What My Grandma Knew (Final)

Frodo once said to Gandalf:“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.

“So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

The issues we are facing today are things, like I said in the beginning, my grandmother would not recognize. Despite the seeds planted in her generation that have fed ours, she would not know how to handle where we are today. And that’s because she wasn’t born for such a time as this. We were.

I wish a lot of things that have happened had never happened. I wish we could undo so many things. I wish the world were a kinder, more peaceful place for future generations.

And it can be. Christians who believe the Bible is the Word of God are told to be peacemakers. When Jesus said that, He wasn’t suggesting peace at any price. But “as far as it concerns you, be at peace with all men.”

In my lifetime it’s become much too popular for my Christian community to grow more political than biblical. Again, this is not taking aim at any one person or group of believers. But when did it become the church’s job to change the nation through lobbying? Or protesting? Or legislature?

Stay with me here. I’m not saying Christians are not called by God to work in government. But until He comes again, Jesus left us with a mission to love one another and to make disciples of all nations. He wanted us to spread the truth about who He is based on how we live.

• We’re supposed to pray for our leaders so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives.
• Not violent, hateful ones. Not even barb-throwing ones.
• We can’t discuss the things that divide us if we aren’t going to sit down across the table and listen to each other.
• Jesus didn’t have to try to understand—He already understood because God has that ability that we don’t.
• We need His help to understand each other. We need his help to love each other and to speak truth where truth is needed.

Jewish leaders wanted Jesus to come in on a shining horse and change Rome.

Jesus came in on a donkey to change hearts.

Grandma knew that. And while she probably could have quoted Frodo many times over due to the extreme stress of her times, in the end, her dying word was Jesus’ name on her lips.

There is a lot wrong with our world that people need to work to fix, but let’s actually look for peaceful solutions that uphold the worth of all people. Change the government if you’re called to do that, but if you love Jesus, please remember our real purpose here is to show the world our changed hearts and how He can change theirs too.

Until He comes…

~Selah

#livegrace