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I was waiting in line at the airport recently. I was at the check in gate to enter my gate area before boarding the plane when 3Asian gentlemen standing in line before me were instructed to step out of the line and return upstairs. It was clear almost immediately from their reaction that they might not only be having a problem with the language spoken but that they were in fact def. The young woman from the airline repeated all the lauder that they were at the wrong airline/flight and pointed them upstairs to return to the pre-boarding counter. As I watched this event unfold I could tell that these men were confused while the people in line behind me seemed annoyed at the hold up. A party of me watched and my heart went out to them and yet I could not bring myself to step out of the line and help them. It would have taken but a few minutes for me to simply walk but a few feet to them, glance at their ticket and walk them to the right counter afterwards returning to my flight. I however did not do this.

Like a wind up doll set on auto-pilot I kept my head down and simply continued with my routine. Like everyone else in line I glanced over but acted like I did not see what was happening and went about my business. I then sat at the gate waiting for my plain to board for at least another 30 minutes thinking about those men. I wondered if they had found their flight. I thought of how they must have felt and how frustrating it could be when one is lost and confused and things don’t make sense. I thought of the times I have been in these situations when I did not understand a language or procedure and how tremendous it was to receive assistance. Yet, in the moment I was a coward and it was easier to stay in line then to step out and help. The guilt really nagged at me. I had failed to make the most out of the opportunity.

Compelled, is defined as; to have a powerful and irresistible effect, influence. So when the bible says that Christ love is supposed to compel me (2Cor5:14) it should have a powerful and irresistible effect and influence on me. This is not always the case.

2Cor5:14 (Message) 14Christ's love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do. Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat.

Threw out my week the pattern of letting cowardice over take me continued. I was not compelled by Jesus love but rather by my own self centered fear. I met one of my new bosses this past week. This is not a direct supervisor but it is someone who is in a level above me in the organization and someone I will be working with. I had heard that this person could be difficult to work with as well as that they had gone through a lot this past year. As I saw that this person in fact was a bit rough around the edges I also observed a very sensitive and hurt side in them. I could have reached out to this person more but instead of stepping up I withdrew out of fear of the possible backlash and consequesnces on my new postion. Instead of speaking out I stayed silent and kept to myself.

2Cor5:15 (NIV) 15And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

In situations and relationships this past week I have focused more on myself and my self-preservation rather than on God or Jesus. As I meditated on communion on Sunday and confessed my sins to God I began to wonder why this was. After all, if the cross fails to compel me than there is little hope left isn’t there? I realized that my acts of self preservation were more deeply rooted in lose of perspective. I had shifted my focus and my heart to the comforts of this world instead of my treasures in heaven. I had wavered in faithlessness.

Rom4:20-21 (NIV) Yet he [Abraham] did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

As I prayed through this scripture I realized a few things. Firstly, I need to give glory to God more and focus on thanking him in my prayers in order to not lose sight of His promises. Secondly, that even Abraham had moments of unbelief, moments of wavering but because he kept holding on he made it through to the other side. If I focus on self preservation in this world and the possible inconveniences, heart aches and pains I lose sight of my perfect and mind blowing treasure in heaven. This treasure, promised to me by the creator of this Universe who, even though I like to forget at times, is with me every step of the way. When I can warp my tiny little brain around Jesus' love for me, even just a fraction of it, I can stop looking inward and look outward to others needs and can draw on His love for strength to overcome my cowardice and skepticism. When I am rooted in God's promises I can do whats right instead of worying about presrving anything that is not worth perserving on this earth.

The message version reads…

“20 He didn't tiptoe around God's promise asking cautiously skeptical questions. He plunged into the promise and came up strong, ready for God, 21 sure that God would make good on what he had said.”

"'Christ in You...'" from Dale Krebbs

Origin Of Nations