WHO ME? I CAN’T GET MY ROBE DIRTY! The chipped windshield?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
I write this after leaving the funeral home, I talked with a man that has not been in church for four months. I asked him why? He said that his church was growing and that he liked to get to church as it was starting, and the last time he went to church, someone was sitting in his place on his pew. His PHEW?
I write this after reading a note from a board member that refused to serve communion, because one of the others serving the Lord’s supper had not been bapitized in water, and he did not want to dirty his hands.
TEXT:
Romans 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth...
Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you again 3. Why beholdest thou the mote that is in your brother’s eye, but not consider the beam that is IN THINE own eye? 4. Or how can thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and behold a beam that is in thine own eye? 5. THOU HYPOCRITE, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then thou shalt see clearly to cast the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
Matthew 11:19 .... Jesus --- a friend of publicans and sinners ...
Luke 7:34 Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!
PLEASE, CONSIDER AND PONDER GETTING MY ROBE DIRTY?
KJV, Jude 1: 21 Keep yourselves in the LOVE of God, looking for the MERCY of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22. And of some have COMPASSION , MAKING A DIFFERENCE: 23. And others save with fear; pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
LB Jude 1:22 Try to help those who argue against you. BE MERCIFUL to those who doubt. 23 Save some as snatching them as from the flames of hell itself. And as for others, help them find the Lord by being kind to them....
I like this way of wording...
Jude 1:22 SHOW MERCY to those who have doubts. 23. Save others by snatching them from the fires of hell, SHOW MERCY TO OTHERS, even though you are afraid that you might be stained by their sinful lives.
From the words of Eugene H. Peterson, THE MESSAGE, NAVPRESS, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Quoting page 2233 and page 2235.
Our spiritual communities are susceptible to disease as our physical bodies. But it is easier to detect what is wrong in our stomachs and lungs than in our worship and witness. When our physical bodies are sick or damaged, the pain calls our attention to it, and we do something quick. But a dangerous, even deadly, virus in our spiritual communities can go undetected for a long time. As much as we need physicians for our bodies, we have even greater need of diagnosticians and healers of our spirit.
Jude’s letter to the early church of Christians is just such a diagnosis.
There is far more, of course, to living in the Christian community than protecting the faith against assault or subversion. Paranoia is as unhealthy spiritually as it is mentality. The primary Christian posture is, in Jude’s words : "KEEPING YOUR ARMS OPENED AND OUTSTRETCHED, READY FOR MERCY OF OUR MASTER, JESUS CHRIST." Energetic watchfulness is required ... page 2233
Jude , But you my dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God’s LOVE, keeping your arms opened and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is unending life, real life! ---- Page 2233
Go easy on those who hesitate in the faith. Go after those who take the wrong way. Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin. The sin itself stinks to high heaven.
And now to Him that can keep you on your feet, standing tall in His bright presence, fresh, and celebrating... ---- Page 2235
WHO ME? NOT ME! YOU ARE KIDDING?
Who me? I can’t afford to get my robe dirty? I can’t mess with sinners. I can’t work in a church where people are lacking? I can’t serve the Lord with dirty people? Why can’t the pastor see? I have been here a long time and I can tell you there are many people that don’t meet my "HOLY" standard? I will withhold my obedience and my offering and my attendance until they get perfect members and a perfect pastor?
These words ring in my ears: SHOW MERCY TO OTHERS, even though you are afraid that you might be stained by their sinful lives.
JESUS LOVES ME! I am so glad, Jesus loves me. I have never understood why Jesus loves me, but I am glad He does.
My older brother, Charles asked me years ago, "WHAT IS THE GREATEST THOUGHT YOUR MIND HAS EVER THOUGHT UPON ... ???
As we traveled down the road my mind was racing, searching for a smart answer.
My brother, Charles, answered, I never even thought of the greatest thought on my mind, I had to hear it from someone else, yet I absolutely agree, 100% agreement to Charles’ answer.
Charles said, "THAT JESUS LOVES ME! THAT IS THE GREATEST THOUGHT MY MIND HAS EVER PONDERED."
Wow, brother you are right. Sometimes my sons don’t love me a lot? Sometimes my wife doesn’t love me? Sometimes, I DON’T EVEN LOVE ME! But the Son of God, my Savior, my Hope, LOVES ME! ME, little nobody, ME!
My anthem shall rang out, JESUS LOVES ME, Yes, I know, for the Bible tells ME so, little ones to him belong, they are weak, But he is strong!
I am glad you don’t have to be perfect to know Jesus. I am glad Jesus uses less than perfect people to accomplish his plan. Some of you that will read this are not doing the work of God, because you have watched other people, and they are not what they are supposed to be, therefore I will sit back idle and wait for perfect people to work with?
I am so glad I don’t have to work out every problem I have, before I to come to Jesus. I am so glad I can come to Him the way I am, weak and dirty handed, and Jesus will help me become what I need to be.
I am so glad I am not a judge of others. I am very bad to watch other people and allow them to dictate my attitudes and moods. It is easy at church to watch another and not receive what God had planned for me. Thus by watching others, I ROB myself of a rich closeness to God.
Who made you judge of another man’s servant?
Romans 14:14 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. ----
MISSING THE WHOLE POINT!
A man was waiting by the church’s door one night, he was angry and he told several people how angry he was! One came back in the church to tell me how angry this man was. The crowd left, and I turned out the lights hoping the man would leave and I would not have to address what ever issue he was mad about?
I got to the door and I saw my beloved church member waiting at the door, so I stepped out and the man started jumping all over me ... he was angry and very loud.
He proceeded telling me how bad some of the church members were. He said as we were praying that he saw four people peeking out of their eyes. He said that they looked around while we were praying. And the nerve of it, one was a board member and one was a board member’s wife. The nerve of them hindering the move of the Spirit by peeking around?
I tried to smooth his feathers down. I told him I was not playing peek-a-boo. I prayed hard and intensely. I thought why jump on me for what I didn’t do?
He said I know that you never peeked. But 4 people were peeking and this was very bad. He went stomping off, he turned and looked back, and said I will never come to this church again, even a board member peeked?
I asked him to wait a minute. I then told him he was wrong, there was not 4 people peeking while we prayed.
He said, Yes there were 4 and he told me their names.
I again informed him he was wrong. I told the young man that there were five people playing spiritual peek-a-boo, and I added his name. I told him, how could you possibility know four opened their eyes while we were praying without him opening his eyes?
The mad man was very angry for people doing what he, himself, was doing?
He never returned to church there in my tenure as pastor.
HE MISSED THE WHOLE POINT, he was as guilty as any person he accused?
Can one pray with their eyes open? I hope so, I pray often as I drive? Was he wrong for jumping the Preacher for something the Preacher was not responsible? Was he wrong to base his praying and attitudes by what someone else was doing? How could he be praying a focused, fervent prayer while watching and judging another?
I am so glad that all I have to try to keep straight is me. I am so glad that my relationship with Jesus does not hinge on what others do or don’t do.
I am so glad that Jesus loves all of us, those that were "peeking" and even the guy that got so mad, Jesus still loves him. Why Jesus loves us as an individual is beyond my limited understanding.
WHO MADE YOU A JUDGE? WHAT RIGHT DO YOU HAVE TO CRITICIZE AND DEVALUE ANOTHER BELIEVER?
There are several bad attitudes birthed by judging others.
1. You put your standard upon another.
Just because you eat meat, or prefer one day, or demand a dress code to meet your criteria, I do not have to submit to your same standard of conscience. Something’s are a matter of conscience and raising, not the written word of God.
2. You might not understand my case and my load.
Many people come before the Lord with a very scarred and with horrible past.
I put off being baptized several years. Back then we baptized in the river. My Dad was my pastor, my Dad could not swim. I had a terrible fear of the water. Sure, this is stupid, but I was only 5 or 6 years old. When I was about 8, I made the decision, if I drown, I will drown, but I am going to trust God.
3. I LIFT MYSELF UP INTO AN ELEVATED POSITION when I judge others.
At best, all you are is a sinner saved by grace. You are no better in God’s eyes than the poorest child in Haiti. You are no better than the most ignorant man that cannot read or write. So what, if somebody doesn’t measure up to your stick, you must not think yourself a scholar, we are just students, learning and growing.
4. YOU ARE PUTTING OTHERS DOWN.
You may not be doing it intentionally, but when you start judging others, you are putting them down, making them second class individuals. There are no big I’s and little you’s at the foot of the cross.
5. OTHERS CAN SEE AND FEEL YOUR ATTITUDE OF SUPERIORITY.
You can put a distance between you and those that you are supposed to be ministering to when others can see the lack of a LOVE servant’s heart.
6. YOU ESTABLISH CLIQUES BY JUDGING, AND THUS BECOME CLANNISH.
A clique is a small narrow group that is exclusive. Cliques are prone to be manipulative and very controlling. If you are not like me, we cannot work together.
This is Biblical: Amos 3:3 How can two walk together unless they agree?
If you are not like me; if you do not agree 100% with me; if you don’t dress like me; if you don’t act like me; then we can’t be brethren.
I see a retired minister on a regular basis. He is a good Christian worker. I see him at the funeral homes, at the rest homes, at the hospitals visiting. He is very faithful to visit. He is from a church that says they are the only ones going to heaven, the rest of us are terrible sinners.
I always say to him, "Brother, keep up the good work!"
I am very serious, he is a precious brother.
He always replies to me, "I WILL MY FRIEND!"
He refuses to call me a brother, because I am different. We believe the same Bible and teach most things in common, but he excludes all people.
We should build the church to be INCLUSIVE, not exclusive.
WHAT COLOR ROBES DO CHRISTIANS WEAR?
I am glad Jesus does not give us black robes of a judge, but that He gives us a white robe. I don’t think white robes come in small, medium, large, and extra large, they are all one size, the size of Jesus, and we are to grow into His size. We cannot alter the size of the robe to fit us, rather we alter us to fit the robe. We do our alterations upon the altar of God and with His Word!
How sad I am when others try on the black robe of judgment and base what they do, or what they will not do based on what others do.
I am glad that at least some of the 10 virgins had oil for their lamps. They were all virgins, just some had a problem with not checking their own oil level.
I am so glad that while others don’t do what they should, that I can try to do my part, and be an example for them.
WITHDRAWAL AND ISOLATION IS VERY DANGEROUS.
Eccl. 4:12 --- AND A THREE FOLD CORD IS NOT QUICKLY BROKEN.
I HAVE A BANANA THEORY.
It is something like this. The banana is safe as long as he is with the bunch, but when he gets picked off the bunch, he is getting ready to be skinned.
There is no perfect denomination, group, or individual BUT THERE IS POWER IN UNITY AND AGREEMENT, even if it is agreeing to disagree.
We are stronger as a team and a group than we are individually
I am so sad when others withdraw, because of watching others. WE MUST SEE BEYOND WORDS, ACTIONS, AND STUPIDITY, --- LOOK BEYOND.
The person that needs your love the most deserves it the least!
I invited a man to church, he informed me that hypocrites attended church,
I said you are probably right, but seems you can go to Walmart and Kmart,
to the gas station and to the McDonald’s with them. He agreed.
Why can’t you go to church with us? I stated.
I told him that it seem like he was being a hypocrite talking about others behind their back and thinking himself better than those that don’t meet his standard and criteria?
Matthew 6:3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4. That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 5. And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, THEY HAVE THEIR REWARD. 6. But when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut the door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
I am glad that God recycles people, when others throw in their towel.
Jesus gives a hand. The best thing you could do is offer a hand up to those below you. I sure don’t want to miss God’s wonderfulness because I am watching other people.
I understand a love slave became a slave not out of force but out of a desire to love and please the Master.
JUST CUT OFF FROM THE BODY ALL THE WEAK AND LESS THAN THE BEST!
I knew a man that killed a person with a gun in his right hand, therefore I better cut off my right hand so I won’t be like him?
I wonder what Jesus would do if He only used perfect people like you and me?
Why can’t everyone else be perfect like you and me? Why can’t everyone see their weaknesses like you and me? I WILL BE HONEST, WHILE EVERYONE IS NOT PERFECT LIKE ME AND YOU, I DO WORRY ABOUT YOU SOME TIMES? ;)
WELL, I AM PRETTY GOOD, AND YOU ARE TOO...
I will never deserve to speak the name of Jesus aloud for others to hear?
Seems I have been raised in the church, I haven’t missed 10 church services in 10 years, I have never done an illegal drug, I have never smoked a cigarette, I have never drank my first sip of beer, wine, or the hard stuff, I have been faithful to my wife 32 years, --- I have served the Lord for more than 40 years, I have been full time 22+ years, I have preached in 17 states and 3 countries, I have traveled many miles, I have sold my family for this cross --- but all I am is a sinner saved my grace.
I have been baptized in water three times, I have never been to a baptismal service but what I did have to hold my self back from going for it again. I was filled with the Holy Spirit when I was 12, but I am no better than the drunk that got saved last night.
There is no seniority system, those that worked one hour got the same reward as those that worked 12.
I have no right to withdraw from any service for my Lord because I am bigger or better than anyone, I am honored to be a servant, I have laid hands on unworthy sinners in the jail, bad mean men, and prayed and cried because he was some Mother’s son.
He may be dirty and vile, but I am no better than he.
ME ON DEATH ROW?
I stood on Death Row in a prison. I was with a criminal, he had been locked on Death Row 18 years. I spent the last 5 days in the prison with this criminal and his family. To me he was not a criminal, he was a precious friend’s son.
I was there to watch the execution. I am not here to address the pro’s and con’s of the death penalty, but to tell you I stood with a man condemned to die.
I never thought about being identified with a criminal until minutes before.
At midnight, the curtains came up, 12 members of the press looked at me, I was straight across from them and they wrote for their newspapers.
The offended family sat at his feet, and I was with the criminal, I was 18 inches from him. I was his only friend or family member there.
Sure, I suddenly realized, I had this terrible thought about me standing with the accused and guilty, me the preacher, was I in the wrong room? He looked at me, he smiled, he looked at my gold cross in my hand, and he went to sleep forever. He was gone. I looked at the press, I wondered what would they say about me? I looked at the poor little family in the room at his feet. They had lost one they loved, and I felt great compassion for them and I prayed they received closure.
I thought, what am I doing here? I am in the wrong place. But then it came to me, as I thought of all the rooms in that prison that night, which room would Jesus be in? I pray He was in all the rooms, but I will tell you, Jesus was standing there with me. I can’t? I can’t do this? But Jesus gave me His love and how can I give any less?
As the guards in full riot gear escorted me to my car, I knew GRACE AND MERCY REACHES WAY DOWN.
RETALIATION FOR MY STAND?
Someone threw two rocks and broke my windshield, the chips are still in my windshield, because I stood with the guilty. I do understand their position.
The Missouri State Trooper said, " I can arrest them, and they will pay."
I said, I AM FREE, FREE. No, leave them alone, they are forgiven, may they forgive me? I shall wear this chipped windshield as a trophy, just as my Savior wore his Crown of thorns for me. Jesus loves ME.
Matthew 11:19 .... Jesus --- a friend of publicans and sinners ...
Luke 7:34 Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!
Jesus a friend of sinners? Jesus a FRIEND OF SINNERS! Praise God, I have a friend!
Some have seen my windshield, they have questioned my stand?
But there is a Mother that will never forget that I was with her son. I must be a friend to sinners! I went to the room in the motel and told the Mother:
"Your son is free, free at last. He failed his family and his God, but, I have no doubt at all, that as this man was looking in my eyes then to my gold cross, as he breathed his last guilty breath, he opened his eyes to an awaiting Jesus, forgiven. For, Jesus was a friend to sinners.
Sure, this was painful, sure I didn’t like it, but someday I shall close my eyes for the last time, and I want to say God, I was a friend to sinners. I loved people, I cared, and I gave my reputation as You did. I want to serve the Lord faithfully and may I hear Him say, You made it man, you got in the ditches with the dirty and you showed them mercy and grace. FORGIVEN!
The word promises those that give mercy shall receive mercy. God knows I need it!
GOD I NEED MERCY. My righteousness is as dirty as the vilest sinner.
I AM SORRY I CAN’T SERVE THE LORD WITH YOU?
I am sorry, I can’t stand with the guilty, they might dirty my white robe?
I am sorry Jesus, I can’t do your work cause someone else has dirty hands?
Somebody PEEKED, LORD?
Well, if they could see under the BLOOD of JESUS, my hands, --- MY HANDS --- you would see dirt also.
O, GOD! Show me how to stand next to that one man that can’t read or write; show me how to lay hands on the son in prison and pray earnestly; and show me how to reflect Jesus to others.
My white robe can never be soiled by others, it just makes my white robe glow brighter.
Exo. 34:12 Take heed to thyself...
Deut. 4:9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which you have seen...
Deut. 12:13 Take heed to thyself...
Deut. 12:30 Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared ...
Galatians 5:15 But if ye bite and devour one another, TAKE HEED That ye be not consumed one of another.
1Tim. 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them ---
If a young girl is pregnant and not married, she can come to me.
I have stood with some young girls and told the father, and I begged for mercy.
I will stand with the man dying with lung cancer from smoking, and not judge him.
I will stand with the man dying with aids, and say... THIS BLOOD IS FOR YOU.
TEACH ME, O LORD...
Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you again 3. Why beholdest thou the mote that is in your brother’s eye, but not consider the beam that is in thine own eye? 4. Or how can thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and behold a beam that is in thine own eye? 5. THOU HYPOCRITE, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then thou shalt see clearly to cast the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Please, help me, copy this message and send it to others?
