Navel Gazing or Kindness? You choose.
“Once you’ve cut off a person’s nose, there’s no point giving them a rose to smell.” -Ravi Zacharias
My family gains its heritage from the Protestant religion. And as such, I guess our roots come from the "protesters" who emerged out of a dark time in church history. Since I wasn't there when Martin Luther nailed his concerns to a door, I'd prefer not to wear the label protester, but instead wear the label of what I am, a "Christian." A Christ-follower.
Actually, I'd rather not delve into the realm of religion as I find it to be a place where men love to pontificate on the finer nuances of navel-gazing. Though I didn't coin the term navel-gazing I do value it as an understanding of a particular mindset: being focused on minute details at the expense of the bigger picture. A mindset that can make people focus on whether or not Adam and Eve had bellybuttons. What ensues are arguments, debates, denominations, and posturing that have buried the precious truth of salvation and instead built impenetrable walls around man-made truths, i.e., navel-gazing. These built-up fortresses serve only to provide a lofty vantage point to shoot verbal assaults at the enemy, all in the name of Jesus. And the enemy here is not the enemy of Ephesians 6 but is actually our brothers and sisters in Jesus. The second book of Corinthians 3:18 says what we focus on we become. What will you choose to focus on today? Navels or God and His love for all people? Difference or unity? Judgment or mercy? Hate or love?
My heart burns at the thought of Jesus' prayer in John 17, crying out for believers to find unity in Christ Jesus. That the world may believe the Father sent the Son to rescue and reunite His lost children to Himself because of His great love.
Today, choose to focus on Jesus who is wisdom and compassion, for it is love and kindness that bring true change!
20 “I pray not only for these, but also for those who will trust in me because of their word, 21 that they may all be one. Just as you, Father, are united with me and I with you, I pray that they may be united with us, so that the world may believe that you sent me. 22 The glory which you have given to me, I have given to them; so that they may be one, just as we are one — 23 I united with them and you with me, so that they may be completely one, and the world thus realize that you sent me, and that you have loved them just as you have loved me. - John 17:20-23 (CJB)
