But...THAT'S NOT FAIR!

Protects.  Trusts.  Hopes.  Perseveres.   It never fails that when I sit up front in church, Rick will share a heart wrenching story that will make me battle back tears in front of the congregation and my wife.  Last week I was not just a little misty, I felt like I was going to need a Kleenex!  Of course I would never ask for one.  I have a feeling we all could relate with the story he told of the young lady blogging about her trials with infertility. 

Amanda and I could directly relate, however, we all have had those life is not fair moments!  Like Rick said, it is false for us to believe that just because we are Christians life will be fair.  He spoke to my heart when he said we need grace and that we actually don't want life to be fair.  It got me wondering, what do you, my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, do when life is not fair? 

What do you do when a loved one becomes sick or passes much earlier than they should?  That's not fair!  What do you do when you discover a grim diagnosis?  What do you do when those you love, the very people who are supposed to be helping you, turn on you?  What do you do when a job promotion continues to pass over you year after year? It's just not fair!  What do you do?

Two things I try to do during my "life's not fair moments" involve directing my focus.  The first thing I try to focus on is Christ and the second is His definition of love.  I try to remember that, of all people to have the right to say "life's not fair," it was Jesus Christ.  Communion time reminds me of that.  

Protects.  Trusts.  Hopes.  Perseveres. Christ death on the cross was not fair, but His resurrection was to protect us from God’s wrath:  Christ’s death on the cross was not fair, but His resurrection proves we can trust the promises of Christ and God’s word.    Christ’s death on the cross was not fair, but His resurrection provides us with hope in salvation in spite of our sin.   Christ’s death and resurrection demonstrates love as perseverance…Matthew tells us He could have called 72,000 angels to destroy the world and set us free.  But, if He had, He wouldn’t have accomplished His purpose on earth…to save us from Sin. Fortunately, Christ didn't get what He deserved. 

Christ’s resurrection proves that His love never fails!  God is love.  Christ is love.  Love defeated death.

In addition to focusing on Christ, I try to focus on His definition of love.  The same love that defeated death now lives in us.  When I am lacking focus, it has really helped me to just say "always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres" over and over.  As we prepare for communion and even for the next 14 days before Easter, if you have a problem with your mind wondering/staying focused, I encourage you to repeat those words. Consider saying those words repeatedly for the next three to four minutes.  Pray them.  Apply them to your life/your battles, your challenges and your hopes.  Imagine what would happen if we as a church body had this kind of love mastered?

Father thank you for your love that always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres and never fails.    Forgive us for falling short.  As we remember your love and sacrifice, As we contemplate your defeat over sin and death, Help us to  catch a glimpse of your love that surpasses knowledge.