Seeking to understand, rather than be understood.

There's so much to think about after service today.  It comes in the realm of unity.  This series on generations brought it up today and how Jesus prayed we would be one as He and the Father are one (John 17:20-23).  Glen spoke of division and how unity needs to happen, not uniformity but unity.  The idea of seeking to understand rather than to be understood - asking questions vs. lecturing, humility vs. pride. 

"Things must be loved first and improved afterwards."  - G.K. Chesterton.

People too.

A look at Ephesians 4:1-3: 

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

"Make every effort..."  How's our effort looking lately?

Today's message was great not only for learning to live amongst different generations (grandma/grandpa to mom/dad to child), but I find it helpful for living amongst different nations.  It's a great reentry message for missionaries, or at least this one.

There may be things I don't agree with about the American population, even choices made in the American church, but I get to pray we are one, and I get to take steps in being and remaining unified.  In places I disagree - places where judgments and opinions sink in - that cause discord and division, I get to increase those prayers and seek to understand, rather than seek to be understood.  I get to make every effort in doing so.  This is what God would want me to do.

If I want the American public to treat third world nations better, I have to choose to love.   Even if Americans do not change, I choose to love.  I love first, not so they will improve afterward (although if that happened it would be beautiful), but I love first because God loves me. 

He loves me when He disagrees.  He seeks to understand.  He knows, that if He loves me first, I will improve - even though that isn't His reason for doing so.  Even if I never changed, He would choose to love because that's who He is.  His way is hard, but His way is best.

So, perhaps we get to shift our focus - just a bit.  Perhaps, we get to lay down our mallets.  The moment when all the angry and bitter punches have been swung, the moment the punching bag comes to a still, it will stay there and be there the next time, but for a moment - this moment, we breathe in deep the love of God and we exhale His grace.  The wounds may still sting but the air is clear.  In this moment, for this moment, we focus all our efforts here and we become still before the throne of God. 

I pray just as Jesus prayed that we are one.  I pray we are one with God the Father as Jesus was one with Him.  I pray this so that He is glorified and so all our seeking and onlooking friends will know.  I pray we choose to lay down our mallets.  I pray we are humble and gentle, patient, not proud.  I pray we make every effort to portray who the God of the Universe is rather than stand behind our arguments for the sake of proving we are right or being in control.  I pray we have the courage to be others minded and think of others first.  I pray we pick to love.  I pray we do so boldly.  In Jesus' name, amen.