Dissapointment

"You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye"

                                                                                           Matthew 7:5

How many times this week have you been disappointed by someone? Does it seem like no one can do the right thing or keep a promise?

Are your expectations of the human race taking a jolt because no one will listen to you? As David often says, SELAH!

Recently it seems we have had a rash of disappointing things happen in the ATB ministry, and, though I know it is a difficult thing to understand, people who are or have been involved in addiction are a work in progress. I know first hand because I am a recovering person who has had to reduce that plank in my own eye of dysfunctional behavior so that I can see clearly the folks across from me. And you know something, compared to the things I used to do and still have to work on, they don't look so bad. So my disappointment is a rare occurrence. Let me explain.

When I look at how much I have been forgiven for, I sink to my knees in disbelief that any God anywhere would put up with me. True, I may be much better, but I have not forgotten what led me to my surrender to Christ, and I never will. I was broken, disillusioned and disturbed, but it all was forgiven at the cross, and now I struggle daily to stay between the lines. There is no struggle when I follow the path of the Holy Spirit, but the struggle is to always stay on that path.

Because of that, I remain humble and my expectations of my fellow man are lower now because I see what the Lord wants me to see- the broken nature of mankind. I see mostly good in others, but when the bad, the difficult comes out, I see the total forgiving nature of Christ, even in people whom I don't really like or agree with. My list is very short of those folks, but I pray for them and when called upon, I will help or talk with them because I can now see clearly past my own significant plank.

This is not something I deserve credit for, it is only what the Lord would have me do -be humble, be forgiving and look for opportunities to make a difference. I know this is not an easy concept to grasp, especially for the really good folks who never had to struggle with this addiction or major dysfunction thing. 

But I am reminded of the story of the gentile woman who wanted to talk with Jesus but the apostles wanted her to go away. She was not significant, not up to the Jewish standards of the day, but Jesus not only spoke with her, he changed her life. His pals were so busy thinking how good they were that they missed the point.

Next time you are disappointed think of how disappointed God has been with mankind, but he proved over and over, that he loved us anyway!