Journal Entry Date: February 18, 1997 (Part 2 of 5)
(Note: Due to the length of this particular journal entry, I’m posting it in five parts).
“Some things God has done in the last 24+ hours:
2 ) After engaging in spiritual warfare along with ‘Dave’ and ‘Jimmy,’ there wasn’t much time for another visit so Dave called a new church member to see if we could do a deacon care family visit. I guess we were meant to be prayer warriors last night, because this lady’s daughter was in premature labor (5 months), unmarried and living with her boyfriend, the lady’s husband wasn’t saved, another daughter was emotionally scarred from childhood trauma, and the lady was physically and emotionally exhausted. All we could really do was pray with her and pray over all the situations their family was facing.
As I’m writing this down, I’m compelled to stop and lift this family up in prayer again tonight.”
Author’s Note: Life is messy. In cases like the one mentioned here, it’s important not to condemn but to show the genuine love and compassion that Jesus has for those facing such difficult times. Just being there to listen, to have compassion, and to pray… that goes a long way toward bringing some measure of healing into those painful episodes of life.
What really frustrates me is when ‘Christians’ will express such condemnation, rejection, and hatred toward those who are struggling with sin… seemingly forgetting that we all struggle with sin. None of us deserve Jesus’ love and mercy, and yet, He chooses to express His love for us anyway. Can we not do the same toward each other?
It reminds me of the episode captured in John 8:1-11… which ends with:
Jesus straightened up and asked her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one, sir,’ she said. ‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.’
Come on, church, let’s get serious about showing the love of Christ through our words and actions!
My Abiding Life 