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Feb. 18th, 2006 04:08 amI'd really like to go to bed right now, but I need to write this, so that should I ever forget the lesson taught to me tonight, I'll have proof that God has already dealt with me on this issue, and that I "gots some 'splainin' to do".
On Sunday I was sitting together with my Sunday school teacher (Paul) and two friends of mine (Buck and Jonathan). Paul was explaining one of his many theories, and somehow just randomly plucked something out of the air about our relationships. He was saying how the relationships we think matter really don't. He brought up what Jesus said about hating your family... *looks up passage* ..."If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:2) Paul said that in the end, even those relationships don't matter. In the end, those of us who have been reconciled to God through Jesus will all be brothers and sisters. In fact, we already are. Those are the relationships that matter for those who are in Christ.
And then God brought to my attention that I have hated a brother. Not of my earthly family that will pass away, but my spiritual family. I hope he's reading this, but even if he isn't, I feel the need to apologize to all of you. I don't know if I should apologize more to my brothers and sisters in Christ, or my cousins in the flesh (for we all descended from the same two humans). So I'm sorry, first to my redheaded brother whom I hated, then to the rest of my brothers and sisters, then to my cousins. I'll take a cue from my Jewish brothers and say I have sinned against the Lord and against you (Exodus 10:16), and I'm so sorry. You don't have to forgive me, because I know God does, but I just wanted to let you know I'm sorry.
On Sunday I was sitting together with my Sunday school teacher (Paul) and two friends of mine (Buck and Jonathan). Paul was explaining one of his many theories, and somehow just randomly plucked something out of the air about our relationships. He was saying how the relationships we think matter really don't. He brought up what Jesus said about hating your family... *looks up passage* ..."If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:2) Paul said that in the end, even those relationships don't matter. In the end, those of us who have been reconciled to God through Jesus will all be brothers and sisters. In fact, we already are. Those are the relationships that matter for those who are in Christ.
And then God brought to my attention that I have hated a brother. Not of my earthly family that will pass away, but my spiritual family. I hope he's reading this, but even if he isn't, I feel the need to apologize to all of you. I don't know if I should apologize more to my brothers and sisters in Christ, or my cousins in the flesh (for we all descended from the same two humans). So I'm sorry, first to my redheaded brother whom I hated, then to the rest of my brothers and sisters, then to my cousins. I'll take a cue from my Jewish brothers and say I have sinned against the Lord and against you (Exodus 10:16), and I'm so sorry. You don't have to forgive me, because I know God does, but I just wanted to let you know I'm sorry.
