Why can’t you be more like me?

John 3:16 :For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Have you ever sat down to read scripture or a devotion with someone and think…what in the heck is wrong with them? Last night James and I decided that we would do the devotion from our church’s transformed series together. That’s exactly where my heart went…what the heck is wrong with my husband? He does not get it…I need to explain this so he understands the verse in the same exact way that I do. There is a difference between explaining the way you see it and convincing someone else that they need to receive God’s word the same exact way you do. The experience was quite humbling…for me.

The devotion went on to say that this verse is basically “Christianity in a nut shell”. It talked about how you see this verse on field goals at football games and at the bottom of fast food cups. Pastor Warren goes on to break the verse down into four points. After the devotion there are questions to answer.

The first question is: What did you hear? Me: I hear that God loves me so much that he gave his child that he loves as much as I love my children to save me. James: I hear that verse broken down into four points.

Second question: What do you think? Me: God loves me THAT much. That he would send his one and ONLY son to earth for me!! James: I’ve heard this verse lots of times before, and I’ve never seen it on a field goal.

Third question: What will you do? Me: I will continue to grow and seek God’s will for my life. James:to live out what God wants me to do…you know the two greatest commandments. Love God and love each other.

After we answered the questions there is a section that says now talk to God. James closes his eyes for a minute or two and flips the TV on. This is happening while I am writing out my words to God. I had enough…and decided to speak my mind.

I went on to tell James that he only gave “Sunday School” answers. That he was not thinking deep enough, that God gave His only son and he is acting like it is not a big deal. Ever heard of humble pie? Well God started feeding it to me right after that, through the night and this morning. In the most loving way of course.

We are all designed different. I am all about feeling the words on the page…imagining it. Like a friend of mine said “I like to put myself in the story, think about the smells, the sounds, what they are seeing”. Exactly!!!! me too. James is about reading the words on the page, pulling out differences. Many times to my heart if feels like criticism.

Guess what? God knows my heart and he knows James’ heart. He put us together because we are very different. We balance each other. Let’s face it, if it were not for James, I would have a house full of chickens. If it were not for me, James’ life would be very boring (kidding…sort of). There are many things that both of us are on the extreme opposite ends that we are forced to meet in the middle. (I’ll save that for another blog)…

Anyway, the same friend I quoted earlier also said she used to feel like “I am an executive of a huge company (the kingdom) and everyone has to be like me…it was wrong.” The thing with me is that I tend to extend that grace to EVERYONE except the earthly man that I love the most. James is one of the most loving men I have ever met. He has extended grace to me many times when I do not deserve it, he serves others and loves God. Who am I to decide if he answers his devotion questions right or not?

This was a beautiful way that God spoke to my heart about my husband. I hope someone reading this will extend someone in their life a little grace. It’s okay if you walk different as long as you are going toward the same direction. Toward Jesus.

-Karen