Beware blind spots
We all have blind spots
in our lives where we are either not aware of the actions and behaviours that
are sinful or we are aware and we have chosen a path that dishonours God in our
actions, words and thinking. Today we
are shown how God exposes the sins of an individual, a church and a nation and
ways that He uses people and instances to confront and return them to the right
relationship with Him.
After being pursued by
Saul, David has a chance to take revenge as Saul steps into the cave where
David and his men are hiding. David's
conscience is touched - in the way that the Spirit convicts us today - after he
cuts a piece from Saul's robe and he is made aware of how he has shown
disrespect to God's anointed leader. He
confronts the issue by first apologising to Saul and then inviting
reconciliation and for God to be the judge. Saul weeps and responds with love
and acknowledgement of David's right response.
Paul also confronts - he
confronts the people of the church
of Corinth who have
allowed sexual immorality to be acceptable and challenges the people to deal
with it as left unchallenged it will lead to other sinful behaviours in the
community illustrating it with how yeast spreads in the process of bread
making.
Then Ezekiel is called to
confront the sins of the nation of Israel , a spiritually dead nation
who are in exile. His can do this with
confidence as he has been prepared by digesting the Word of God, which tastes
like honey to him, and he knows that as a watchman he will be given the words
to speak. He can confront but the nation
may not listen.
When we see behaviours that do not reflect Christ’s love and character
are we 'who live by the Spirit' prepared to 'restore that person gently' (Gal
6:1) by speaking into theirs or the community life?
(member of the PCC)