Originally published April 16, 2012
A parse error when working in computer science and code programming is basically when code, that is imported, does not translate to the receiving program. Just like when we, as Christians, try to witness to someone about the Gospel, about a mission trip, about a path God is leading us down and it is ill-received or not received at all.
“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned”
1 Corinthians 2:14
We share, and want our family and friends to be just as excited as we are and expect them to jump on board this faith-filled journey. Instead, at times, we encounter lukewarmness or negativity. The last thing I want to hear, when I am excited about where Christ is leading me, is how it doesn’t make sense or how impossible it is. He makes the impossible possible, but when those we care about do not personally know Him, they do not personally know His miracles. How He shows up and makes things come together according to His will. It is not truth they recognize.
I have to remind myself that I was that person, and it is only because of His grace and His removal of my blinders that I can see truths He has revealed to me. I never wanted to go on a mission trip and yet, after following His lead in obedience, now wish everyone else would sign on to going on one. But I can’t fault those that when I elatedly tell them about it, are less than interested in engaging in conversation, nevermind going on a trip. Instead, I have to be thankful that He changed my heart and gave me the gift to experience going on mission trips. If He is not removing their blinders in that area, and instead working on them in other areas, they cannot understand what He has allowed me to spiritually discern.
Christ doesn’t want me to hide where He is leading me, or what He has shown me, from others because of what their reaction may be. He wants me to be confident in my identity in Him, share when prompted by Him, and for the negativism of others to be powerless against my confidence in Him.
In response, I tend to not share what God is doing in my life with those who I feel like will be negative, but that robs them of the experience of watching God make the impossible possible, even if it is from the sidelines. Christ doesn’t want me to hide where He is leading me, or what He has shown me, from others because of what their reaction may be. He wants me to be confident in my identity in Him, share when prompted by Him, and for the negativism of others to be powerless against my confidence in Him.
Instead the response has to be one of grace and prayer.