John 8:35-41 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word. I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you do what you have heard from your father.” “Abraham is our father,” they answered. “If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do the things Abraham did. As it is, you are determined to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the things your own father does.”
Fully aware that the Jewish leaders and religious elite sought to silence, imprison, and kill him, Jesus boldly proclaims that their murderous hatred emmanates from their father the Devil, not from Abraham. Had Abraham--faithful and true follower of God--been their father, they would not be standing before Jesus with hearts of stone, willing to break the sixth commandment of God: "You shall not murder." Jesus correctly and righteously reminds them, Abraham did not do such things. Jesus knew what everyone within the sound of his words knew that day, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. (Romans 4:3) Had Abraham stood among that group, listening to Jesus: Abraham would not have passed judgment on Christ; he would not have sought to kill him.
Yesterday's breakfast spoke of the basic sinful nature of man--the carnal mind that rebelliously sets itself up against God. Soon after the fall in the Garden, we read this account in Genesis: GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. What a profound picture of humankind gone astray: each to his or her own way to fulfill selfish ambitions and fleshly desires. On the other hand, we see God holding out his mercy, love, and favor: But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
As believers, we do not want to consider that we harbor murder in our hearts; yet we slay people with our words and actions. We cause someone to die a little or a lot when we share our "constructive" criticism, express negative thoughts, become overly defensive at the slightest honest observation or comment, and refuse to allow others an opinion that differs from our own superior insight. Are we ready to love the unlovely unconditionally, care when it costs time we do not have without strings attached, support without hope of reciprocity or even any thanks? Will we believe the best in people and overlook their faults rather than tossing their shortcomings in their faces when we feel threatened ourselves? Words are more dangerous weapons than sticks and stones: they wound, destroy, and kill a person's spirit. Christians should not be in the hurting or slaying business. Yet many a baby Christian has fled the sheepfold under attack from the biting criticism of the elder brothers and sisters who tried to fix him or her all at once rather that rejoicing and praying confidently in the Spirit, saying, "We know that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6)
Our conversations will uplift, enlighten and edify when we speak well of others and express concern over difficult situations. How short would our prayers be if we stopped grousing about our own needs and quit listing the faults of others under the guise of prayer? What would happen if we concentrated on the broken, the sick, the lost, and the dying? What if we became more circumspect about our role as ambassadors of Christ, checked the words that fly from our lips in irritation, made a simple apology: "I am so sorry I hurt you. Please forgive me?" What if we quit defending our ground: "Well, you know how difficult you are when you yell and demand you own way and it makes me so upset I can't control myself. You make me so mad! But I really am sorry. . ." That is not an apology. What if we thought on the good things of the Lord? How different would our homes be if Christ had center stage: if love was now and not later? Maybe we just have a tin ear, a deaf ear, to our own voices, don't realize how we sound. Perhaps we think we express marvelous and thoughtful insights into people's lives, when they actually hear complaints and criticisms dressed up in sweet sounding voices. Jesus said, For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. (Matthew 13:15) Those hearing Jesus that day had tin ears, could not decipher his words as from the Father, for they complained, criticized, and hurt others to the point they no longer heard words of love from the Father's heart. GOD IS LOVE; Christ reveals that love in us and through us; may He shine forth that love in us today.
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