10.03.08

Lost and Found …

Posted in Judging Others, Self Reflection at 11:48 am by Sandi Rauwolf

Based on emails I have received, it seems many can relate to the emptiness I described in my last blog and how nothing filled that space in my heart until I had a REAL relationship with God. So the question comes up … how? I want to fill that emptiness and have a relationship with God but how?

As with any relationship, it takes time, an open heart, love and a willingness to give it everything you’ve got to make it work – especially when times get hard.

My first step was getting to know God better. I knew about Him but had formed an opinion before I really knew Him – that was my first mistake and lesson God taught me. We are not to judge others. “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 7:2 This made me do some thinking that is for sure – do I really want to be judged the way I was unknowingly judging others? No way! It was time for me to pay attention to exactly how I perceived those around me and just how much judgment I was doing without even realizing it.

The message was clear. We are to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 19:19) – love the world surrounding us. As I shared in my LOVE blog, I’ve always felt it is all about the love. “To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all …” (Mark 12:33). More important “than all” … that’s because with love in our hearts, it is much easier to see the world thru God’s eyes. It’s much easier not to judge. It’s much easier to love despite imperfections. It’s much easier to forgive. It’s much easier to give without expecting back. It’s much easier to unselfishly give our time to help others. It’s much easier to live with love. God is LOVE.

Pray for God to help you see the world thru His eyes. It’s amazing how differently you see things and what lessons He will teach you (and continue to teach you). My “impression” of God was wrong and it was keeping me from the life He had planned for me all along. I had a closed minded perspective and needed to open my mind and heart to Him and all He was doing in my life and in the lives of those around me.

I couldn’t help but think Wow! I was judging people and didn’t realize that not only was I judging but my judging was robbing me of the life God has planned for me and also robbing them of the unconditional love God wants amongst us. Who am I to judge someone or what they are doing in life just because it wouldn’t be something I would do? How many things do I do that someone else doesn’t approve of? How many mistakes have I made that God has forgiven me for but the world thru “judging” eyes would not be able to get past it because they aren’t seeing it thru His loving eyes?

At that moment, I knew I wanted to see others as God sees me. Growing up I was always reminded when you point the finger at someone else, look at your hand. How many fingers are pointing back in your direction? Exactly – many more than the one finger you are pointing towards someone else! That thought brings to mind what Jesus said, “If any of you is without sin, let them be the first to throw a stone …” (John 8:7).

How can we stand and judge anyone when none of us are free from sin? I also struggled with that realization. It took some time for me to admit out loud that I am a sinner. We are all sinners. But, my perception was that we had to be perfect to have a relationshp with God so how could I do that but not be free from every sin? Perplexing! There were so many rules, so many ways for me to disappoint God! It seemed impossible because I would always fall short of the Glory of God despite all of my attempts. So I talked to God about it A LOT praying for guidance and Wisdom. He continues to open my eyes to His Truth. We are ALL sinners and have been from the moment Adam ate from the forbidden tree (Genesis 3:17).

We are imperfect and forever will be on this earth and the denial that we are sinners is denying Truth. “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” (1 Job 1:18) This was a concept I hadn’t previously grasped and that is God knows I am a sinner but loves me despite my imperfections. He knows my heart. He knows my sins before I commit them just like when Jesus told Peter you will disown me three times before the rooster crows and Peter said “I will never disown you” but he did just as Jesus said (Matthew 26:34) but Jesus still loved him. So I realized God loves me, imperfections and all – that is why He sent his only son for my sins and yours.

Now there’s an idiom … here the ONE thing that was keeping me from God – sin (because I didn’t feel worthy) – is the whole reason I needed Christianity (Jesus so I could forever be forgiven of my sins).

Now this does not mean as Christians we have a license to sin. But what it means is not denying the fact that we are born sinners and to quit pretending we and others are suppose to be perfect in an imperfect world. Jesus is perfect. We are not, that is why we need Him. Once we understand this, God enters our hearts thru the Holy Spirit and begins changing us. He molds us as we walk our journey. When we fall or stray and trust me, He knows we are going to fall or stray. He is there to pick us up and bring us back. He surrounds us with people to support us, guide us in His Word, and love us despite our flaws – despite our imperfections – despite our sins because they understand too that we are all imperfect. Just remember that no matter how lost we may become, He will find His lost sheep.

Jesus told this parable in Luke 15:4-7 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.’”

So I’ll leave you with this thought … Who might you unknowingly be judging in your life today? I encourage you to take this first step in a REAL relationship with God. Talk to Him about it, pray for guidance and the ability to see the world thru His eyes. None of us are perfect. He knows that – but, He will come into our hearts and start changing us if we let Him in. Leave the judging to God so He may find His lost sheep whether it is you who may be feeling a little lost right now or someone close to you.

Blessings and Love!

Sandi :)

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