Free or Not?

I am disturbed by how the poorest in our world are overlooked or judged.  Yes some of it "they" bring on themselves but some of my hardships, I contribute greatly...  Why is it different when we see others?  In lue of compassion, we resort to criticizing or enforcing the rules to why this event took place.  In place of giving one's hand to hold or to help, we stare from afar...usually from the pew we sit so comfortably.  We offer lots of "suggestions" under our breath, cannot imagine if we could hear the thoughts.  Then we smile, like the Cheshire Cat, saying "I will pray for you."

I am ever thankful that God doesn't patronize me with such empty judging responses.  I wonder if we really consider all that we have to be from Him?  Maybe we've never really had to live "without" or experienced desperate hunger.  If our souls thirsted for Christ, we couldn't hold onto our worldly possessions.  We would be giving exhaustively.  (don't know if that's an appropriate use of or real word but it seems appropriate)

I have known a few folks in my pathway that live this life of Christ.  Exhaustive Giving.  Seeing through the pain, with eyes of Jesus, and beyond the rules.  It's these folks who see a hungry family and spend their last $5 for chicken and fries.  We don't see these heroes   They are not the ones who "count" the acts of goodness and delete the expired requests   They leave that job to the Lord.  They also see possessions as dust blowing in the wind.  They don't worry about tomorrow because they live in the moment.  They know "whom they believe" and they are not ashamed of that gospel

They stand for justice even if it's not popular.  They seek the Lord with their hearts and leave the rest to God.  He can work it out.  I am not sure that most "good" folk and church-going folk rest in this lifestyle.  For it's too uncertain and never makes checks/balances.  It always seems to be coming out of left field and measures not to standards of the law.  This lifestyle doesn't seem to have spot to "fit" other frameworks; it's foundation is "even the Lord doesn't have a spot to lay his head."

It rejoices for the most insignificant, cares for the dying and shares breaking of bread any-day  mirroring the small boy's lunch which given through hands of Jesus fed well over 5000.  I think the heartbreak in this story is that "we" think we are the FREE.  It's the opposite.  Those who live life according to Jesus aren't in bondage to the rules or what people think.  They don't look for the emptiness of this world to feed/nurture their soul.  We are the captives.  We misunderstand giving our lives to the Lord, daily, with "wearing" ourselves out with service.  We win as it relates to burn-out, criticism, unforgiveness, entitlement, judging, even giving at times of crisis.  Because it's not the act, it's much deeper.  It's the heart.  When the heart belongs to the Creator, we begin to see Jesus.

Jesus...the healer on the Sabbath, the wrecker of the temple when it was used to indulge our desires, the storm-calmer after we've all stressed in fear, the forgiver despite being betrayed by those dearest, sacrificial when it is wasn't deserved or earned, the free-er of those outcast-ed   It's not the candidate I usually line up to support.  It's not the most attractive club to join.  Yet it is the Free Gift of Christ as He died for you and me.  It's the Gospel, the Kingdom here on Earth.

Sadly we reject this rhetoric   We want to look as the world.  We want to keep driving and lock our doors as we pass those who are rejects of society.  We will give a little when asked but invite all those in the ditch to OUR feast?  Not usually.  It's really troubling to me...we will travel lengths to do missions, but dare not have our lives invaded by those "who don't belong."

Newsflash...we are heirs to God's kingdom by adoption, and we simply break God's heart repeatedly.  We use the flesh to meet our needs and sift through what we should do with OUR resources like it's really up to us.  Feed my sheep. Take care of the widows, the poor...live life with long-suffering as Christ so freely calls us.  Be as the birds, caring for the day...tomorrow will have enough.  Don't stash "it" away in case the blessings/provisions might not return or that it might just be God "toying" with us.

I guess I am utterly amazed at the effort and energy it takes to be us.  It's not restful nor is it free.  A simple calling to freedom...God is love.  It trumps everything else.