Sunday, December 16, 2007

Embrace Your Foes

"Your enemies will reveal your weaknesses for you." This was a line from a teaching I had on tape by Rabbi Ralph Messer. He taught to listen to those who oppose you for they will teach you what you need to know about yourself. All I can say is, Amen.
Recently I went through a very difficult challenge. I took the challenge on the chin refusing to pull anyone down with me. I have a very hard time with the victim mentality and used everything I had to avoid pointing fingers. It wasn't easy. After much prayer I have found that I may grow from the experience. I say may because it depends on me actually doing something with what I've learned.
One of the biggest struggles I have had to wrangle with is animosity towards individuals whose finger prints are all over the knives that were planted in my back. I am coming to terms with the belief that those foes are simply misled. I also have to come to terms with the fact that there are knives out there with my fingerprints all over them. Those incidents may have been in the past and I didn't see them for being subversive at the time but now I do. If I'm really honest I may see some recent incidents that may be covered with a sense of duty. Maybe there was another way.
I also see that I was judging the current slate of would be assassins before they enacted their deeds. Maybe if I would have washed the blood off my hands I would have viewed them differently. Maybe I would have looked at them with the love that Jesus has for them. I didn't though.
Now I am able to examine my ways and change course when self righteousness starts to creep in. I understand that I have to look through Jesus at every situation I encounter. What would Jesus do indeed. More like what would Jesus have me do to live in obedience to His Word.
At the end of the day the biggest foe I have stares at me every morning when I'm shaving. It would be best to embrace him. I have learned to forgive him, now it's time to start living out the wisdom that has been bestowed.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I firmly believe in "just desserts".It will happen and you will watch and see it!I speak from experience

74WIXYgrad said...

I always like to say that payday isn't necessarily every Friday.

The world says "What goes around, comes around."

The Bible says "You reap what you sow."

Sian said...

Embrace your friends too. Here is a hug cos I am glad you are around :)

stacys1175 said...

here lately I have been thinking in the same manner what would he do your what would been the right thing to do i guess what im trying to say is when people do or say bad things instade of getting mad and blowing up i have been trying to do the right thing and iv been doing good at this but sometimes i need help. I know this proble dont have any thing to do with your post but i had to get it off my chest. hugs to you :)

Sindi said...

I never know what to say to help so I say look to Jesus. He is the key to any closed door and the lock to any door that needs to be closed.