Open a Window
Today is overcast in our town, so we have a break from the 100+ degree weather. I decided to open the floor to ceiling blinds near my desk. I rarely do this as I feel exposed to people passing by and it is often simply too hot! But God had special blessings waiting as I opened my windows to the world. Out of the corner of my eye, something was moving just 15 feet away, a coyote! He looked my way, then sauntered off. Next, a quail walked by, followed not far behind by a hummingbird that perched on a cactus just four feet from my window. I commented to my husband that I needed to open my blinds more often so I could see all that I am missing!
I believe some people feel this way about going to church. Some may feel that going to church exposes them to people or the message makes them hot under the collar. Others have had encounters with "coyotes" in sheep's clothing and don't trust church goers. Some people have had others simply walk by without offering a greeting or fly by too busy about the work of the church to stop and chat. Any of these church "animals" can turn an individual off and make them want to go back to the safety of their home and close the blinds.
A friend of mine said, "Them sheep bite,"her humorous way of expressing getting hurt by fellow believers. Most of us have stories of being embarrassed, discouraged, or even belittled by the very people we thought were there to support us and look after our best interests. But often these same people are a window to our own souls. God may be showing us faults within ourselves that no one but a Christian friend would tell us. He might be reminding us that Christians are not Christ, thus not to be worshipped. Or the devil may be trying to run us off from the very place we can grow and mature in the Word of God, by using thoughtless humans who do what humans do…sin.
Matthew 7:15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
I believe some people feel this way about going to church. Some may feel that going to church exposes them to people or the message makes them hot under the collar. Others have had encounters with "coyotes" in sheep's clothing and don't trust church goers. Some people have had others simply walk by without offering a greeting or fly by too busy about the work of the church to stop and chat. Any of these church "animals" can turn an individual off and make them want to go back to the safety of their home and close the blinds.
A friend of mine said, "Them sheep bite,"her humorous way of expressing getting hurt by fellow believers. Most of us have stories of being embarrassed, discouraged, or even belittled by the very people we thought were there to support us and look after our best interests. But often these same people are a window to our own souls. God may be showing us faults within ourselves that no one but a Christian friend would tell us. He might be reminding us that Christians are not Christ, thus not to be worshipped. Or the devil may be trying to run us off from the very place we can grow and mature in the Word of God, by using thoughtless humans who do what humans do…sin.
Matthew 7:15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Thank you Lord for all the "visitors" outside my window today!
Unfortunately one of the places that satan likes to work is inside the church. We have to make sure that we are there for the right reason and let no one interfere with our worship.
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