Uncomfortable Dilemma

Let me make some assumptions about you the reader, and then pose a situation for you to consider – a moral dilemma.

Most readers of this blog have chosen to follow Jesus. You are eternally thankful for the grace of God demonstrated in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. You have confessed your sins and asked for God’s forgiveness, according to the sacrificial act of Jesus on Calvary. The Spirit of God abides in your life and gives you power and direction as often as you listen and yield. You love God, and on some level want the world to know the transforming love of God.

Most readers also love their parents, siblings, spouse, children and grandchildren… or whatever “family” they hold to right now.

What if…
Imagine that you and two other people are in a confined space with no hope of release, rescue or escape. The threesome includes a family member that you greatly love, a stranger and yourself. You and the family member have a clear and growing relationship with Jesus Christ. The stranger has adamantly declared that he/she is not a Christian.

The powerful person responsible for your confinement suddenly makes you aware of pending doom. All three of you have been exposed to a deadly toxin. There is one dose of antidote. You alone are responsible for administering the antidote. It cannot be divided or shared. It must be administered in the next ten minutes or all will die.

Who will live and who will die? And why? What does your choice and rationale suggest about your values?

On this Memorial Day, I am thankful for those who gave their lives in military service for the USA. I give thanks and pray for those families that are remembering mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, sons and daughters.

A Mother’s Voice

Sully, our yellow Lab puppy, is 5 months old. He is 95% wonderful – affectionate, obedient, funny, etc. But his love for other dogs causes trouble. If he sees another dog and I don’t have a good hold on his leash, off he goes. His passion for four-legged friends makes him ignore the danger of crossing the street as well as my urgent commands and pleas. This drives me crazy.

Mothers know something about that feeling of desperation. After years of prayer and training, mothers ultimately watch their children run off according to their own passions.

Today I honor three mothers – Sarah Davis Loftin, Carolyn Covington Loftin and Ashley Loftin Gilland. God used and is using their faith, knowledge, life experience, prayerful sensitivity and undying love to provide guidance for their children. Like other children, I listened at times, but sometimes my passions made me run headlong, foolishly. Sorry Mom.

Although only God is characterized by perfect love, these mothers have shown their children unfailing love. Their love has involved patience, forgiveness, pain, joy, celebration, prayer and hope. Their love has honored Christ.

Happy Mother’s Day to all you mothers and potential mothers! May all your children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and beyond remember your voice and the voice of the One you follow.

Faithful Lovers

Weddings are full of emotion. As I stood by Jonathan (my son) last Saturday, tears came flooding in at several points. I could feel the eyes of Ashley and Meme (my daughters), but I knew better than to look in their direction. With Herculean effort, I stayed somewhat composed.

There were many intense moments in the service for this “best man.” When beautiful Mary Ashton stepped out from the rear lobby and made her way down the aisle to stand with her groom. The tender exchange of vows. The music. And there was an unexpected exhilaration as Pastor David read the Scripture.

I have attended and performed about two hundred weddings, and many of them included a reading of I Corinthians 13, “The Love Chapter.” But this time was different.

Yes, the chapter pertains to the love of husband and wife. And, yes, it is a challenge for all our relationships. But I had missed a broader and perhaps more profound application.

We all know that love is not primarily an emotion. It is an unconditional commitment characterized by tangible actions on behalf of others. But when we connect I Corinthians 13 with the parable of the Great Commandment (Mt. 22:37-40) and the Great Commission (Mt. 28:19-20), the Love Chapter becomes far more than a wedding text.

If I am not finding ways to use the resources God has entrusted to me (energy, time, finances, prayer, influence, etc.) to communicate and demonstrate God’s love to those who are not aware of God’s grace, then all my religious activities are in vain. They may be well intended, but if my prayers, worship, stewardship, and Bible study are not accompanied and flavored by a participation in God’s mission in the world, I am not faithfully loving Jesus.

Pray that we will all be “faithful lovers” for the glory of God and the good of the world.

Listen to this song, People of God by Michael Gungor; I think its lyrics relate well to these thoughts.