Scripture

Our verse for today comes from 1 Samuel 8:8, ” As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking Me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. ” 

Background

You and I, we know how to behave. We were raised with an understanding of respect and authority. We say sir and ma’am, we let others go before us, we hold the doors for ladies, we don’t interrupt, we don’t point, we don’t whisper around others. We bow our heads and close our eyes when praying, we give thanks for our meals, we dress up for church, we don’t reach across others at the dinner table, we say ” excuse me ” when walking between people having a conversation, and we look at the other person when we are being spoken to. Much of this behavior might be called common courtesy, some of it is a respect for our elders, and certain things are simply an exercise in politeness. You and I, we’ve done all of these things, and dozens more, to complete and total strangers for our entire lives. Persons we have never before met and who will never be seen again have received the best of our social graces with a smile on our faces and well wishes upon our departure. It’s too bad, then, that we can’t live and go to church with strangers, isn’t it? I mean, since the best of our behavior seems to be reserved and expressed upon those with whom we have zero ties, then the most pleasant of existences would seem to be the one where there is no personal connection muddying up the relationship. Were this a math problem, then the impersonal and distant coexistence would be the expected answer. 

Application

But this is life, with real people, meant to be in real relationships, with real behavior and real struggles. But why does the realness that we share with those closest to us have to come with sharp edges and calloused hearts? Why does familiarity and community seem to be mutually exclusive with grace and mercy? That’s an exaggeration, I know, and you are probably much better at all this than me and my family. But we all live and worship with someone who needs what Jesus died for, and it’s on us if we won’t let Christ live His life through us for them. Save your best for everyone, not just the people you don’t know. You be the person who takes the first step. 

Charge

As we seek Him today, examine your treatment of God in comparison to how you treat strangers. Add in your challenging family members and difficult fellow believers to see where everyone ranks in light of God’s grace. 

Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words