Its Not About Me, but...

I am currently reading Simply Christian by N.T. Wright. So far, I have found it to be a refreshing and intriguing defense and presentation of the Christian faith. In it he states, "The line between justice and injustice, between things being right and things not being right, can't be drawn between 'us' and 'them.' It runs right down throught the middle of each one of us." How right he is! Further, "Isn't it strange that we should all want things to be put to rights but can't seem to do it? And isn't the oddest thing of all the fact that I, myself, know what I ought to do but often don't do it?"

I have previously posted that it is important to realize that it is not about me; rather, it is about God. His name. His kingdom. His praise. His glory. However, in thinking about things like justice and injustice, things being right and not being right, perhaps it is about me. It is much easier and preferrable for me to pass the buck on this one; to give the burden to someone/something else; to shine the light somewhere else so that I can stay comfortably within the shadows, but that will never do. As uncomfortable and disconcerting as looking into a mirror in full light may be, it is only then that I see things as they are. It seems that most people, including myself, are usually content to point the finger of blame for things not being right at others (other people, other religions, other situations or circumstances), but I realize that this will not do. I must first point the finger of blame at myself.

I profess to know the difference between right and wrong. I claim to know that doing what is right is much to be preferred over doing what is wrong, not only in God's sight, but for my own sake and the sake of those I share life with. However, I still do things that are wrong! Amazing! Jesus said that in order to help our brother get the speck of dust out of his eye, we must first get the plank out of our own eye. Paul said that he often does what he doesn't want to do, and sometimes he doesn't do what he wants to do. Nevertheless, we give thanks to God who gives us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord.