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“…there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”  Proverbs 18:24b (ESV)

“I’m not getting sick” were the words echoing from my lips. Everyone else in my house was sick. Colds, runny noses, sore throats and the dreaded hacking cough. So my game plan was to keep my distance. Keep exercising and take extra allergy meds. I ran the dishwasher every day to make sure germs didn’t linger around. Washed sheets and wiped down surfaces.

Two weeks down and I’m not sick. Everyone else is still recovering, coughing and yes on antibiotics. Me, well I was convinced I was in the clear. My healthy self and strategic plan was working. And then week three arrived and brought me a scratchy throat. Symptoms seemed to come and go as if my body was battling it out to hold its ground. Unfortunately, my proximity to sickness along with the coughing and sneezing stole away my thunder. Despite my efforts, my body was telling me sickness was winning out. Like the proverbial bad apple spoiling the whole bag, I was no longer immune to all the germs floating around my home.

To be totally honest, germs aren’t the only thing hovering close. Sometimes we allow the “not so good” influence of people to infiltrate our lives. Declaring “we can stand strong,” we make little compromises along the way. We lower our standards simply because we don’t want anyone to be offended as the real us slides right out the door. Definitely not a good thing.

Jesus, was the perfect example of One who went to where sinners were, the downcast and out. He saw them as His mission field – not to be avoided – but rather to be loved and drawn in. He didn’t lower His standards or stop teaching because someone’s feelings might be hurt. Rather Jesus spoke the truth with mercy and grace. And the best part was He lived out the message He spoke.

Sounds like way more than we could ever accomplish. Oh yes. But it doesn’t mean we throw in the towel and run in the opposite direction. We ask God to show us and empower us to love others, minister to others and reach out to others who believe differently than us. We show them respect, grace and a life committed to living out the truths we believe. The way we live out our faith around them speaks more than any message we could attempt to deliver. Bottom line, we don’t allow the “not so good” influences to overpower us and pull us down. We make sure we know how to respond and react when temptations arise. And we never forget the One who always hovers close to help us each step of the way.

“Father help us to be women who live out our faith rather than cower. Help us to stand strong in the midst of differences and love big.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life