Do you find yourself making assumptions about people, places, situations, and circumstances?

"Judging a book by its cover" or drawing conclusions on little (if any) factual information is dangerous stuff.

I'm so glad that Jesus didn't draw an assumption about me (or you) and acted upon it. Instead, Jesus sees all of the facts and lives in reality and hope - not the fear that comes from uncertainty or making a judgment based on a sliver of information.

• While we were still sinners, Jesus died for us (Romans 5:8).
• God made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4-5).
  
• Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy (1 Peter 2:10).

Here are three ways we... or, I can get beyond personal assumptions and love people like Jesus loves me.

1. Give people the benefit of the doubt by offering a generous amount of grace. Out of God's fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given (John 1:16). This doesn't mean we become doormats or bury truth under the blanket of cheap grace. It means that we are "quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires (James 1:19-20) because that's what Jesus does for us on the cross - and it cost Him His life.
2. When I don't have all of the facts... instead of judging the person, situation, or circumstance - pray for it. Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:43-48). Afterall, it's really hard to judge somebody that I'm praying for!
   
3. Choose peace over war. That might sound odd.  Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?". In a very personal and intimate way, when we make assumptions and judge others based on a limited number of facts, we declare war in our mind between fact and fiction. The Arbinger Institute's book Leadership and Self-Deception explains, when we begin to assume things about people, we place them in a box. We can think of the box as a kind of mental warfare similar to solitary confinement. We single them out, characterize them in a way that only we think they are, and define them based on only what we conclude - not who God says they are. Remember, the other person doesn't know they're in the box you've placed them in within your mind. So, who is the real prisoner of war? More often than not, our minds prefer fiction over facts. As I consider Romans 12:18, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" - I much prefer not fighting the mental battle that comes as a result of making assumptions.
   

Ultimately, Jesus leads us beyond our assumptions. He is not only the model - He is the only One who can judge... and He was judged... for us!

The only One in the entire universe who could make an assumption about us chose instead of making an assumption based on half-truths and partial facts, chose to love us unconditionally.

Here's the point: whether it's giving people the benefit of the doubt, praying for others instead of judging them, or choosing peace over war - Jesus' Spirit is the source of our power when it comes to living this out.

How has Jesus taught you to go beyond making assumptions like He did for you? Drop me an email and let me know.

​Love you!

The leaves are turning. School is starting. Traffic is increasing. The Fair is swinging. Football games on my TV are streaming.

Fall is here.

It might be autumn outside, but what season is it in your soul?

I want to share four seasons your soul might be in - and Jesus’ promise for you in the midst of it.

Anxiety
Martin Luther once said, “I spent more than a week in death and hell. My entire body was in pain, and I still tremble. Completely abandoned by Christ, I labored under the vacillations and the storms of desperation and blasphemy against God.”

That might be the season your soul is in right now. Pain. Fearful. Shaking. Feeling abandoned by people and God. Desperate and Depressed.

Here’s some great news for those in the season of anxiety: Jesus is with you!

• Be still and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10)

• Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30) 
  

Distress
The brokenness of our world and our lives weighs heavy on our souls. God’s Spirit who lives in us knows that this world is temporary… and that God’s world is eternal. 

Could that be one of the reasons we experience seasons of heartbreak, anguish, and suffering? 

We see people who are innocent, hurt. People who are oppressed, abused. People who try their hardest to do the right thing, punished.

Injustice, suffering, and oppression weighs heavy on us. And if you’re in a season where your soul is just heavy, Jesus is here to encourage you.

• We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)
  

• The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26)

Restoration
There are seasons when our soul is working hard to restore that which has been lost. Whether it’s a relationship that seems to be on the mend, something you have felt God has been calling you toward gaining traction, or you simply feel like your relationship with God is on a growth curve - you’re in the process of being restored.

This is an exciting season! My encouragement is to remember the words of Simon Peter: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).

And, trust whatever God is restoring in and through you is God’s work for His glory and He wants you to use it to love and bless the people around you.

• May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands. (Psalm 90:17)

Joy
Need I say more? Sometimes, we find ourselves in times when our soul is content and happy.

• I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!” (Psalm 122:1)

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• You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy. (Psalm 30:11)

This is God’s work, too. . . His work of giving you a new heart and spirit.

• I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. (Ezekiel 11:19-20)

It doesn’t mean there aren’t challenges. However, it does mean that God is growing you up.

• Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:2-4)

For sure, there are more… What other seasons of the soul have you experienced? Drop me an email at pastortim@oslc.com and let me know.

Let’s end with some hope: in every season of the soul, God is with us and wants to grow us up. Through every season of our lives and souls, we are being stretched, strengthened, and sustained by Jesus.

So, let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)

Indeed, walking with Jesus through every season of life and faith with others is worth it - wherever you are!

Love you!