Good morning! The house that I grew up in never had a chance with 7 boys in the house. We were constantly doing everything that I tell my son not to do LOL! We grew up in a three bedroom ranch and my parents converted the garage to a fourth bedroom. To say we were tight, is an understatement. At one point, I was sharing a bedroom with four of my brothers – two bunk beds and a twin bed.
We were constantly playing ball in the house, throwing things at each other, and hitting each other with different objects. Since my Dad worked overnight my Mom would constantly make us go outside to play. We would play soccer in the front yard, ride our bikes on a track we made around the house, make up games on the trampoline (that had no net around it and was positioned perfectly over the septic tank LOL), play basketball in the driveway and make up all type of trick shots playing H-O-R-S-E.
Anytime we had to mow the ‘lawn’ you would see a cloud of dust because there really was no grass – there couldn’t be with all the running around we did and the dogs running back and forth along the front fence as people and cars went by.
Josh recently asked if he could make a hole in the backyard for mini golf. One would think that having grown up in the way I just explained, I would have no problem with it, but I did. I didn’t understand why he would want to make a hole in our nice backyard. But it didn’t take me long to think back to the CRAZY things I did as a child with my brothers and how my parents were so focused on allowing us to be kids and have fun!
So I gave in and gave him guidelines on what area he could use to make his ‘mini golf’ hole. He was very creative. He made a hole just big enough to fit a plastic cup and put decorative rocks around the hole. He started out using the putter but then after he got me excited about it, I brought out the pitching wedge! We backed up the starting point and made it more challenging where it now has to go over our fire pit before going to the other side of the yard to where the hole is.
We have a blast doing this together and to think that I almost stopped him from building it?! What was I thinking? I was thinking more about having grass in the backyard than the fun that we would have together challenging each other to make it first!
The same thing happens in our lives when we forget what we have been saved from and look down or condemn others for living sinful lives. We need to remember where we came from and be thankful for the grace of God to bring us out of the miry clay and onto THE firm foundation – Jesus Christ!
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
We have all been in need of a Savior – none of us could meet the standard that God requires apart from the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. God did not wait for us to be in right standing with Him, He loved us FIRST and made THE way for us to experience a relationship with Him.
After experiencing His love through a personal relationship with Him, our lives will begin to BE TRANSFORMED and our lives will gradually look different – resembling our Savior!
Sometimes after experiencing this transformation it is easy to point out the sin that so easily entangles the people around us. I can only speak for myself, but I am guilty of being judgmental of others – why are they doing that… they are so selfish… I would NEVER do that… they are gonna have to deal with the consequences of their bad decisions…. WOW – what a pompous, self-righteous attitude! Forgive me, Lord!
“And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
1 Corinthians 6:11
Paul corrects this attitude among the Corinthians. He reminds them that, they too once lived a lifestyle contrary to God’s standards and it is only because of Jesus that they have been cleansed, set apart, and declared righteous!
Instead of looking down on others, we should remember where we once were, and with compassion, come along side them to lift them up, challenging them to grow. Displaying for them the same love that God has displayed for us!
Heavenly Father, thank You for what You have done for each one of us! Thank You for removing our sins, setting us apart for Your glory, and declaring us righteous because of how much You love us! Help us to remember what our lives looked like before we were TRANSFORMED by You and display the same forgiveness and love towards the people around us! Help us to be more concerned with their eternity than our temporary circumstances. In Jesus Name – AMEN!
Be Transformed 