Focus Friday: Let's Focus on Opinions

This week I read a blog post with a disturbing title: Why You Shouldn't Read the Bible in a Year. The author gave several reasons why he thought it was a bad idea to rush through the Bible in a year just because it's on your Bucket List. 

The post made me pause, because a friend and I have been reading The One Year Bible (NIV) this year. For a second, I thought about scrapping my daily readings. Maybe he was right, I reasoned. Sometimes my eyes glaze over when I'm reading about how many men are in each of the tribes of Israel or how to deal with various skin diseases. Maybe I should be spending my time on the parts that are more applicable to my life now.

It didn't take me long to come to my senses again. It is a good thing to read through the Bible in a year! That blog post was someone's opinion and I don't have to change my reading habits just because he feels like he can't, or shouldn't, read the Bible in a year.

I have read the Bible all the way through many times. Sometimes I've done it in a year, sometimes I've gone more slowly. In my humble opinion, I think every Christian needs to read the entire Bible at some point. It contains God's words to us. Sure, some parts are confusing (and some parts are a little boring, I know) but there's something special about knowing you've read every word of the book that teaches, challenges, and encourages us in our faith.

It's been quite a few years since I read the Bible all the way through, that's why I decided to do it again this year. I can't help how the blog writer feels about my goal. Maybe he's super busy, or maybe he's lazy, or maybe...I don't know. I can't judge him. I can only decide what I'm going to do this year. I have enough time. I haven't done it for a while. I'm going to read it. I'm also studying some parts so that I get even more out of it. 

As far as other opinions go, I'm sure all of you have noticed strong opinions in the world around you. Politicians, news people, friends, relatives, enemies, strangers...everyone has their own opinion about everything.

How do we live among others who don't have the same opinions we do? Very carefully. We stand firm on the things that matter and we show grace in the areas that don't. This is especially difficult because there are so many different opinions about what matters and what doesn't. 

The whole chapter of Romans 14 deals with different opinions and the importance of not judging others. Of course, we must agree on the essentials of the faith (and what a perfect day - this Good Friday - to remember that one of those essentials is the belief that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay for all of our sins and make us righteous before God!) but on matters that are not essential, there is room for many different opinions. 

I can feel strongly about something and not apologize for it, but I also need to be kind and tactful if I choose to share that opinion with others. I don't have to bully or ridicule someone when their opinion doesn't match mine - even in the essentials.

"Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters....So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin." (Romans 14:1, 22-23 NIV)

Do you have strong opinions or are you easily swayed by what others think? How can focusing on God help you to stand firm in your opinions and yet show love to those who don't agree with you?

Focus Friday: Let's Focus on Judging

This has been kind of a rough week. Last Friday and Saturday I felt pretty good. I was home from the hospital and everything looked different to me. Colors seemed brighter and it seemed like I looked at everything like I was seeing it for the first time. I was grateful to be alive and I felt so hopeful. Sunday morning I felt a little worse, but I decided to go to church and it felt so good to worship with our church family and feel their love and support. It seems like each day since then I have felt a little bit more down somehow. I think the medicine still needs some time to work, but it's also because of the negative thought patterns I've developed.

I thought I was doing so much better in recent years. God has been teaching me to think better thoughts, to trust Him more, and to live in more freedom than I did in my younger days. He's taught me using different Bible studies and life experiences over the years. I guess this situation with teaching, stress, and depression is just bringing me through an intensive time of learning. I'm realizing that I have more work to do on how I think about myself and about life. This week has been harder because I've been thinking about how I let people down: the students, the school system, and even myself. I can think myself into a bad place again when I focus on what I should have done differently or what other people may think about what happened.

I have to let all of that go. For some reason, teaching was not meant to be. I can't worry about other people's opinions. I just need to do my best with where I'm at right now and keep following God where He leads. I talked with a psychiatrist this week to make sure I'm on the right medication and start figuring out what led to this depression. Before I left, she looked me straight in the eye and said, "You will get better." She didn't sound the least bit doubtful and, somehow, I believe her. I'm not better yet, but I know I'll get there.

I want to leave you with an entry from a wonderful devotional that Gary brought me right after I went to the hospital. A friend from church also gave me a copy along with some encouraging verses she wrote out for me. This entry really encouraged me and reminded me that we can't judge each other. We just need to live our lives trusting God and trying to please Him.

Jesus Calling by Sarah Young (2004, Thomas Nelson)
September 25:    
     Pour all of your energy into trusting Me. It is through trust that you stay connected to Me, aware of My Presence. Every step on your life-journey can be a step of faith. Baby steps of trust are simple for you; you can take them with almost unconscious ease. Giant steps are another matter altogether: leaping across chasms in semidarkness, scaling cliffs of uncertainty, trudging through the valley of the shadow of death. These feats require sheer concentration, as well as utter commitment to Me.
     Each of My children is a unique blend of temperament, giftedness, and life experiences. Something that is a baby step for you may be a giant step for another person, and vice versa. Only I know the difficulty or ease of each segment of your journey. Beware of trying to impress others by acting as if your giant steps are only baby ones. Do not judge others who hesitate in trembling fear before an act that would be easy for you. If each of My children would seek to please Me above all else, fear of others' judgments would vanish, as would attempts to impress others. Focus your attention on the path just ahead of you and on the One who never leaves your side.

Isn't that a beautiful reminder? I need to remember those thoughts as I move forward. I'm not sure if I'll be taking baby steps for a while, or if God is asking me to take some giant steps during this time, but I know I can trust Him as I focus on Him and obey. I pray that each of you can trust and obey Him as you continue on your life-journey. Remember, "every step...can be a step of faith."

"Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe." (Proverbs 29:25)

Are you tempted to judge others as you look at their "trembling fear" when facing something that seems like a baby step to you? Do you feel pride when you've taken a giant step? How can focusing just on God and the path ahead of you help you to stop judging others and even yourself?