In the last devotional, I wrote about Jesus taking down the wall of hostility between us and God and between us and others according to Ephesians 2:14-18. Paul who penned this scripture had lived in hostility, and he knew how it was like to have a wall of enmity between him and the new believers.
Prior to his conversion, Saul who became Paul was a perfect example of one who had a hostile separation between him and the new Christians. He saw them as a threat to his system and his world of religiosity, and he did everything he could to kill the Christians and annihilate them. When Jesus met him on the road to Damascus, He asked him “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” Acts 9:4b
I wonder if Paul ever thought of his activities as persecuting his God. Paul must have thought of himself as a loyal follower of his religion who for the sake of the faith was willing to zealously put to death Christians. After all he was a good solider for his God!
If we are going to be sensitive and authentic people of God, we should from time to time ask the question, “Lord, are you pleased by the way I interact/minister to other believers or unbelievers?” Is it possible that we could be persecuting others by how we react to their choices in life?
Sometimes in our zeal and passion against certain sins, we could push people away or act very judgmental. At other times, we may have our conviction on how someone should manage their marriage, parenting, or relationships, and if people don’t aqueous to our viewpoint, we shun them. As a result, we can cause rejection in their hearts.
If we believe that Christianity is a relationship with a holy and living God, then we are to give room for people to interact with their God . Our job as the people of God is be a catalyst for change by leading people to scripture, sharing with them from our experiences, and praying for them that they will trust and obey God. However, we can’t force people into the kingdom or strong arm them into obedience because then we have turned our beautiful and delicate relationship with Christ into a religious dogma!
Just as Paul had a wall against him and the new believers, the early Christians had a wall erected against Paul because of his behavior. They had no confidence in him. They thought of him as a man who was cruel and was out to get them. When they heard about Saul’s conversion, they didn’t have a party, because they didn’t trust him nor had a desire to get close to him. It was Barnabas who became an endorsement to Paul that led the early church to give him a chance. It takes time for people to regain trust in a previously unsafe person even after the hostility is removed.
People may continue to make bad choices inside and outside of the church. However, our responsibility as a believer is to conduct ourselves in such a way that creates a safe, non-hostile environment for people. The Lord calls us to do our part to lovingly, gently, and firmly present the truth. Nevertheless, in humility we recognize that each person is ultimately responsible before God for the choices they make, and we don’t get to make those choices for them!
At the end of the day, Jesus’ heart is to see a restored man or woman who is reconciled to His God and to the people around him/her. Are we the catalysts for this change? Is Jesus pleased with how we interact His sheep?
For comments, please email me at karlinefischer@yahoo.com