Monday Morning Grind is based on the men's Bible study I started on June 11, 2007, the first Monday morning of my new career as a freelance nerd. Once again, things never go as planned. Intending to start a study on being a father, I headed to the secret meeting place (Starbucks at the Market Place every Monday at 10:00 a.m. or so). Today’s study included two other guys and me. Our fourth guy went back on the road… something about becoming a rock star. He will probably make it, too, and he’ll be a godly one at that. Since last week’s meeting was short a couple of guys, we spent some time catching up. It is amazing how busy our lives are, and it is equally amazing how much stuff happens in the course of two weeks. Somehow the subject of guilt came up. I don’t know if someone in our group was feeling guilty or was guilty of doing something, but the topic seemed to stick Guilt infers either responsibility or shame depending on how it is used. I don’t pretend to be an expert, but we are all guilty of being guilty. Likewise, I’m sure we have all experienced guilt feelings at some time or another. The former implies we somehow violated some statute, law, rule, or moral precept. The latter implies we experience a feeling of shame as a result of our infraction, self-imposed or otherwise. For example, speeding is against the law. If the speed limit is 55 and we are cruising along at 80, we’re guilty of breaking a law. It doesn’t matter if we’re just going with the flow of traffic or not. The sign is posted; the writing is on the wall so to speak. So, why don’t we feel guilty for breaking a simple rule like a speed limit when we know that understanding the speed limit is fundamental to our eligibility to qualify to operate a vehicle? Why don’t we take the law seriously? Are we so accustomed to violating traffic laws that guilt can no longer touch us? 5:48 You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. The three of us sat there pondering the isms of guilt. All of a sudden we heard a fantastic “splat” sound. Just as quickly, one of our guys reached his hand to the back of his neck and returned his digits with a little present. He possessed the gift of guano, left by a resident finch, evidently beneath whose territory we planted our rear ends to await its ripening harvest… one of us anyway. There could have been no more perfect a rendering of the law of sowing and reaping. The fact is sitting under a tree for too long is no different than speeding on the freeway. I’m talking about sin here. God used guano to give me a word today. 6:28 Or can one walk upon hot coals and his feet not be scorched? We Christians should test guilt. According to our study, the question should be asked, “Why do I feel guilty?” Also, “Did I do something wrong? Is this guilt warranted?” I think we should take it a step further by asking, “If my brother or sister did whatever it is I feel guilty about, would he or she feel guilty, too?” That last question is designed to gauge if you are judging yourself too harshly, not to measure the spiritual vitality of another Christian. If the Holy Spirit lives in you, you’ll know. Either way, you need to do something about it. I think we are all guilty of being too hard on ourselves from time to time. But, just because bird poop mysteriously falls out of the sky doesn’t mean you did something wrong. There could be a reason for that unpleasantness. You don’t have to automatically start feeling guilty, as if you did something to deserve that moist morsel of fun on the back of your neck. That said it would behoove you to take a look-see and determine if the said guano was random or if indeed you should move your chair. 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God-- 2:9 not because of works, lest any man should boast. I’m thankful that our God is patient with us and that His grace covers us. We have a free gift. God sees us for who we are becoming, not for where we’re sitting right now. You don’t have to wallow in a pool of guilt (or guano for that matter). If you get a speeding ticket take that as a sign you need to slow down and follow through with it. If you experience the feeling of doing something wrong, that guilt feeling, take it to the Lord in prayer. Confess the cause of your guilt. Repent. Go and sin no more. Wipe the guano off your neck, wash your hands, and get moving. Blessings - Greg <>< |
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