In today’s Oswald Chambers devotional, the closing paragraph reminded me of a truth shared by a friend several months back that they had experienced some years ago.
The paragraph: “Never water down the word of God; preach it in its undiluted sternness. There must be unflinching loyalty to the word of God; but when you come to personal dealing with your fellow men, remember who you are—not a special being made up in heaven, but a sinner saved by grace.”[1]
To understand the truth, I need to relay the story. My friend attended a church for several years when the leadership began to slide into an overt prosperity gospel. After a dedicated season of prayer and fasting, they felt it was time to leave the fellowship and needed to share with the pastor why they were going.
After arming themselves with Scripture and (if it were me) practicing the conversation mentally, they left their house for the appointed meeting. As they stepped out the door, the Lord spoke to their spirit, “Be gentle with my son,” He softly said. All the frustration and anticipated confrontation built up over time eased; their meeting went well, explanations were shared, and mutual respect and friendship remained as each went their way.
Sometimes it’s easy to overlook Chamber’s caution of remembering we are not special beings made in heaven, especially when it comes to “standing for the truth.” In truth, we were all sinners saved by grace, and it’s by grace that we can stand, period, even in “defending” the gospel.
The Apostle Paul said, “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves” (Romans 15:1 KJV). To avoid the “special being” feeling, we must remember that we all take turns being strong and weak regardless of Christian tenure.
That’s a truth that needs to be my screen saver from time to time and not forgotten!
[1] Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest: Selections for the Year (Grand Rapids, MI: Oswald Chambers Publications; Marshall Pickering, 1986).
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