Alignment Part 4

Alignment: 1. arrangement in a straight line, or in correct or appropriate relative positions. 2. a position of agreement or alliance

Last week we ended our discussion by suggesting that the world would be a much better place if Christians would do two things.

1. Stop hurting each other

2. Start forgiving each other

Next week we’ll talk about forgiving each other, so today I think we should talk about how we should stop hurting each other. But I realize that it’s easier said than done. I’m just not sure why it’s easier said than done. Perhaps it has something to do with how the average child is raised.

(Whose child walked first? How old were they when they could read? Sports, education, who you marry, wealth) We are born and breed to compete and therefore, if the stakes are high enough we will literally hurt each other in order to win.

Mike Tyson bit off a piece of Evander Holifield’s ear. Former figure skaters, Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan rings a bell to some of us too.

We’ll even hurt ourselves to win if we’re desperate enough. Hence steroids and opioids.

Sometimes we hurt others for legitimate reasons though. My sister used to bully me ruthlessly every day. Until one day...

As children, we are taught to defend ourselves when necessary. To fight back! But what do you do when it seems like God’s the bully?

Have you ever had seasons in your life where it seemed like God was just beating up on you. Where there was nothing you could do to win. Do right, things go wrong. Do wrong, things get worse. And like Teesha Campbell said to Eddy Murphy in the movie Boomerang, “You mad cuz you can’t win.”

So what do you do when life’s circumstances leave you feeling like you’re fighting against God?

Trust the character of God (Jacob - I won’t let go until you bless Me!”

Look for the hand of God (Job - though he slay me…)

Stop fighting God (It’s hard to kick against the prick)

Jen’s legs.

Hebrews 12:4–14 NIV

4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” 7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. 12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. 14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

I believe this example is important because when I talk about us not hurting each other, I don’t want you to think that it means we should remove all boundaries of protection and correction.

Because sometimes, correction hurts our feelings but it’s necessary for growth. Even Jesus at times had to say hard things to people in order to stretch them out of their comfort zones so that they would grow into who he had called them to be.

Peter, you will deny me. The rest of you will forsake me. But Peter, after you have gone through and recovered, strengthen the brethren.

Paul had to circumcise Timothy, not because he needed to become a Jew but because he couldn’t minister in his total capacity to the people he needed to reach without it. In case you don’t realize it, circumcision is painful. But Timothy yielded to it in order to benefit others.

What pain are you willing to endure in order to let God get the most glory out of your life? Are you willing to suffer in order to help others or will you let others suffer in order to protect your own feelings?