My heart.

It's been heavily on my heart these past few months, but it seems to be getting more urgent as this new year begins. I've grown up in the church, yet been in many different environments. I believe it has been God's will for this, so that I am able to communicate effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and many different walks of life.

This truly breaks my heart. I have seen that many (not all, but many) people in the church have failed to accept those who come in from the outside. They get so comfortable in their own circle of friends, they think it's not their calling to reach out to touch a life. God has shown me so clearly that this is a major area in which Christians have failed: Acceptance & having unconditional love for others. I, too, have been guilty of this. Yet God is continually changing my heart- by bringing me to the realization that it's not by my own righteousness that I have seen this failure- it is God's grace to pluck me out and set me apart, so I can fight something that (I believe) God Himself hates.

Legalism is the culprit-- it's all too easy to judge others, as we can easily see their flaws. However, when it comes time to be held accountable, we are unwilling to examine our own hearts and see our own weaknesses. We are so quick to constantly point out the shortcomings of others, whether it be in our thoughts or through our words (gossip & slander). Brothers & Sisters- this should not be so. Why is it that those in the body of Christ would be less willing to accept people & love them than those who do not even know God? Why do those who are hurting and in pain have to go out to party to find the love & acceptance that God wants to give them?

Recently, God clearly illustrated this point to me about judging others- it can become almost subconscious, but sometimes we can catch ourselves doing it. I was at a concert (kind of an outreach), volunteering. We were talking with a lovely gal from a mission organization, and there was a guy that worked with her sitting at the booth. Because he didn't talk at first-he was on his lap top I think, I wrote it off as unfriendliness & aloofness. Yet, when she introduced him to us, he was really kind & outgoing. His love & passion for the Lord was clearly visible when he spoke. In that moment, God said to me "See Lysandra, you jumped to that conclusion before you had even talked to him...How often do you do that?" I was convicted, to say the least. I hadn't taken into mind the possibility that he might have simply been concentrating on a task he needed to get accomplish right then.

God used this whole situation to illustrate to me just how many times I do this- judge others. Wherever we go, a lot of times we will write people off- put them in a box- stick a label on their forehead; "prep", "jock", "emo kid." And the thing is, even if that is their area of interest, shouldn't we be willing to reach out to them and show them God's love where they're at? Why do we let our differences determine our actions/attitudes towards others?

After that concert, I think it was the next day even, I read in the New Testament about not judging people by their appearances- some were treating those who were well dressed with respect, and giving the poor man a lowly seat in the assembly of their Church. That still happens today, maybe not the exact same scenario, but it's the heart of the matter that we must examine. What a head smack God gave me- at the time it really stung (figuratively lol), but now I can see legalism & judging people clearly- it's basically a special discernment now.

If this is something the Lord has put on your heart-either by reading this or He has been speaking it to you, please pray. Know that the greatest way we can change the spiritual climate is by getting on our knees. Even when we don't know how to pray, the Holy Spirit will speak to us specifically how to pray. God Bless you as we go into the year 2009.