“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
(Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV)
Have you ever noticed that people don’t always think the same way? “DUH!” you are probably responding.
If you are or have been married, you know that wives and husbands don’t always see situations the same way. If you are a parent or have worked with children you know kids and adults don’t always see something the same way. And sometimes it seems like one person’s perspective may be a loooooonnnggg way away from where the bulk of the crowd is. I found myself thinking in a very different direction from “the crowd” a couple of weeks ago.
At a big name awards ceremony (I don’t watch), a famous actor slapped the famous comedian who was hosting the ceremony. The comedian had said something derogatory about the actor’s wife and so the husband hit the other man. The general response to the altercation was that the actor should not have hit the man. (I agree.) There has been all sorts of speculation about whether the actor’s career is ruined or whether it was a publicity stunt. (I don’t care.) And even now there’s still talk about it. (I still don’t care.)
You may have a completely different perspective on this situation, but I found myself thinking, “Well, a husband should stand up for his wife. He should defend her when others attack her.” Am I advocating violence or hitting? Unequivocally not. His angry response in the moment was unacceptable and over-the-top. But if you love someone, I think you should protect and defend them against attacks. This was my “different-than-the-crowd” response.
When Jesus went to the Cross, it was because he was listening to God’s voice, not the voice of the crowd. His love for us caused him to make a way where there was no other way for us to come to God. He protected us and defended us from eternity separated from him because we couldn’t do it for ourselves. In a day and age where the Jews believed that keeping the law would satisfy God, Jesus taught this “crowd” a brand new worldview – salvation by grace through faith.
At a time when violence was an acceptable means to an end (and the norm for strong governments like the Romans), Jesus taught things like “turn the other cheek” and “if they want your shirt, give them your coat, too.” Jesus closed part of the Sermon on the Mount by telling us to “pray for our enemies.” That’s quite a radical thought that the crowd he addressed had probably not considered.
Being a Jesus-follower means not following the crowd but learning how to think like God does. It means looking at life from a different point of view. And it means recognizing the protecting love Jesus had and has for us that he exhibited on the Cross.
It’s thinking dramatically differently.
God,
Thank you that your ways and thoughts are so much higher than ours. Thank you for the gift of grace and kindness you gave us through Jesus Christ when we couldn’t save ourselves and for the gift of eternity lived with you because of what Jesus did on the Cross for us. Thank you for the incomparable riches of your grace and for the ways in which you can always see what is best for us – no matter what the “crowd” says – and will guide us when we listen for your voice. Today, help us to not follow the leading of the crowd, but to seek out your guidance for all we do. Help us to live dramatically different lives that reflect the light and life of the Lord Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray, Amen.
“…In order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:7-9 NIV)
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?” (Matthew 5 NIV)