"Challenge"

Do you love the power,

Or do you let it go,

Are you into what Is real,

Or is it all for show?

Must you soon defend yourself,

Prove that you are right,

Or will you give some tolerance,

And choose to stop the fight?

Will you pass that juicy news,

Of someone else who fails,

Or will you quietly pray for them,

That God’s wind fills their sails?

Do you hold a grudge so long,

It’s frozen to your heart,

Or have you learned it poisons you,

And breaks you all apart?

Are you ready to show love,

To strangers there in need,

Or are you one who turns away,

And never plants a seed?

Will you spend all that you have,

On things that pleasure you,

Or will you give to those in need,

So they have something too?

Can you say you know the Lord,

Received salvation free,

But then go on and just ignore,

The rest who need to be?

Not to preach a sermon,

Or guilt someone to start,

But praying God will use these words,

To challenge someone’s heart.

“Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another…” (Eph. 4:32, NLT)

Being kind, tenderhearted and forgiving is the standard for every follower of Jesus. Being mean, hard-hearted, and unforgiving is how everyone else behaves. If we as followers of Jesus are mean, hard-hearted and unforgiving, how will anyone know that we are followers of Jesus? Answer: They won’t. And I’m not being mean, hard-hearted and unforgiving when I say it! In fact I write this remembering some of the most strategic times I got it so wrong that only God’s grace could heal me. God help us with this! God help me! The Holy Spirit within us is the answer. He can produce this fruit in us like no performance could ever reach. Our best efforts just can’t get us there, but the Spirit can. The question then becomes: are we willing? Are we? Are we ready and willing to be someone other than we have been? Someone whose kindness flows out like a river. Someone whose tenderheartedness becomes something that God Himself can point to as an example of His love. Someone who is so free of bitterness that the mercy blows through us like the wind. That’s who we are…or should be.

Lord, do these things for us, in us, and through us, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Mark Maggiori, markmaggiori.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Mark, and God bless you.