Building Up or Tearing Down

As I was recently on a hike with my two precious children, I realized I am still prone to see their mistakes and be overly sensitive at times to things being done a certain way.  I realized that I have a critical eye and can use that to tear down two growing and wonderful little saplings.  So as we were hiking I asked the Lord to show me what this critical attitude looked like on me, I almost immediately saw a black pointing glove on my hand that was menacing.  The Lord showed me that I used this glove to be in control and to protect myself because this critical attitude had been used on me in earlier life.   There is a desire within being human (the best sense of the word) where we want things and people to grow who are around us.  Yet when we fail to understand how to help people grow, then there is a turn towards discouragement, anger, and criticism which then comes out on those we love.  I sensed the Lord was leading me into a deeper place of learning how to nurture, encourage, and grow the the little people I love so dearly.  So as I took off the black glove of criticism and destroyed it, I then asked the Lord what He had for me to put on it's place.  The Lord gave me a set of green gloves (like having a green thumb), then I sensed He put words in my mouth (to build up and not tear down).  I had been encouraged that my son, Joshua, who normally doesn't like hikes and often complains.  Maybe it had to do with that I decided to let him choose the points in the hike to stop for snacks and I let him carry (and thus drink) his own water.  In the past I would just get frustrated by his complaining but now I was seeking to build him up and help him have a good time.  I am amazed at what the Lord can teach us when we are available to listen to Him and learn His ways.  When we live in the fleshly land of criticism, complaining, discouragement, and frustration we are living at a very low level of experience.  These things are all very common to this human condition (after the Fall) without the invasion of God's love in Christ.  The Holy Spirit is very straight-forward in Galatians 6:8, "For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life."  Notice you need to connect Romans 8:1 that says there is no condemnation, so in other words there is no condemnation but freedom means there are still consequences to our belief and choice.  I believe the Father is inviting us to live and experience a whole new dimension of life (Zoe= the life of God Himself) but we have freedom in what we choose.  I believe Ephesians 2:6 is an invitation, "...and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,.." and not simply doctrine.  The atmosphere seated in "heavenly places" is much different than the normal everyday run of the mill type of earthly life.  Let's let the very life of Christ flow through us to build others up in love.

In His Love,
Bret