One focused on rights... and the irresponsible who infringe...
The other... focused on redeeming grace... laying down one's life for another... by choice...
The one with rights... feeling misunderstood... volume increasing... hand banging...
The one thankful for grace... shouted down... when trying to share a vision... of giving in love... laying down... by choice... no rights infringed because none demanded... those who don't want to give... don't...
A worldview wall... the one with rights... could not see past... all is his...
The one gratefully dependent on grace... looking past... that particular wall... already crumbled... in her view... nothing is hers...
I wonder... at the intensity... the emotion... until I realize... each look at the world... from a completely different view...
One sees infringement... the other... opportunities... for grace...
Enforcing responsibility through the law... vs... allowing the exercise of the freedom of grace... to fill the gap...
The single, overwhelming fact of history is the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
---Eugene H. Peterson, Traveling Light
It is how you handle... the crucifixion of Jesus... in your heart... this overwhelming fact of history... that determines your view of the world...
The One who came... responsible for creation... rejected by His creatures... had the right... to demand payment... from the rebellious... but by His grace... He chose to empty Himself... pay the highest price... to bring healing to others... asking nothing in return...
Here's the view... that moves a heart... from rights... to grace... from law... to freedom...
Making demands on others grows bitterness and entitlement...
Sacrificial service... in love... leads to dumbfounded thanks... and hearts softened to help another... out... of... love...
...all life... God-given, and ... worth preserving...
---Eugene H. Peterson, Traveling Light
The cost of caring for others... is not an infringement on rights or resources... but a privilege granted by God... because all we have... for life... is from Him...
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
1John 4:10-12
(emphasis mine)
Love... it hung on a tree... cursed... buried... resurrected... for the ungrateful... rebellious... irresponsible... but He made a Way... to redeem... restore... revive... the sick... blind... lame... mute... imprisoned... rejected... by His free choice...
The world... where do you see it from...?
If you see the world... from the foot of the cross... from the mouth of the empty tomb... speak grace... speak love... to those who don't... they are banging their heads... and hearts... on a worldview wall... and that... can be... painful...
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect...
1Peter 3:15
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