Spotless

“…just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” –Ephesians 5:25-27

If you have spent even a short time in the orphan and adoption field of ministry, you have undoubtedly heard the scripture verse found in James 1:27, “Pure and undefiled religion that God our Father accepts is the care for orphans and widows in their trouble and to keep oneself unspotted by the world.” Although it is the most quoted passage in the Christian adoption community, I believe it is one of the least practiced.  Allow me to explain.

I am now recalling how on this one occasion a dear friend of mine was out leading a four-wheeling expedition in the mountains near our home. Immediately following the outing, he came to our house to lead a small group Bible Study. When he arrived, he started talking to me in my kitchen about the study he was about to teach, but it was very difficult for me to take him seriously because he had black splotches of mud on his face. He either didn’t realize the mud was there or simply didn’t mind, and he would have left it on his face had I not said something to him.  Perhaps because many of the others who were in that room also had gone four-wheeling and were covered in mud, it just seemed normal and was not out of place.  But because I was clean and freshly showered, it seemed to me to be quite silly.  How often are we like that—not even realizing we look foolish because all around us there are others who look just as dirty or worse? The Word says that those who compare themselves to themselves are not wise.

Psalm 1:1 reveals that there truly is a progression of becoming more and more like the world and that it is possible to not even realize it is happening.  “Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scoffers.” Walking, stopping and standing, and finally sitting down. It starts by just taking a bit of worldly counsel, moves to taking on some of the world’s ways, and ends with us taking our place at the table to dine, completely comfortable in lives that displease God.

Much of the church is filled with man-pleasers who are unwilling to point out the mud that has splattered on our faces in the course of life, and too many are more interested in being liked and accepted by men than being accepted by God.  Yet, the Word reveals that God is preparing an acceptable Bride, without spot or blemish, to present to His Son!  This is not about being perfect, it is about recognizing the mud on our faces and confessing our sins to a God who declares that he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Caring for orphans and widows and being unspotted by the world is not an either/or option. Some ask why has the evangelical church not stepped up to care for orphans and widows, but let us also ask ourselves, “Why have those who have stepped up for orphans not chosen to be have the muddy spots of the world continually cleansed by God?” Is it the God of mammon we are busy worshipping? Is it that envy, competition, or selfish ambition are present? Or is it that we are not even aware that we are dirty because we are hard pressed to find someone among us who is choosing to be set apart unto Holiness? I used to think I was very generous, until I realized that I was comparing myself to those who were stingy.  Let us not compare ourselves to one another, for God has given us the great example, His Son, Jesus!

Comments

[Sarah]

Kerry, thank you for giving so much of yourself to share these thoughts and lessons. Truly thought provoking and heart touching each time.
The last few days I have been spending time thinking about what I am thankful for and then thanking the Lord for these things.
I wanted to let you know that I am thankful that you share your heart without pretense to those of us here in blog world. You are a blessing.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Sarah in Idaho

[Sarah]

One more thing...
Todays post really hit home. Really. Thanks for helping me have my eyes to my heart open a bit more.
Sarah

[Claudine T in MD]

Kerry, As always your words pierce the heart. They should. I am, and have always been, in agreement with the words you pen, I believe under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. I do, however, want to address others who are maybe in a similar situation as I. In January it will be 20 years since I fell to my knees in desperation, crying out to this God I did not know and had never seen, begging for mercy knowing how desperately I needed what His Son did for me on that Cross. I remember clearly saying, "God, I know nothing about You or the Bible. All I somehow know is that You are what I need...that I have no hope without Your intervention." I was newly married and an immediate transformation took place. God Himself put a burden on my heart for things I did not understand -- I did not know the verses to support the inner "voice" nor did I know the "Christian lingo." But at that moment I had an extreme burden for the lost, for the orphan, for the poor, for the Jews, and for intercession. God swelled my heart to give -- in ways I could not explain. I thought God would send me to, at that time, Russia, to build an orphanage. I began taking Russian classes. And, I also began having babies. At present, I only have four. Prior to the arrival of my sweet firstborn, I frequently asked my husband if we could go on mission trips or to a discipleship training school, or...if we could adopt.

Because it would take pages upon pages to share the happenings of the last 20 years, I obviously can't go into the details, but they have been challenging in every way. We have oftentimes not been on the "same page" spiritually. He is an extremely generous man with many wonderful qualities. Fear and insecurity, unfortunately, did not disappear when he was saved.

I'm bringing all of this up to say that there are MANY, MANY believers who would now, or in the past, have truly given everything to walk an adventurous faith walk because they were so madly in love with Jesus. Not all of us, however, have had the privilege of going. The spiritual struggle over reading words like yours (and several others) over the years add to both the disappointment and even confusion of what our specific purpose is. We KNOW what the Word says, our hearts were burdened BY GOD to obey, but...our circumstances didn't allow us to move forward...at least not...yet.

I'm currently 42. I have still not adopted. I have only helped others to move forward in their adoptions. I've not been on any mission trips. I know God is sovereign...but I know I have a responsibility to follow Him.

Are there others out there who are in this painful place? Hearing messages like these, wondering if somehow you missed some opportunity somewhere? Is it enough that I've attempted to train my four children in God's ways, often falling short? Will the Father look at someone like me who has not gone abroad...who has not adopted...who has not gone out and fed 5,000...or even 500...and still say, "well done?"

I would truly like to somehow know that God sees, as He says He does...that He understands...and that it's ok.

To anyone out there reading this, I pray the blessing and fullness of the Lord would be yours. That you WOULD have His peace that passes understanding and fully know that you are personally in the center of His will...and that it's ok.