This month, our meditation has been excerpted from the book entitled Bound To Be Free, compiled by Open Doors. In the following passage, the account of a Chinese Pastor's wife (Pastor Zhu's wife) provides us with fodder for reflection and perhaps application:
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:5)
It is quite common that Christians have different opinions about certain matters. That is nothing to worry about. The important aspect is how we deal with differences.
Once two Chinese brothers had different opinions. They talked about it, but soon their discussions ended in a heated argument. They both thought that their way of solving the problem was the best. The Holy Spirit spoke to their hearts, so instead of arguing about their differences they started to thank God--in prayer--for the things that they agreed about: God's love, His creation, His forgiveness and grace, etc. As they were praying and praising God they humbled themselves.
Their discussions ended in arguments--their prayers in union and unity. Their attitude became Christ's attitude--that of a servant.
Maybe we should talk less and pray more, and see God at work.
A moment of consideration: Sometimes, in the body of believers, "where two or three are gathered in My name," there will be disagreements and opposition views. In such situations, human egos and attitudes overlay and color the interactions of Christians with each other. Unspoken, perhaps, is the feeling that "I am right; why can't you see that?" In such interchanges, Alexander Pope's comment is apropos: "When much dispute has past, we find our tenets just the same as last." Neither party's stances have changed--yet what damage might the argument have done to their relationship?
In human arguments between believers, the presence of God is often overlooked and treated as of little consequence. Yet the initial quote from Matthew 18:20 fully asserts His integral part in our conversation and perhaps dissention. But we neglect Christ at any point, at our own risk. He has said He is Emanuel, "God with us." He has said He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). The two Chinese believers mentioned above, found prayer to be unifying and restorative of a "right spirit" within them. (Psalm 51:10)
It has been rightly said, that it is difficult to remain irate at another, if you are praying for him or her--not imprecatory prayers, nor (heaven forbid) curses--but prayers of understanding and commonality, with common purpose. Recognizing the Lord’s presence in our conversation, we acknowledge Christ, saying "Not my will, but Yours be done" (Luke 22:42), not my wishes, but Your purposes be accomplished, places Christ, our Banner and Sovereign at His proper position in our hearts and our thinking. Perhaps we might humbly also say, "not my ego, but Your Lordship be over me". Like John the Baptist, may we intentionally say, "He must increase; but I must decrease." (John 3:30) In essence, humility is the understanding of our right relationship with Christ.
The Lord sometimes leaves in us some defects of character in order that we should learn humility. For without them we would immediately soar above the clouds in our own estimation and would place our throne there. And herein lies perdition. General Robert E. Lee of the Confederate Army of Virginia, during the civil war, was told that many were praying for him. Lee’s face flushed and his eyes moistened as he said, "I warmly appreciate it. And I can only say that I am nothing but a poor sinner, trusting in Christ alone for salvation." We, too, are poor sinners saved by Christ, and humility is a godly virtue.
So, what is humility? It is that habitual quality whereby we live in the truth of things: the truth that we are creatures and not the Creator; the truth that our life is a composite of good and evil, light and darkness; the truth that in our littleness we have been given extravagant dignity.… Humility is saying a radical "yes" to the human condition. And it is saying an equally radical "Yes" to Christ's Lordship in our lives. Are we given to argument for the sake of argument, with others in the Body of Christ? Take the argument to Christ, without our ego, and humbly present the argument to Him. That's what the two Chinese believers, above, did. Sans Christ, their discussions ended in arguments--their prayers in union and unity. Their attitude became Christ's attitude--that of a servant. And Pastor Zhu's wife said to us, "maybe we should talk less and pray more, and see God at work.
Ego and pride go hand in hand. Pride asserts, humility testifies. The proud want to seem to be what they are not. The one who gives testimony does not want to appear to be what he/she is not but to love what, in the full sense, he or she is. Do we wish to "love one another, as Christ has loved us?" (John 15:12) To love what is, in its broadest sense, is to recognize Christ's likeness in other believers--for He is the great I AM. The true way to be humble is not to stoop until you are smaller than yourself, but to stand at your real height against some higher nature that will show you what the real smallness of your greatness is. That higher nature, that exalted being, is Christ, to us believers.
As heartfelt prayer unifies and unites believers, this fulfills in Christ, our Lord's prayer to the Father: I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one--as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. (John 17:21) Just as the song attests: "We are one in the Spirit; we are one in the Lord..." (lyrics online) Arguments separate; heartfelt prayer unites.
Lord, we ask You to grant us more prayer and, perhaps less talk; we ask that You might give us more unity and less division, less diversity, more oneness. Moreover, Lord, when we are wrong, make us willing to change. And when we are right, make us easy to live with. For we are Yours, and You are our Savior and King. When You came to earth to set us an example, You humbled Yourself and assumed the role of Servant to all. May we truly follow Your example and humbly seek to build up the body of believers in the church. And together, in the words of Zephaniah the prophet, may we seek You, Lord, as the humble of our land, who do Your just commands, who seek righteousness and humility, and with God’s mercy may we be hidden on the day of God’s wrath. (Zephaniah 2:3)