Ty was coming along we knew we wouldn't get much sleep.
This is one of the main concerns with a newborn.
At the same time we have two kids running around crazy.
It's a trying time and it's more trying for Hailee as she is around the chaos all the time.
When you have a lack of sleep, dealing with a newborn it's hard enough, now throw in two other kids.
Connor hasn't slept great since Ty has been here.
He has had accidents at night (Which he never has) and has woke up multiple times over the past week.
He is still getting used to Ty being in the house.
At times this is more frustrating, not knowing how to handle Connor while this has been going on.
It's more than just sacrifice, it's testing your patience and leaves you scratching your head.
Sometimes faith is more than just the sacrifices.
The Pharisees were great at living by the sacrifices God had the people do. But they fell short in other areas.
Matthew 12 verse 7…
"If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent."
Sacrifices only go so far in their faith before you have to show the grace and mercy that God gives us.
The Pharisees were not great with this.
They knew the law, but not how to show mercy.
I was trying to think of where else this came up in scripture and it comes from the book of Hosea.
Years apart but the people still have trouble following this rule in Jesus time.
Has it changed for us today?
The Barna group is known for research.
In the book Unchristian they try to figure out why young people are leaving the Church.
They ask a bunch of great questions in multiple surveys and come out with some great results.
They ask this question to Christian adults (pg48-49)….
"Identify the priorities Christians pursue in terms of their personal faith."
The MOST common response…
"It was lifestyle – being good, doing the right thing, not sinning."
In other words, it's making the right sacrifices…
So the people during Hosea's time struggled with this…
The Pharisees struggled with this….
It goes all the way till today, we struggle with this????
Well over 2,000 years and it's still a struggle for us!
It's not a bad thing for people to live a good life.
Yet there is more to faith then this.
If we are a good Christian by our sacrifices, we are a good Christian if…
- We make sure we have Sunday morning off to go to Church.
- We make sure we own a Bible even if we don't really use it.
- I don't smoke or gave smoking up.
- I don't drink in public because that could give Christians a bad image.
- I give up an extra hour of sleep to attend Sunday School.
- I stop listening to secular music and only listen to Christian Talk radio or Christian music.
- I made a list like this before and the list could go on and on.
How did we get stuck into this trap?
It make me want to bang my head.
We fall short in showing others mercy for the simple fact we live by the sacrifices we make.
God is working on me in this area.
It's been hard for me dealing with Connor having accidents, but showing him mercy is key then getting frustrated with him.
It's not easy either, it's hard.
He knows he makes mistakes and when he comes down the stairs he will tell us about his accidents while winking at us.
He is also known for trying to give the thumbs up and be really charming.
Without mercy, he wouldn't be able to really grow.
Showing mercy will get us further with people then showing we are a good Christian by what we don't do.
I'm sorry.
I am sorry if this is what I have shown being a Christian is all about.
I am sorry if you are surrounded by Christians that come off like this.
Christianity is about showing mercy, about living our faith out, not about what we don't do.
Christians are all sinners, there is only one perfect person and that was Jesus.
Mercy is something we need to start showing more off.
How can you do that today?
Have a great day.
No comments:
Post a Comment