Can I balance discernment and being harmless?

A few people puzzle me. One of them goes to church but never talks about God or Jesus Christ. She makes many friends by doing things for them, yet never mentions fellowship in Christ or says anything about being in the family of God. She nods when Christians are thankful to the Lord or smiles when we give God glory but does not do it herself. She says nothing about Sunday’s messages and does not sing with the rest of us. But she still shows up and knows nearly everyone in our large church. This has been going on for a few years.

The critic in me suspects that this person, and others like her, use the goodness of God’s people to personal advantage, but what does the Spirit of God say about it?

First, He reminds me of Jesus who ate and spent time with those outside the faith. He was criticized for it but affirmed that He came to seek and save those who are lost. He was and still is the friend of sinners and calls me to do the same and even more . . .  

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. (Matthew 5:38–42)

In my childhood home, I noted how my mom had a soft spot for anyone who was a ‘nice’ person. However, by their ‘niceness’ she assumed they were Christians. Even before I knew Christ, I thought her judgment was often overruled by this assumption. Jesus calls me to be harmless as a dove, but also wise as a serpent.

This morning, John’s epistle gives this warning:

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. (1 John 4:1–6)

Jesus’ words to love my enemy echoes in the background as He tells me that I need to care about everyone but not be in the dark about their spirituality. Some ‘nice’ people are just that, socially and generally nice people, but not Christians. At the same time, I’ve met Christians who, when walking in the flesh, are downright nasty. I need to be discerning but not too firm about my judgments. Only God knows the heart.

What is the point for knowing where my friend is regarding her spiritual journey? For me, it helps me to know how to pray for her. I already know how to treat her — with loving kindness! Prayer is speaking with God about His work in her life. I want to pray in His will and for that, it helps to be aware.

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Lord Jesus, my prayer burdens can be discouraging, heavy, too much for me. When You give me better understanding of how to pray, they are more like the “light burdens” that You give. As I ‘test the spirits’ regarding the situations of others, I also need to do the same in my own situation. Are the concerns I feel from You or are they from my enemy who would have me forget that You are God in the flesh, my Lord and Savior, the One who knows all things. You can enlighten me as well as lighten my load. You have the power to change the lives of others too. I cannot, and even my prayers cannot. You are greater than all others and I need to cast all my cares on You because You care.

Today’s thankful list . . .

- these thoughts to balance loving kindness with alert awareness.

- Jesus knows the hearts of those on my prayer list and knows best how to answer my prayers.

- today’s workout in the gym with the power off – some trainers used flashlights. Fun.

- fresh snow.

- a close finish on one quilt that seemed to take forever.

- friends who call.

- smell of supper cooking.

Attitudes

1 Kings 1:1–53, Mark 1:1–34, Proverbs 1:1–7

When Israel’s King David became advanced in years, no amount of blankets could keep him warm. They had no electric blankets, hot water bottles, or thermostats in those days so David’s servants found a young woman to lie in his arms. Imagine being willing to cuddle up to a very old man, not as a sexual object but to serve the king in a most unusual way. (1 Kings 1:1–2)  I can hardly imagine her attitude!

It is easier to grasp the attitude of Adonijah, one of David’s sons. He knew that his father was unable to rule, so he exalted himself saying, “I will be king” and made preparations to take that position. (1 Kings 1:5–6)

Bathsheba was dismayed. With great respect, she went to David and said, “My lord, you swore to your servant by the Lord your God, saying, ‘Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.’ And now, behold, Adonijah is king, although you, my lord the king, do not know it.” (1 Kings 1:17–18) She knew that if Adonijah took the throne, he would kill her and Solomon.

David remembered. He said, “As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my soul out of every adversity, as I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel, saying, ‘Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place,’ even so will I do this day.” (1 Kings 1:29–30) Even though David was not a perfect or sinless person, he was a man of his word, a very commendable attitude for anyone to have.

His men were loyal to him also. One of them said, “Amen! May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, say so. As the Lord has been with my lord the king, even so may he be with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David.” (1 Kings 1:36–37)

This attitude of allegiance was repeated by David’s servants. They came to congratulate him saying, “May your God make the name of Solomon more famous than yours, and make his throne greater than your throne.”

David also bowed himself on the bed and said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who has granted someone to sit on my throne this day, my own eyes seeing it.” (1 Kings 1:46–48) He was totally willing to yield his throne to the son of his choice.

As for Adonijah, he feared for his life, but the new king Solomon said, “If he will show himself a worthy man, not one of his hairs shall fall to the earth, but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.” He had Adonijah brought before him and the usurper wisely paid homage to King Solomon. The new king could have slain him, but Solomon said, “Go to your house.” (1 Kings 1:52–53) His merciful attitude was far different from that of his half brother.

Solomon has been considered a very wise man. He wrote many proverbs, particularly about wisdom. His attitude was to “know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth.” He urged that “the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles” and declared, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:1–7) The grace of God gave Solomon an attitude that few had in those days. No wonder he had an incredibly good reputation.

Hundreds of years later, another man appeared who also had an unusual attitude. He had a powerful message about the coming Messiah, but gave it in great humility . . .

“John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, ‘after me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’” (Mark 1:4–8)

Soon after, Jesus came and John stepped out of the limelight. Jesus invited humble fishermen to follow Him, healed the sick, cast out demons, and changed the world. While the godly men who went before Him displayed remarkable attitudes, His thoughts and manner were always exactly as they should be for He was God in human flesh, sinless, and determined to not do His own will but the will of His Father in heaven.

I can look to David, Solomon, John the Baptist and others as good examples, but only Jesus lives in my heart to enable me to not only have the attitude of my God, but live it out in faith and obedience.