Around Christmas time, my mom found a sickly puppy being sold outside of our Walmart and bought her to ensure her safety. Now, she's a very healthy and happy fur baby.
My family already had some adult dogs, when we brought little Bella home, so we were interested to see how she would fit into the group.
A group of dogs, as well as with most other animals, have a hierarchy and a new member has to figure out its place. The placement can typically depend on its age and whether they have a calm or more authoritative demeanor.
For our group, our top dogs just gave a couple of growls. Nevertheless, Bella is already moving up in the hierarchy due to her strength and confidence.
However, our dogs don't care. None of them judge her for her poor beginnings, how she looks, or that she can be annoying. There's no feelings or much thinking involved, that's just how the system works for them.
For humans though, complex feelings and thinking are involved when we are losing control or lacking power. Judging that the co-worker only got the promotion for how they look, being critical of the new friend in your group who's getting to make all the decisions, or having negatives thoughts toward a group member who's doing a task you didn't give them when you've been set as the leader.
These are all areas we need to work on choosing love as our top feeling and our top thought process.
Power can be seen as a position of authority or the ability to do an act, which both can lead us to judge others. The little power and control we have in life can only be of true value when given to God in exchange for His power and plans.
In the Bible, many people felt that Jesus threatened their power and control. King Herod was scared when Jesus was just a baby and, during Jesus’ ministry, the religious leaders worried about how many followers He had. These people responded to these threats with judgement and the desire to destroy. Alternatively, when Jesus was being crucified and Stephen was being stoned, points of life where we’d feel powerless and a lack of control, they both spoke forgiveness over the people hurting them, not judgement. They did this because they didn’t depend on their earthly power, but on the power God gave them.
Three examples of how we can react in love: One, speak forgiveness. If Jesus and Stephen could forgive when people stripped them of their power to the point of death, we can do it too. We can do it, for just like Jesus and Stephen, we can’t really be stripped of our power, because it’s found in God – not ourselves. Two, use the power God gives us to live a life that pleases Him. The power we get from the Holy Spirit is not meant to bring us praise, but to help us to patiently and continually glorify God. Three, surrender our control. Worrying about things is an expression of us trying to grasp control. To react in love, we must give our worries and control to God and seek His kingdom instead.
Here’s what will happen if you continue to judge: You’ll end up desiring to destroy someone – The Pharisees were so threatened by Jesus and His miraculous power, that they wanted him gone. You’ll be controlled by anxiety – As you judge others, your mind becomes more centered on yourself than God’s Kingdom, which creates ample room for worry and anxiety. You’ll spend your energy trying to block others’ plans – Just as the Jewish leaders tried to get Peter and John to stop talking about God, we’ll feel threatened enough to block what are rival is doing, even if it’s for God’s glory.
God’s Guidance:
Matthew 7:1-2 (NIV) – ““Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Matthew 2:1-3 (NIV) – “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.”
Matthew 2:16 (NIV) – “When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.”
Mark 3:4-6 (NIV) – “Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent. He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.”
Luke 23:33-34 (NIV) – “When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.”
Acts 7:59-60 (NIV) – “While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.”
1 Corinthians 2:3-5 (NIV) – “I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.”
Colossians 1:9-12 (NIV) – “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.”
Matthew 6:31-33 (NIV) – “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
1 Peter 5:6-7 (NIV) – “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
Acts 4:13-17 (NIV) – “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.””
Application:
1. Speak a prayer of forgiveness over someone who, at one point, took away your earthly power or control
2. Journal down specific things you are surrendering control of to God
3. Commit today to let go of any desire to destroy or block someone
Strength Point:
We can always react in love, because our true power and control are found in God, and no one can threaten them.
Song of the Week:
Reflection Question:
What is your first reaction to people threatening your sense of power or control?
Prayer Prompt:
Hi Jesus! Thank You for being my source of power. Finding my power in You means that no one can take it away. I’m sorry for thinking badly of people when I fear that they’re threatening my power and control in life. I pray that I’d realize the difference between my earthly power and the power I receive from the Holy Spirt inside me. Remind me that earthly power has no importance in Heaven, and that holding onto to it doesn’t glorify You, just myself. Teach me to focus more on Your power, authority, and _. Help me to stop trying to control people, for You gave all of us free will. I surrender the little control and the little authority I have in my life to You. Thank You for being the one in total control of the world. You are so powerful and good, that I never have to fear what goes on around me. I love You, Lord! In Jesus’ Name, I pray, amen!
A Prayer to Pray over Others:
Hi Jesus! Thank You for being a great source of power. Finding our power in You means that no one can take it away. Help my friend to not think badly of people when they feel like their power and control in life is being threatened. I pray that they’d realize the difference between their earthly power and the power they can receive from the Holy Spirt through a relationship with You. Remind my friend that earthly power has no importance in Heaven, and that holding onto to it doesn’t glorify You, just their self. Teach them to focus more on Your power, authority, and promises. Help them to stop trying to control people, for You gave all of us free will. Give my friend the desire to surrender the little control and the little authority they have in their life to You. Thank You for being the one in total control of the world. You are so powerful and good, that Your children never have to fear what goes on around them. I love You, Lord! In Your Name, Jesus, I pray, amen!
February is Black History Month! Celebrate with us by following and being inspired by the works of Ashley Henry.
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