The other day, I read something that a cousin of mine wrote about my Uncle Norman. He quoted him as saying, “That’s between you and God.”
I thought about that for a while.
Actually, I am still thinking about it.
One of the things I have had a hard time getting through my layers of thick bone that make up most of my head and into my often alarmingly small amount of brain tissue is that ultimately, a man or woman’s relationship with God is between him or her and God.
That may sound simple but as it usually works out, I take simple and complicate it.
I have a problem with wanting to define what makes a relationship with God. Even when my relationship was the most unhealthy, I still found ways to insert my standards are ideals into the relationship of others.
Paul warned Timothy about people like me.
1 Timothy 6:4 Anyone who teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander, and evil suspicions.
It is somewhat disconcerting to read God’s Word and see myself described in such a bad light.
But there is good news. I don’t have to be “that guy”.
See, I also learned that my uncle didn’t just use that line acknowledging what was between a person and God as an excuse to refuse to invest in that person. He prayed. He prayed faithfully. He prayed repetitively. He refused to stop caring and he refused to stand back and succumb to hopelessness.
He stopped taking action that people feel the need to take and, instead, took action that God would have him take. A lot of things can change if we just pray and then love unconditionally.
But far too often I am “that guy”. I walk in between someone else and God and forget that I am not the way, I am in the way. No man goes to the Father through me.
So, my goal for today and the day’s ahead, is to step out of the way and stop stirring the pot of jealousy, division, slander and evil suspicions. I need to take more time and pray for those I am tempted to judge or criticize and love them unconditionally.
Well said Mike. I too am ‘that guy’ more often than not. I liked your line about being in the way as opposed to being the way. I may steal that one some time. 😂
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Feel free to steal whenever you like…lol. Thanks!
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Amen! Loved this, “He stopped taking action that people feel the need to take and, instead, took action that God would have him take.” That’s it exactly. We people tend to be fixers, we like to straighten things out, straighten other people out.
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Thanks! and amen!
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You have NO IDEA how timely this is in my life right now!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Was that 10 exclamation points? Okay, so add a few more.) No merely convicting, but affirming, comforting, sit-back-I-got-this-just-keep-listening-to-Me kind of thing. And, in fact, I have said the same thing to my kids: It’s between you and God (although they know where I stand on the issue.) Thank you for this today.
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Just had to read this again this morning. Again, a perfectly timed affirmation. And there’s too much for me to copy and paste here so I’ll just repost it all. Again, thanks for just listening to God….for me.
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It is humbling to hear such words in response to my efforts. I’m sure glad God finds ways to use these posts.
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Ain’t it the truth?
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Reblogged this on INSPIRATION with an ATTITUDE and commented:
Perfectly timed for me, and maybe for you. Check it out.
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Thank you!
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Eloquently stated, “…I am not the way, I am in the way.” I stand guilty as charged, but thank God we can continue walking – and learning. ❤
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Amen to that.
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Very wise words. Praying for people is so much more helpful than judging them, and I believe that is exactly what God wants us to do.
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