Amy's Attic
Think about attics and what comes to mind? Treasures that were once treated as such now left unattended and dusty. There usually isn't anything new in an attic. Just things we once cared about that have now been discarded and replaced with more relevent trinkets. This attic is no different. The truths we will explore probably won't be of any new revelation- just principles that may have carelessly been pushed to the back and less pondered upon.
After Pastor John's sermon Sunday on forgiveness, I thought it was time to write down the thoughts that have been swimming around in my head on the same subject. I don't take credit for the following. In fact, we were in a Bible study years ago praying for a brother who had brought much heartache to our congregation and I found myself praying what I am about to share with you. I had never explored such a concept. It just came out of my spirit as we prayed. This concept has ministered to me through the years and I pray it does the same for you.
We are told in the Bible that if we will return good for evil when people mistreat us it will be like heaping coals of fire on their head. This always was an unsettling thought to me because it was so unlike any of the other Biblical teachings I had studied. How does "turn the other cheek", "forgive not just seven times, but seventy times seven" and "do unto others as you would have others do unto you" fit in with severly burning someone's scalp? I had wondered about this for years and then finally a preacher tied it all together for me.
He said that we have to understand the way of life in Bible days to understand what this verse implies. Fire was crucial to everyday living back then and a household had to keep a fire at least smoldering at all times. It was necessary for cooking, bathing, cleaning- you name it. When someone's fire went out they would have to go to their neighbor and get hot coals from their fire, take them home and rekindle their fire. As was the custom in those days, the vessel with the hot coals was carried on the head. What a picture now comes to mind!
God says that He would rather we be hot or cold. When we are lukewarm the literal translation says we make Him sick at His stomach. That is what has happened to the person who is mistreating you if he is a Christian. He's lost his first love, his passion for Christ has dwindled and his fire is going out. Show him the love of God and you help rekindle his fire- not burn his head out spite. More often than not, we are wounded by fellow Christians. We expect the world to mistreat people, but not our fellow brothers in Christ. This is where the rubber meets the road. Do we return evil with evil, harboring resentment and bitterness. Or do we return evil with good, realizing that we all need to rekindle our coals at some point in time.
Now for the part that came to me while we were praying that night. What better place to get these coals than from the alter of sacrifice where we lay down our flesh to be burned? Our flesh cries out that we have a right to be hurt. We were mistreated and it's only fair to be heard and our side of the story told. We were innocent and taken advantage of and.... The flesh has an endless supply of empty reasons to get even. But what does Jesus say? Forgive. Love. Lay your life down and receive His. As we lay down our right to be mad, to be angry, to be hurt, and truely walk in love with those who have wronged us; they can see the love of God and their passion can be rekindled. By returning good for evil we show the mercy and forgiveness of God they so desparately need. More often than not it's with actions, not words, that we preach the gospel.
My mentor calls it walking the Love Walk. Some call it dying to the flesh. Whatever name you give it, it's what we are called to as Disciples of Christ. So the next time someone does you wrong, think of the alter. Lay down your right to hold a grudge and be bitter. And from the ashes that remain pick up a few coals and show the loving kindness of the Father to the one who has hurt you.
Be Blessed,
Amy
