Forsaken Standard

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

David fell woefully short of the standard set by the world for a king. He did not measure up to his brothers physically or intellectually.

Joseph was the youngest, weakest and least likely to succeed among his brothers.

Paul was a murderer who sought to torment and persecute the Church of Christ in the name of religion.

Abraham and Sarah were far beyond their prime and lacked the physical strength and stamina to fulfill the call of God on their lives at such an old age.

The list goes on and on. The Bible is full, from cover to cover, of rejects of the world who were used by God to change the course of history and build a kingdom that will stand forever. He chose those whom society had deemed ill equipped or unworthy of such a high calling. Every single time, the result was a move of God far too powerful to be credited to man. In the midst of complete weakness and inadequacy, Almighty God birthed promise after promise through the most unqualified candidate.

If God chose the misfits, why do we seek after the charismatic ones?

If God calls the under qualified, why do reject those without years of education and training?

If God birthed many nations through the womb of a woman too old to conceive, why do we assign more value to the talent of youth than the wisdom of age?

If God transformed the heart and life of murderers and used their testimonies to reach the multitudes, why do we disqualify those with a shameful past?

If God gave places of authority to the humble and less talented, why do we give places of honor to those who are talented and arrogant?

When did we forsake the standard God has set for his church to settle for what is approved of by the world?

The most powerful speakers, writers and leaders I know are people who have been rejected by the world. They may not have flash or polish, but they have heart. They have the ability to identify with those they are trying to reach. They got where they are not because they leaned on talent, but because they endured testing. They continued to believe in their dream when they were overlooked and rejected by the church because they did not fit the right mold. They welcome and encourage the rest of the misfits of church society. They love the least, the way they are called to. Because of that, they are anointed, powerful and effective.

The most anointed worship leaders I have encountered are not those with years and years of training. They did not all go to school. They were trained in the trenches. The songs they write, the way they lead and their ability to touch the heart of God have nothing to do with anything man can teach. It is a direct result of being on their face before the King of Kings, crying out for revelation and seeking His presence. They lead well because they have gone before. They have tasted and seen. And they love the church so much that they want everyone else to taste and see as well.

It is easy to spot the difference between a talented leader and an anointed leader. Given the choice, I want to follow one who is anointed.

It’s Always a Choice

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:12-14

When did faith become about feeling? Nothing we are called to do as Christians is conditional upon whether or not we feel like doing it. Obedience is about choice, not emotion.

Yet, we use our feelings as justification for our disobedience. We claim that we cannot have compassion for someone who is paying the consequences for their actions. We all have to learn our lessons somehow. They are getting what they deserve.

We are kind to those who are kind to us but indifferent to those who are not. We may not act cold or unkind, but do we go out of our way to express kindness to those whom we know will not return the gesture?

Humility is practically obsolete in 21^st Century Christianity. We have blended the teachings of Christ with the humanistic view of the world. Everything in us screams out for recognition and fights for what rights we think we have. True humility recognizes that we have no rights except to love God and love others. When we do humble ourselves, we often do so only because we know the Bible promises us that God exalts the humble. Is it true humility if the purpose behind it is to be exalted?

Forgiveness often presents the most difficult hurdle to jump when it comes to overcoming our feelings and living in obedience to the Word of God. If we are the ones who have been hurt, we convince ourselves that it is up to us to determine if and when we are going to forgive. If feelings of forgiveness are not there, we assume we are not able to forgive. But forgiveness, like every other attribute, is a choice.

I could go on with every characteristic mentioned in Colossians 3:12-14 but the point is this: never once are we told to feel compassion. We are not commanded to wait until we feel moved to acts of kindness. God does not ask us to wait to be humbled through circumstance or conviction. And we are told to forgive. Period.

The command is one of action. We are being called to clothe ourselves. When our fellow man is hurting, we are to act with compassion the way God had compassion on us and rescued us from the pit. It is not our place to judge whether or not they deserve our compassion. Just as faith is not about feeling, compassion is not about what we think others deserve. We show compassion when we refuse to judge and truly listen. Even when we don’t feel like it.

Opportunities to show kindness are present in every moment of every day. Through an uplifting word, a genuine smile or a favor to lessen the burden someone else is under we can clothe ourselves with kindness and fulfill a small part of God’s plan. Even when we don’t feel like it.

We close the door on selfish ambition and pride when we think of others more highly than ourselves. But what if we truly think we are better than them? Then, we choose to clothe ourselves with humility. We serve others instead of demanding service. We lift them up instead of seeking reverence ourselves. We cease talking about ourselves long enough to make someone else our focus. We humble ourselves. Even when we don’t feel like it.

Now we face the biggest challenge of all. Forgiving. Really forgiving. The deep hurt. The heart wrenching betrayal. The overwhelming disrespect. Every offense committed against us. Every harsh word. All the damage caused. We must forgive. Even when we don’t feel like it.

You will find freedom in forgiveness. Even when the anger rages and the tears fall, you can forgive. Even when your heart is numb and bitterness and hatred have taken over, you can forgive. Even when you have built a wall of defense around your heart and life, you can forgive. And even when they don’t deserve it, you can forgive. Because you have been forgiven.

Living your life the way  Colossians 3 exhorts you to is not easy. Relying on emotions to motivate you and get you through will only lead to discouragement. But I know from personal experience that when you choose to obey, Holy Spirit will do a work in your heart.

The person you cannot feel compassion for now will eventually become the one you are burdened to pray for. Kindness will become a joy, not a chore. Clothing yourself with humility will give you perspective to see the worth of others and to value them (and ultimately God) far more than you thought you could. And when forgiveness finally takes root, you will have freedom like you have never experienced. Freedom to love, to trust and to live fully.

It begins with a choice. A choice you will have to make day after day until it become less about what you do and more about who you are becoming. It may be a long road, but it will be infinitely worth it.

What will you choose today?