This whole community thing has me constantly learning new things about myself and about those around me. This whole community thing is changing me. It is challenging me and forcing me to improve my character. It is teaching me about covenant relationships and how to truly live as Christ lived.
But most of all, it is showing me how to show honor.
I came across this scripture the other day and believe God wanted to challenge me more in all of this.
“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor…
Give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceable with all.”
Romans 12:9-10; 17-18
Give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceable with all.”
Romans 12:9-10; 17-18
Outdo one another in showing honor. What does it even look like to show honor?
I was thinking about my life before the race and how I dealt with situations and communities in my life. If I did not naturally get along with someone, I did not pursue much of a relationship with that person. I would not refuse to hang out with them, but I did not go out of my way to involve them in my community. Pretty much any community I was a part of was my community’ where I picked who I wanted to spend time with. There was always a point or a depth in every relationship that I did not go past if I did not have the intention of investing in that person. And to be completely honest, if it ever got too deep for me, I was always able to escape for a little bit until I could dive back in. But in this community….I cannot do that.
God has purposely put me into a group with 5 specific other people to challenge
Simple truths that have become so much more real in community:
1. Forgive, forgive, forgive! CHOOSE to forgive.
2. Don’t hold onto silly things…but talk it out.
3. Serve one another…putting others’ needs before your own.
4. Trusting the process that God has people in.
5. Honor each other…Outdo one another in showing honor!
Really getting these things in my spirit and practicing them has helped me to truly love my team and to become more like Christ. Isn’t it interesting that everything God asks us to do, Christ did first and continues to do for us. He continues to honor us in the midst of our sin. Even when we feel like we can’t do what he’s called us to do because we have so much of our flesh still at work in us, he sees our repentant hearts and honors us, giving us the ability to overcome our flesh and accomplish his will. In other words, when you cannot possibly think of being able to love or forgive someone because they just annoy you or because they hurt you…when you confess your bitterness towards that person to the Lord being completely broken…because ‘how could you possibly love like he’s called you to love?…it feels impossible’. In that moment, He honors you and forgives you. In our weaknesses, he is gentle and strong giving us his Spirit and grace to love and forgive.
“The spirit of Religion replaces things that are important to God with things that are not.
Christianity is about being passionate about loving people. Honor is a loving thing, an act of love. Love and honor draws the Spirit. But critism and division grieves the Spirit and draws the demonic.”
-Randy Clark, March 2, 2010
“The spirit of Religion replaces things that are important to God with things that are not.
Christianity is about being passionate about loving people. Honor is a loving thing, an act of love. Love and honor draws the Spirit. But critism and division grieves the Spirit and draws the demonic.”
-Randy Clark, March 2, 2010
**Tomorrow is our last day in Cambodia. We will be driving to Bangkok, and then flying to Ghana, Africa! Please keep us in your prayers as we move onto an entirely new chapter of the race!**
