Answering a Challenge

Keystone Heights, FL 2008: Getting knocked around by a question or challenge should be commonplace in a real ministry. Responses and explanations must either stack up or must be completely reconsidered and reevaluated.

From Trent Ling:

Recently, a brother in the ministry challenged a couple of other brothers about their eyes not being so good.  Though I was not addressed, I considered the challenge as if it were given for me.

“The eye is the lamp of the body.  If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.  But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.  If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”  Matthew 6:22-23.

First, the best-case scenario never gets much better than:  “My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent.”  1 Corinthians 4:4.  As such is the case with me, I cannot simply dispense with my brother’s challenge.  The Lord will judge me and render his verdicts for or against me, even while I walk the earth.  I must be on the lookout to see if God agrees with my challenging brother, and whether God perhaps has prompted my brother’s overture from the beginning.

Second, I do work very hard.  But, do I work smartly?  Rightly?  Fruitfully?  Hmmm.  These questions present excellent, exacting, and more difficult questions.  At a minimum, this gives me much pause.

Third, the facts are mixed.  Yes, I have been delivered from the sins of my youth–pride, lust, and cowardice, for example.  But unmistakably, I remain in an all-out tussle with God on the issue of sustainability that is now on the verge of entering its eighth year.  Though such can certainly be traced out as a Biblical imperative and a good sign, who really knows for sure?  Though God remarkably passes over my Achilles, does such stem from favor or mercy?

Fourth, concerning my eyes themselves, I withhold zero confessions.  From the beginning of my spiritual days I have always poured out my unseemly deal.  Thus, my eyes themselves should be good and well lit.  On one hand, I suppose that I would insist that my brother throw me a bone and help me out specifically as to what he sees.  On the other hand, I would diligently search out the Scriptures as to whether walking in the light necessarily keeps eyes in lamp-like shape.

I will forever remain susceptible and weak.  Hallelujah!  I will always run myself through the best examination that I can muster.  And I will always keep an ear out for challenge and assistance in getting through this wonderful faith that has taken me to inexplicable heights over 22 years.  None of this makes me innocent.  It simply points out that no matter what anybody says, I presume they must be onto something because I am far from the arrival station.

Thanks, brother, for this stroll down living-the-Bible Lane!

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Comments

Answering a Challenge — 3 Comments

  1. This might be off topic but I hope you are able to find a “larger fish bowl” – when you typed sustainability, it reminded me of your recent posting titled “Spotty” and in that how the 6 year old version of you was glad about getting a larger fish bowl for your new pet goldfish. I see how the more God sustains you the more you do with it by serving others with it, even things that don’t necessarily seem directed at you.

    Recently, I was thinking if all the “struggles” disappeared or settled, what would I do with all the extra time and energy? The sad truth is that though there are some noble aspirations I would still have self serving ways. I’m glad the bible mentions about having today not worrying about tomorrow, I’m tempted to try to undo past things or plan on doing things tomorrow, but rather I could start with today.

    love you
    julie

  2. “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. I’m grateful for our ministry and the people God put around me. On my own, I’d love to put on sunglasses.. in that case no one can really tell what I’m up to. Fortunately, being in the kingdom, I always have someone that will challenge me when they see something is not right. with me. And even if no one challenge me, my conscience will keep my eyes focus.

  3. much humlity is seen and to have in the posting today. I am far off from the station as well. I see in myself that the things I know I ought not to do (James 4:17) , I still find myself doing them ..I have not had real conviction nor repentance in these struggles that lead to daily defeats. I am guilty of not examining myself daily, amongst other sin, even seeing a sign post on my bathroom mirror daily to do so.