Jeremy Kingsley was the speaker at Chapel yesterday, and he got me thinking about some things that led to a revelation that I am THRILLED about!!

He started off talking about the story of Jesus and the woman who was about to get stoned to death out in the street (John 8). . . that is, until Jesus intervened with the comment of “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” . . . . . well, you know the story. . . Jesus was the only one eligible in that moment to throw a stone at her. . . and he didn’t. . . .

Jeremy continued on by telling of one of his friends who used to go, along with some other church members, to the streets of a few large cities and hand out flowers to prostitutes on Christmas day. . . and when the prostitues asked why. . . they simply said. . . “Because Jesus loves you” . . .  – in both of these instances the spirit of Jesus was to come and love immediately. . . . immediately. . . . after someone had sinned – before asking any questions – before comparing their acts to anything else. . . . . . have you ever given grace and mercy to someone right after they just sinned? . . . maybe your spouse. . . .maybe a friend. . . .Have you ever needed it, yearned for it, right after you sinned? . . . . . .

You see, we often slide toward certain behaviors and attitudes without being aware of the inevitable consequences associated with them – for example:

 - those that tend to be critical usually lack kindness

 - those that love to punish usually miss out on the joy of restoring someone

 - those that tend to be judemental usually lack understanding

 - those that tend to be conceited/overly righteous usually lack the ability to forgive

And then it hit me . . . . . that’s it!!!!!! . . . wow!, I can’t believe it! . . . that is it! . . . . . ok, so what the heck is Ted talking about this time?!. . . . hang with me for a second . . .

Some of you know my “story” – in that I was raised in a Christian home, no divorce, I have two great brothers – and I really didn’t mess up that much, in other words, I didn’t do drugs, didn’t drink, got good grades, was good at sports – didn’t give up, didn’t talk bad about other people, didn’t have sex or mess around – didn’t etc……., and so my biggest struggle in accepting Christ and “being saved” was . . . . . . why? . . . . . I’m a great kid – I don’t do anything wrong, especially not compared to him over there – or her over there . . . . . it was all about comparison to me. . . .  and though I did not boast verbally of my righteousness (there were plenty of people reminding me of that), it was in my heart. . . . . and now I realize that one of the greatest gifts God gave me when I accepted Jesus as my savior. . . . was the ability to forgive. . . . . truly forgive

Comparison creeps into every level of our life. . . . and it leads to us hyping up our own value and worth based on how our actions/behaviors are better than someone else. . . . which leads to the idea that we somehow deserve more . . . . which leads us to expect  more . . . . which leads to anger, frustration, and resentment when we do not get more. . . or confirmation of our “holy-er” status if we DO get more. . . . . leading to thoughts like (“wow, does she realize how much of a better husband I am compared to most guys!” or “wow, does he realize how much I put up with when alot of other women would have walked out long time ago!”, “WOW, I have done so much more in this relationship, in this home, with these kids, on this team – than him/her, etc…..) all of which produces an inability to forgive. . . an inability to resist throwing stones, . . . and inability to give flowers. . . why?. . . .

In true forgiveness, there is no room for comparison, . . . NONE!. . . . forgiveness requires an understanding that the wrong done to you is not greater, nor lesser, than any wrong you, yourself have committed. . . . . a wrong is a wrong is a wrong is a wrong. . . and yes. . . that is SOOOOOOO different from the law of this world. . . . . there was no comparison in Jesus’ death, no priority for grace, it is FULLY available to EVERYONE. . . . . . . . . I believe that until we understand more fully the futility of comparison in our own lives and the complete absence of it in Christ’s life and death. . . . I don’t think we can ever truly forgive or fully love . . .

I just think the comparisons in our own lives make us miss out on a HUGE part of who Jesus is, and how he was/is truly a walking revolution of thought, behavior, and heart. . . . . . . . let God release you from the bondage of comparison today . . . in your sins as well as your wonderful acts of love to others. . .