Sally can’t figure out what is wrong. She is a believer but feels friendless. People are there for a season and then drop off the map. Sally keeps asking God why she can’t find friends who stick around. Seriously, does God have limited resources?
This morning, she read in her Bible, “May God our Father himself and our Master Jesus clear the road to you! And may the Master pour on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you, just as it does from us to you. May you be infused with strength and purity, filled with confidence in the presence of God our Father when our Master Jesus arrives with all his followers.” (I Thessalonians 3:11-13 The Message)
SALLY’S PAST ENCOUNTERS
Sally began to take stock. She remembered the previous week when she had been pouring over a lot, but not the pouring of goodness that the Bible refers to. There was that heated discussion with her sister about politics. As usual, her sister ended up storming out of the house. That same day, Sally discovered that her family doctor did not believe the Bible. She quickly set him straight and reminded him that he was on the path to hell. Later that night, Sally discovered her brother, of all people, believed in evolution. It is enough to make Sally want to explode. What indeed is the world coming to?
WHY DO PEOPLE AVOID HER?
Last night Sally couldn’t sleep. Her mind kept replaying the interaction with her doctor. She heard her loud voice and saw herself repeatedly jabbing at him with her finger to make a point. Were there similarities between that and her altercation with her sister? Why did her sister keep rolling her eyes at her and then slam the screen door in Sally’s face? Why didn’t all these people see the truth? It hurt that her sister and brother seem to purposely avoid her.
JESUS POURS LIFE
While contemplating these encounters, Sally turned on the light and opened her Bible. The pages flipped opened up to John 3. Sally knew this story well: Jesus’ encounter with a woman who clearly is of bad character, has skewed theology and is on her way to hell. Yet, what does Jesus do? He calmly engages her in conversation, asking questions along the way. He then extends an invitation. Jesus pours life in that conversation without raising His voice or jabbing His fingers. The Savior offers life.
GOD’S PLAN: DANCING RATHER THAN PLODDING
Later, she read: “One final word, friends. We ask you—urge is more like it—that you keep on doing what we told you to do to please God, not in a dogged religious plod, but in a living, spirited dance. You know the guidelines we laid out for you from the Master Jesus. God wants you to live a pure life.” (I Thessalonians 4:1-3 The Message). Sally pondered the question. Is she just plodding along in her Christian life? Is it possible to find great friends? Can a joyous spirited dance pour out of her soul?