This morning I was meditating on this scripture. I realized that we possess zero holiness. The only holiness that we have is Christ in us. As we walk through life we have to let Jesus make the way. We need to follow him so that his presence always goes before us. We must constantly learn his beautiful ways of love and allow those lessons to transform us into his likeness through his Holy Spirit.
Sometimes though, when situations get out of control and our feelings become overwhelming and hot, we tend to think that God is in our way. He's just too slow!!! We want to push him aside and go tell that person exactly how we feel as we plead our case. We want our words and feelings to bring about justice, fast. However, that's not how it works. If we choose to make Jesus "the way", rather than choosing our way, then we will walk in holiness because he is what people see rather than our emotions and irrational actions. We allow the Lord to restrain us and we stand behind him so that we walk in the fragrance of his love, grace, mercy, patience and wisdom.
We cannot be holy on our own. We must crave the humility of Christ to be alive in us. Asking him daily to strike down our self-righteousness. In Ephesians 4:2, it says, "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." He is holy and if we have him in our heart and allow him as our Lord to stand before us, as his Holy Spirit indwells us. Then, the Father will see us through him, our neighbors, friends, family and even our enemies we'll see the beauty of Christ in us. That is when lives are changed.
I think good advice would be that before we speak or act we take a step back. We invite the Lord to stand in front of us. We should ask him to awaken the beautiful gifts that his Spirit inhabits us with ; Love, Joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Then, no matter what the circumstance, everyone will see the holiness and love of God displayed through us.
It's true that God's justice comes slowly. I was praying one day and he told me, "I'm not changing toilet paper rolls here, I'm changing hearts. And, stubborn, self-righteous hearts to boot." :) In our anger and confusion we so often plead our case to God that we are right and they are wrong. But I promise you if you slow down and take your emotions out of it, asking God to reveal his kind of Love to You, he will do it. It takes a lot of surrendering on our part. It takes patience, humility ect... But then that moment will come. You will see yourself at the foot of the cross and what he did for you and you will realize in that moment that's what we are called to do for others. Jesus, who is the only one that had the right to be exalted, humbled himself.
It says in Exodus 14:14, that the battle is not ours but the Lord's. He goes before us and fights our battles and we are called to just be still and know that he is God. Whatever this life brings toward you be sure to jump behind Jesus and trust. Don't push him aside and allow your emotions to react. Think of what a beautiful image it is to have your King standing before you and you are confidently standing behind him in the wake of his love and power. Put down your weapons of words, self-righteousness, anger... And take upon yourself the Spirit of love. If Jesus could do it for you, then, you have no excuse for not loving and forgiving.
P.S. Forgiving doesn't mean that you have to be present around someone who has abused you. Forgiveness with boundaries is wise.
"No weapon formed against you will prosper." Isaiah 54:17.
