As I said at the
beginning, I am not going to belabor all of the things over which we strain and
swallow. These few days have allowed me
to think clearly over what matters. If we were to dive too deeply, that in itself may be a gnats and camels situation.
Perhaps that is something we can all carry with us to filter out the things that do not matter. We can carry the metaphor to be sure we are not swallowing things that are absurd. There is too much we have to do to waste effort majoring on the minors. We also must not saddle each other with baggage that hinders our journey.
Each day I choose
what I will think and do. These choices
must proceed from our love of Christ and our fellow humans. I cannot demand that someone swallow my
camels and strain at my gnats in a loving way.
Christ never forces us to follow him.
Instead, he gives us a choice and allows us the natural consequences of
our choices. When it comes to making disciples
of others, I must not impose but only propose and live an example. I fail often at remembering that I cannot
expect those who do not believe as I do to act as if they share my
beliefs. Even that is a violation of my
beliefs and lacks the understanding that love demands.
There is no standard
or issue that can be put forward without love.
This does not negate justice and righteousness. It does, however, temper them with grace and
mercy. Not expecting others to believe
or behave in a certain way does not mean that their belief or behavior is
right or good. Arguments are
futile. Knowing why we believe and act
the way we do is vital. Attempting to
use that as power is foolish.
As I ponder these
things, Dear Reader, I find that the questions I wish to ask and answer all lead
to finding ways to follow Christ more nearly.
I wish to hear his voice and eliminate the gnats and camels. Jesus promises to be my water and bread of
life. He promises not only to show the
way but to be the way. I do not need to
make anything but faith in this a gateway to following. The journey is one of truth, not hedges or
rules. If something is true then it is
freeing not consuming. If I am going to
follow Christ in truth then I have no room for gnats and camels. In fact, I have had enough of both.
Wishing you joy in
the journey,
Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus
said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of
Christ’s rule of the universe is like a homeowner. He liberally hands out new
and old things from his great treasure store.”
(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Every human
story is part of the great story that leads to the Father getting everything
back to Good.
Contacts for Aramis
Thorn:
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If we are swallowing camels then we have no room for the bread of life.
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