“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.‘ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36-40)
I’ve been struggling lately. I’ve been spending far too much time trying to understand how people who say they are Christian can think certain things are acceptable or how they can excuse behaviors that I feel are very un-Christian. I fret and worry about things – sometimes leading to rough nights with little sleep.
I brought it up with a friend yesterday because it was forefront in my mind. My friend? He put my head on straight. He asked me why I’m worried about that stuff and reminded me that my focusing on those issues means I’m denying God, who has to come first. I can’t spend my energy trying to understand others and their beliefs. All I can do is love God with my whole heart, my whole soul, and my whole mind.
When I spend my time worrying about things I can’t change, I’m not keeping God at the center of my life.
I can’t focus on how others think about God as I struggle to find my own path with Him. I can’t ponder their relationships with Christ as I stumble along on my relationship with Him.
I can only tell you what I believe and how I try to live my life as a Christian woman. What do I believe? You can see it in Matthew 22 and the Apostle’s Creed.
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
(The Apostle’s Creed, Church of England)
Nowhere in the Bible or in the Apostle’s Creed does it tell me to think about what other’s believe. I state my own beliefs. God challenges ME to follow Him. He tells me over and over in the Bible to stop worrying about others.
That is so incredibly hard to do. Sometimes I’m judging them – how can they call themselves Christian when they do x, y, and z? Or sometimes I worry because I love them and want to help them view God the way I do. How presumptuous of me!
My friend helped me remember that it’s not what God is calling me to do. If someone comes to me and honestly asks me what I believe, I should be open to having a conversation about it. I’m in two different bible study groups currently and I love how we push each other to think deeper about our relationship with God. But those conversations are part of what we agree to do when we enter a bible study group. I have no right to run around pushing my beliefs on others.
My role, as a servant of Christ, is to do my best to emulate Him in all I do. To treat others with compassion, love, and understanding. That’s it. That’s what I feel God wants me to do.
If you don’t believe that’s your purpose as a Christian? That’s fine. If you want to talk about it, I’m open to it. But that’s YOUR path to tread. Maybe I’ll inspire you as I continue my personal walk with God. Maybe you’ll inspire me. Hopefully, we’ll inspire each other to remember that God has to come first in everything we do.
Mighty Father, thank You for bringing friends into my life who help me remember to always focus on you. I have to put YOU first in order to live my life as Christ calls me to do. When I am filled with thoughts that aren’t about You, please help me find my way back.
To You, God, goes all the praise and the glory. Amen.