So I was inspired to write this by something that seems to reoccur when I meet some people. It is also something I know that I have personally struggled with. It is something that I want others to seriously consider and pray about.
Do you have walls that you put up that obstruct you from experiencing closeness with others?
I for one have experienced this. At one time I would even say that it was OK because I only really cared about experiencing closeness with God. It wasn't until after a great deal of work on my heart, that God showed me that this was not his will. There are a great number of scriptures that discuss the need for fellowship and love with one another.
Last night I mentioned to someone on CC that I would like to get to know them better. There seemed to be a gentleness in their spirit that made me curious to know more about them. After offering this, the person shared their testimony with me. I was wowed with the testimony and really wanted to encourage this person to share it with others. I was told, "I have and no one cares... kind of like you."
I was perplexed thinking haven't I just sat here listening to your testimony being interested? It was rather upsetting and I even took time to try to figure out what I may have done that was misconstrued. Today... I got it. I realized that this person does not experience closeness with others (this was expressed) because they don't give others the opportunity to get to know them. It is as if they have their mind made up that no one really cares without giving any person a chance. It is similar to this story...
"A man was driving on a country road and ran out of gas. As he was trying to figure out what to do, he realized that he was only a couple of miles away from a local farmer that he had loaned his chain saw too a couple of years back. His first thought was, 'Oh... certainly he will give me some gas in a can so I can make it home. I will just walk down there and ask.'
As he began the two mile walk he began to think...
'Why did the man never call me to give me my chainsaw back?'
'Why hasn't he just called to say hello?'
This kind of thinking continued for the entire two mile walk. He had quite a bit of time to think about things and draw up some conclusions. He decided that the man must not really like him and would probably not loan him the gas to get home.
When he got to the house of the farmer, he knocked on the door. The farmer opened the door and overjoyed to see his friend that he hadn't seen in quite some time, he smiled and said hello.
Without a pause, the man looked at the farmer and yelled at him saying, "You know what? I don't like you either. You can keep your gas and my chainsaw." He then turned and walked away leaving the farmer standing absolutely perplexed."
So yeah... it is kind of like that sometimes. Do you do this? When upset with someone do you tell them and give them the chance to make things right? Or do you avoid them deciding that they don't care? Do you put up walls with others basing your opinions of them on short exchanges? Or do you take the time to get to know who they are deeply? What walls do you put up without even realizing it?
Again, the intent of this message is to get us all to take the time to seek the Lord on this. Ask him to show us these things and correct us so that we might be able to walk in the fullness of God's love towards others.
Do you have walls that you put up that obstruct you from experiencing closeness with others?
I for one have experienced this. At one time I would even say that it was OK because I only really cared about experiencing closeness with God. It wasn't until after a great deal of work on my heart, that God showed me that this was not his will. There are a great number of scriptures that discuss the need for fellowship and love with one another.
Last night I mentioned to someone on CC that I would like to get to know them better. There seemed to be a gentleness in their spirit that made me curious to know more about them. After offering this, the person shared their testimony with me. I was wowed with the testimony and really wanted to encourage this person to share it with others. I was told, "I have and no one cares... kind of like you."
I was perplexed thinking haven't I just sat here listening to your testimony being interested? It was rather upsetting and I even took time to try to figure out what I may have done that was misconstrued. Today... I got it. I realized that this person does not experience closeness with others (this was expressed) because they don't give others the opportunity to get to know them. It is as if they have their mind made up that no one really cares without giving any person a chance. It is similar to this story...
"A man was driving on a country road and ran out of gas. As he was trying to figure out what to do, he realized that he was only a couple of miles away from a local farmer that he had loaned his chain saw too a couple of years back. His first thought was, 'Oh... certainly he will give me some gas in a can so I can make it home. I will just walk down there and ask.'
As he began the two mile walk he began to think...
'Why did the man never call me to give me my chainsaw back?'
'Why hasn't he just called to say hello?'
This kind of thinking continued for the entire two mile walk. He had quite a bit of time to think about things and draw up some conclusions. He decided that the man must not really like him and would probably not loan him the gas to get home.
When he got to the house of the farmer, he knocked on the door. The farmer opened the door and overjoyed to see his friend that he hadn't seen in quite some time, he smiled and said hello.
Without a pause, the man looked at the farmer and yelled at him saying, "You know what? I don't like you either. You can keep your gas and my chainsaw." He then turned and walked away leaving the farmer standing absolutely perplexed."
So yeah... it is kind of like that sometimes. Do you do this? When upset with someone do you tell them and give them the chance to make things right? Or do you avoid them deciding that they don't care? Do you put up walls with others basing your opinions of them on short exchanges? Or do you take the time to get to know who they are deeply? What walls do you put up without even realizing it?
Again, the intent of this message is to get us all to take the time to seek the Lord on this. Ask him to show us these things and correct us so that we might be able to walk in the fullness of God's love towards others.