Today Father, I’d like to spend our time together talking about a topic You’ve placed on my heart a lot lately…

Context.

Some time ago, I was interviewed by a local TV station.  They were doing a story on a recent computer virus outbreak, and wanted to get my perspectives and recommendations to assist their viewers in recognizing and dealing with the threat.  The reporter and cameraman came to my office, and we spent the better part of a half-hour discussing ways to protect against these digital infiltrations.  Later on that evening when I turned on the TV to view the results of that interview, I was shocked by what I saw…

The story had been “chopped” to less than thirty seconds of footage, which when removed from the context of our discussion made absolutely no sense whatsoever.

Needless to say Lord, I was a bit upset.

We live in a culture of “soundbytes” these days Father; grabbing the “flashy bits” in speech and print, and from them deriving uninformed, lazy, and blatantly errant opinions and positions.  We’ve lost the importance of context Lord, and that perspective has truly damaged us in many ways…

Including the way we read and apply Your Word.

Since You opened my eyes to this Father, I’ve begun to see how deep the rabbit hole really is.

The Internet, the media, the press and even the pulpit are filled with painful examples of this each and every day.  In an attempt to make a point, defend an opinion, or stand in judgment of what we perceive as wrong, we search Your Word until we find and quote a verse or two that fits our needs…

Without digging deeper to understand Your intended Truth in those words…

Without YOUR context.

I fear we miss the Message for the words Lord… Much too often.

And I won’t lie Father… I’ve been guilty of this myself.

While I try to spend as much time as possible reading, researching and absorbing Your Messages in Scripture Lord, I also know I’ve used “soundbytes” of Your Word outside their proper contexts more than once…

It’s a practice I’ll be diligently striving to avoid in the future Father. 

Help us Lord;

Open our hearts and minds to seek Your WHOLE Truth in Scripture, not simply the “quotes” that suit our earthly viewpoints.  Fill us with that Holy Message Father; make us vessels of Your Will, and ambassadors of Your Love.

In Jesus’ name we pray,

Amen.

~Phather Phil

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” – Matthew 5:21-24 (ESV)

Anger poisons our spirits.

Comparing a heart filled with anger to the act of murder, in this teaching Jesus makes a decisive and powerful statement about how seriously God looks at wrathful intent.  For us to truly commune with our Heavenly Father as He desires of us, we need to lay our resentment, hate and anger at the foot of the Cross and petition God’s attention with a joyful and open heart.

I hurt Father.

I hurt with the ache of all the things my broken shell won’t release;

My failings…

My mistakes…

Bad decisions I’ve made…

Those times I’ve closed my heart to You…

All flood in and overwhelm my spirit.

So from my knees I reach for You.

I feel alone Father.

Alone with all those self-imposed burdens I allow to linger;

The pain I see in others’ lives…

Missed opportunities to serve…

Those “What ifs” that haunt my heart…

All sobering reminders of my limitations in this mortal coil.

So from my knees I reach for You.

I feel unworthy Lord.

Unworthy of the Blessings You bestow;

Undeserving of other peoples’ love,

Of Your love for me,

And of Your immeasurable Grace in my life…

Truly unfit to receive those gifts You place in my life each day.

So from my knees I reach for You.

And from that penitent pose Father,

You touch me…

And remind me;

That You feel my pain, and want to take it from me…

That I’m never alone…

And that I’m worthy in Your eyes.

And from Your Throne You reach for me.

Amen.

~Phather Phil

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.” – Luke 6:37 (NLT)

Over and over again in Scripture, we’re warned against casting judgment or assessing blame on others.  As Jesus reminds us in this verse, none of us are without flaws and should exercise the same grace and forgiveness for others that we would desire they bestow on us.

“But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again. One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question:

“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”
Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”” – Matthew 22:34-40 (NLT)

Love.  Love God; Wholly and completely.  Love others; as deeply and personally as if it were yourself.  Just Love… Period.

In this powerful and defining response to his critics, Jesus made it very clear what our primary directive as God’s Children is; to Love.  Not to “kind of” love, not to just “like”, not to criticize, judge or condemn, but to love… openly, unabashedly, and fervently.

Reach out and share God’s overwhelming and uncompromising love today!