve. If the Holy Spirit dwells inside us we should produce these kinds of results in response to every situation: “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” Galatians 5:22-25
The greatest example of this is Jesus Himself. Jesus was the epitome of kindness, LOVE, selflessness, gentleness, mercy, life itself and EVERYTHING good. He came to the world and the world knew Him not. The world rejected him. The world spit on him. The world laughed at him as they mocked him. The world hated him. The world treated him unjustly and unfair. The world crucified him. Now, I’m sure Jesus felt some type of way. I’m sure he was fed up with these people who he came to save and was not received by them. That breaks my heart just writing this and thinking of the cross of my Lord. But YET He said “Father forgive them”. As professing followers of Christ, this needs to be our response. Not hatred, revenge, hostility and things that are produced from fleshly desires. That’s what we can expect from the world. That’s how the world responds. The things we see in the world today are a result of how DEEPLY depraved, and deceived man is before a Holy God. Hatred, racism, selfishness, murder, fornication, lgbt, pride and the list goes on are all because of SIN. Therefore we take the response of Jesus and pray for those who do not know him. Our hearts should break for them because we realize people's actions are a result of sin and do not know Jesus. I know people are affected and hurting. People are also affected because of fornication, murder, single parent homes, broken marriages, racism, envy, rebellion and the list goes on. Everyone is affected in some way because of a form of sin. Sometimes we are blinded by feelings and not lead by the Holy Spirit that will produce the fruit of the spirit in our lives. I am guilty of this too so I understand. But a sin problem of the heart cannot be changed by outside activities. I’m not saying that certain activities cannot be done in love but the real issue here is sin. We have great men and women who have gone before us and stood for justice while responding in love and made a huge impact. Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr. just to name a few. Many of the things MLKJ spoke, we quote today but he did not speak from a place of hatred or bitterness. He fought for equality, unity and that we would love one another.
Every battle is won first in prayer my brothers and sisters. We must pray for the depravity of man. That we ourselves repent and ask God to bring the lost to repentance by His followers going out to share the loving gospel of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit may prompt us to do different things but you must be sensitive enough to hear what the spirit is telling you specifically. I know how I will take action. How will you? But rest assure that the Holy Spirit will never tell us to act in a manner that justifies the things that produce fleshly fruit in our lives. We are not alone. We have a Father who advocates for us.
Remember : Ephesians 6:10-18 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."