So I have been reading the book "Sit, Walk, Stand" by Watchman Nee recently - it's a really good book! I recommend it to anyone, although it has taken me a while to get around to, I think that God has really brought it to me right when I needed!
There have been a lot of great take-away's from the book that I've been trying to apply and keep in mind - and I've chosen to share this one w/ y'all for now ^_^
The question of "right" or "wrong".
Often times, it is so easy to think of our situations in terms of right and wrong. Someone wronging us, how we were more right than someone else...
In his book, Watchman Nee says that we can become preoccupied with what is and what is not right, and whether we have been justly or unjustly treated.
and Nee says some stuff that I find really eye-opening:
"The whole question for us is one of cross-bearing. You ask me, 'Is it right for someone to strike my cheek?' I reply, 'Of course not! But the question is, do you want to only be right?' As Christians, our standard of living can never be "right or wrong", but the Cross. The principle of the Cross is our principle of conduct. Praise God that He makes His sun to shine on the evil and the good. With Him it is a question of His grace and not of right or wrong. But that is to be our standard also: "Forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave you." [Ephesians 4:32] "Right or wrong" is the principle of the Gentiles and the tax gatherers. My life is to be governed by the principle of the Cross and of the perfection of the Father: "Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." " [- Sit, Walk, Stand pg. 32]
Nee then goes on to illustrate his point with an example,
"A brother in South China had a rice field in the middle of a the hill. In time of drought he used a waterwheel, worked by a treadmill, to lift water from the irrigation stream into his field. His neighbour had two fields below his, and, one night, made a breach in the dividing bank and drained off all his water. When the brother repaired the breach and pumped in more water his neighbour did the same thing again, and this was repeated three or four times. So he consulted his brethren. "I have tried to be patient and not to retaliate," he said, "but is it right?" After they had prayed together about it, one of them replied, "If we only try to do the right thing, surely we are very poor Christians. We have to do something more than what is right." The brother was much impressed. Next morning he pumped water for the two fields below, and in the afternoon pumped water for his own field. After that the water stayed in his field. His neighbour was so amazed at his action that he began to inquire the reason, and in course of time he, too, became a Christian." [- Sit, Walk, Stand pg. 32-33]
"So, my brethren, don't just stand on your right. Don't feel that because you have gone the second mile you have done what is just. The second mile is only typical of the third and the fourth. The principle is that of conformity to Christ. We have nothing to stand for, nothing to ask or demand. We have only to give. When the Lord Jesus died on the Cross, He did not do so to defend our "rights"; it was grace that took Him there. Now, as his children, we try always to give others what is their due and more." [- Sit, Walk, Stand pg. 33]
"Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for you." - Ephesians 5:1-2
haha I could keep going and going - so many great things.. but I'll put it into a different post ^_^
we're only any good if we apply what we read and learn as well.
I really took a lot out of this, the value placed on acting out of love, and not trying to justify things as who was in the right or wrong, since if we were going on deeds and actions and earning - we all fall short of the Glory of God. Praise the Lord for His grace, and the chance we have to pour out grace and love on others!
I've also been keeping the rice field story in mind for this past week because it doesn't mean that Christians should allow themselves to be walked all over, but that our 'reaction' in Christ can be more powerful than simply seeking our form of "justice". hehe I especially like the line "If we only try to do the right thing, surely we are very poor Christians. We have to do something more than what is right."
I know I still have a long way to go, but through Christ, there is so much more =)
haha ok, enough of my rambling... Take heart dear sisters =D Keep on hard after Him!
Looking forward to seeing you all soon!
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