” I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?” (John 10:32)
| Jeremiah 20: 10 - 13 | |
| 10 | For I hear many whispering. Terror is on every side! "Denounce him! Let us denounce him!" say all my familiar friends, watching for my fall. "Perhaps he will be deceived, then we can overcome him, and take our revenge on him." |
| 11 | But the LORD is with me as a dread warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble, they will not overcome me. They will be greatly shamed, for they will not succeed. Their eternal dishonor will never be forgotten. |
| 12 | O LORD of hosts, who triest the righteous, who seest the heart and the mind, let me see thy vengeance upon them, for to thee have I committed my cause. |
| 13 | Sing to the LORD; praise the LORD! For he has delivered the life of the needy from the hand of evildoers. |
Both readings today feature experts at fault-finding. Jeremiah’s detractors are “on the watch for any misstep” (Jeremiah 20:10), hoping to find some excuse to take vengeance on him for preaching a message of divine judgment. And Jesus’ accusers are alert for any hint of “blasphemy,” any claim from Jesus that he has a specially close relationship to God.
Because of such a narrow focus, the people in both stories end up missing out on what God is offering them. They ignore Jeremiah’s warning about impending judgment, and because they refuse to repent, their city falls to their enemies. Jesus’ hearers turn away from the life he offers them if only they will come to him humble and open. Their minds are already made up, and so they end up missing out on the good news of his resurrection.
How easy it is to focus on what is wrong with someone’s words or actions! How reassuring to think that we have nothing to learn from them! But this kind of attitude often has an unintended consequence. Not only does it separate us from that person, but it may make us miss out on something God is wanting to teach us. Of course we can’t condone wrongdoing, and we should not agree with falsehoods. But there is no child of God on this earth from whom we have nothing to learn.
Instead of focusing on what a person is doing or saying wrong, ask God to help you discern what they are doing right. Perhaps there is a pure motive behind what looks like a poor choice. Perhaps they are speaking out of fear and hurt, even though their tone sounds angry or confident.
In other words, let God expand your heart. Perhaps that person can give you a new perspective that deepens what you know to be true. Instead of assuming they’re mistaken, ask them to help you understand why they believe and value what they do. God has many unlikely messengers. Don’t miss out on the message he wants to give you!
“Lord, help me to not be quick to condemn someone. Open my eyes and my heart instead, so that you can teach me.”
--that in all things God may be glorified--
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