A Hard Lesson

Luke 12:2-3 For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops. 

What a hard scripture for me to read today.  My head was filled this morning with criticism and I couldn't shake it.  It came out of nowhere.  I'm reminded of the scripture about out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  (Matthew 12:34)  So, then, when we recognize what we are doing why don't we stop? It seems like an obsession to continue to think what we don't want to.  

I was thinking about a friend who seems to always be in an unhappy state.  She finds it difficult to rejoice in difficult situations and I've heard her say,"Why me?"  And my thoughts took over.  Then I read Luke 12 this morning and knew the Lord was showing me something.

He was revealing to me what sin was in my heart.  There are times when I'm inundated with critical thoughts, not that I want to be.  I think to myself about others:  "Why not put your mind to rejoicing instead of whining?  Might not things change?"  But it's also human nature to be so frustrated and unhappy with some of the circumstances in our lives.  Do I do that myself?  When will we ever learn?  I think how rejoicing might bring a change of heart to the circumstances.  Let go and let God, we hear.  Let Jesus carry our burdens; His yoke is easy and His burden light.  (Matthew 11:30).  Is complaining trusting in Jesus?  And didn't Jesus have to go through difficult circumstances Himself, and aren't we to use Him as an example of how we are to live our lives?  But even without thinking outright, we are saying to ourselves, "Why me?"

Maybe I felt like I did out of frustration, of not wanting to see her suffer and desiring for her to finally rely on no one but Jesus.  He's gone through it all, He knows, so He's willing to share the load of that burden.  We need to be willing to let it go.  Sometimes I think we just like being in that state of unhappiness.  We choose to complain.  We're comfortable in that place.  Oh Lord, how sad is that?  Do we get satisfaction from others feeling sorry for us?

My friend's attitude and mine are different, but both are equally as sinful.  I should remove the plank from my eye.  And how could I possibly know what she should do?  How do I know what she's tried to do to overcome her attitude?  Have I gone through a bad situation?  What is considered bad, difficult, a challenge?  How have I reacted?  Have I really had something to suffer through?  How do I know I haven't gone through my trials and moved on?  I don't have an answer to any of these questions.  So, take the plank of your eye, Laurie! 

What do I need to learn?  Understanding, compassion.  A hard heart doesn't soften others.   I could easily be one of Job's friends.  And a hypocrite to boot.  I'm not perfect.  None of us are.  I know I want to change and ask God for His help.  I can't speak for my friend.  

So who's right here?  Neither, I presume.  We both need to lose the attitudes.  I need to look at the situation with sympathy, not criticism.  Oh my.  This is hard to write.  I wonder if  writing this will be healing?  I wonder if anyone else recognizes this in themselves?  

And finally, Oswald Chambers today wrote about Matthew 11:29 - Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  He suggests stopping the whining and crying out to "let me be like other people."  He's suggesting we be thankful for our times of pressure under God's hand.  He has something for us to learn--if we are willing to find out what it is. He ended his devotion by saying "If you have the whine in you, kick it out ruthlessly.  It is a positive crime to be weak in God's strength."  

Two scriptures and two different lessons to learn.  I'm trying to put these both into perspective.  Luke 12:2-3 should be fearful for both of us, for all of us.  All my thoughts will be brought into judgment.  And so can many others' thoughts.  Doesn't make it right, though.  The day of judgment, unfortunately, will come and where will be be?  So, shouldn't I also give this to God?  Is that the conclusion here?  We are both in the midst of our own sinful attitudes.  Heaven help us both to let go, give the burden to Jesus.

Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.  [And] all we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.  Psalm 100:3 and Isaiah 53:6

Father God, I realize that we are always going to be in a process of cleansing ourselves from the filthiness of our sins.  Do a work in us, Lord, that we may overcome whatever it is in our hearts that needs to be confronted and changed.  Continue to grab our hearts through scripture that we read each day.   It really does not give me any consolation to know that others are as guilty as I.  I need only concern myself about my own sin.  Work in my heart, Lord.  Work in all our hearts that we might be conformed, transformed into Your image.  Thank You for Your persistence. In Your name I pray, Jesus.  Amen