Working on those rough edges

You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. (I Peter 2:4-5)

We all experience some form of rejection on occasion, so lest we think we are enduring the worst rejection possible, let us not forget the extreme rejection Jesus endured. A life lived well will be subject to some form of criticism and even rejection - the ones doing the criticizing just cannot live with their own choices in the face of the ones we have made, so they ridicule and reject us. It isn't a bad thing when they reject us because it actually shows we are living in such a way that they are convicted just by the example we set.

Rejected by people but chosen by God. We might admit that being rejected by others is kind of hard to endure - it hurts our feelings, wounds our pride, and makes us feel like our lives don't really matter. The feelings will mend, and our pride can take the hit - but to believe our lives don't matter just because they reject us is just plain silly. People can say and do all manner of things, but it is what God sees when he looks into our lives that really matters.

As living stones, we are built TOGETHER into HIS temple. We are not doing this alone - others are right there alongside us and Christ is at the center of us all. He forms the pivotal 'cornerstone' of this great 'building'. As a body of believers, we don't 'tower above' others, but we allow them to find a place of shelter when they need it the most. When an unbeliever walks into our lives, what do they experience? Are they faced with rejection because they dress differently, use language that is a little coarse, or have habits that are damaging and offensive? I hope not!

It isn't the literal walls of the church Christ is building - it is the many hearts and souls redeemed by his blood that make up the church. For a little while, those on the 'outside' of these 'spiritual walls' may feel like it is silly to be part of his church, but as they begin to experience the grace and love of God as we have, they will find their 'perfect fit' right there alongside us. They just don't know God is at work forming their rough edges so they fit into that empty space left just for them. Just sayin!

I need you - today and always

Christ encourages you, and his love comforts you. God’s Spirit unites you, and you are concerned for others. Now...Live in harmony by showing love for each other. Be united in what you think, as if you were only one person. Don’t be jealous or proud, but be humble and consider others more important than yourselves. Care about them as much as you care about yourselves and think the same way that Christ Jesus thought... (Philippians 2:1-5 CEV)

I don't deal with ambiguity very well, because I think life should have clear direction. Ambiguity is the uncertainty of meaning or intention - the purpose is simply unclear. Where there is lack of clarity, I seek it out. This is my nature - I "uncover" what is not said, or what doesn't immediately reveal itself - the implied or intended meaning. Much of my difficulty with ambiguity comes in not knowing the intent of something. When we are dealing with ambiguity for a long period of time, we often need some encouragement and comfort to get through those times. No one encourages and comforts as Jesus does in quite the same way when the intent of something is not fully known!

Something happens when God's people come together in unity - there is a mutual encouragement which occurs. One bolsters the faith of another - helping each other face the ambiguous spots in life with just a little more energy. When God's kids rally around each other in the times of uncertain intent, the love of God begins to invade the spaces where uncertainty exists. In those moments, intent may not be fully understood, but the value of our community in which we are united shines through! This is why we need each other - because we cannot face ambiguity alone!

Count on Christ's encouragement - giving us a little stimulation where we most need it. It stimulates us deep within to hold on, press forward, take the first step. Without that encouragement what happens? We simply don't move forward when we should, and we often move without a plan or purpose whenever we do step forward. If understanding intent is so important to us, then taking steps without understanding is hard! What we need is someone to give us the thumbs up and tell us it is okay to take that first step. This is what Christ does for us - sometimes one-on-one in our meditation time with him - other times through the mouths of those he has brought us into companionship with. Either way, he sends the stimulation we need to not be paralyzed by the ambiguity life has put in our path.

Rely upon God's love - it carries us when we are lacking courage in the midst of the ambiguous spaces in life. I have a particularly close friend who does this quite often for me - oftentimes without even knowing she does it. In those times of uncertainty, sometimes all I need is a little bit of her humor, or a hug to let me know all will be well in the midst of the present struggle. God's love is understood in appreciating all the blessings he gives into our lives - but it is especially understood when his love is spoken through another deeply into the fibers of our being. In the expression of compassion, exuberance of enthusiastic agreement, or the solemnity of chastisement, we find the love of God expressed in the lives of those he has placed us in fellowship with.

Listen to his uniting Spirit - there is nothing worse than dealing with life's ambiguous moments or seasons all alone. God's uniting Spirit brings us together with those who can help us to walk through them and come out stronger on the other side! God sends his Spirit to unite us with others - establishing us in community so we don't wander into places of deeper uncertainty, or wither under the constant barrage of unknown intent. We all need intent, so God places us in the company of others who can help us discover the intent in ways we had no power to consider on our own. We need each other, my friends, to break through places of ambiguity in our lives. Just sayin!