Common Ground

Common Ground

Acts 10: ²⁴ And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. ²⁵ As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. ²⁶ But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.” ²⁷ And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. ²⁸ Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. ²⁹ Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?”

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“That group messes everything up” I said out loud. I’m sure the department head of the group I was speaking of felt the same way about my department. The Chief Operating Officer had to step in and tell us to “fix this.” “Come meet in my office” I said. But the offer was rejected. He did the same and I rejected the offer to meet.

• There were times when I wanted people to meet me on “my” terms.
• There were times when I was told to reconcile, but had no intentions of doing so.
• There were times when I remembered all of the mess ups of others to show how great my group was.

Peter was summoned by someone of another race. Until then, Peter had kept to his own kind, BUT GOD had another plan. GOD told Peter not to call another race common or unclean. He was sent, so he went.

• GOD wants me to look at other humans as people who need JESUS.
• GOD wants me to see other humans as HIS creation.
• GOD wants me to view other people as “us” instead of them.

Desiring to harm someone because they do not look or act like me, is detestable in GOD’s eyes. I mean HE loathes when I call someone a fool. In fact HE said, “Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.” GOD wants me to meet in common ground. But where is that in these days of deep, century-laced hatred?

JESUS is the common ground that holds mankind together. Because of a “true” relationship with HIM, I can seek love for all HE sends me to or to whom I am sent. HE cares for the heart, not the outer shell. HE wants me to seek those who need HIM and sometimes the common ground may be hard to find. I am grateful GOD took the extra steps to save me. HE values my extra steps to extend common ground.

• Are you furious at another race right now?
• Do you feel anger versus love?
• Will you combat the distraction of hatred with the more powerful weapon of love for one another today?

Elevate

Elevate

John 8: ²³ And He said to them, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. ²⁴ Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

²⁵ Then they said to Him, “Who are You?”

And Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning. ²⁶ I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.”

²⁷ They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father.

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Looking for a promotion, I followed what was important to some of the higher-ups. I asked questions, listening for their concerns. I sat and thought of solutions to ensure they were successful. It worked! They promoted me to a higher level. Now, I had to do it again with the next level up.

• Many times I looked at people as being on a higher level.
• Many times I treated people with titles differently than others.
• Many times I assumed that people with certain titles were smarter, stronger and wiser than others.

JESUS puts the church leaders in their place by saying “You are from beneath; I AM from above.” HE then explains that HE is GOD and is not of this cursed world, but they were. HE doomed them to die eternally in their sins, but gave them a way to succeed… believe in HIM.

• JESUS wants me to believe that HE is GOD.
• JESUS wants me to believe that HE took care of all my problems.
• JESUS wants me to believe that birth was the beginning of eternity and my choice to believe in HIM guides where I will spend it.

Elevating JESUS is extremely important. HE chose to die for my sins as the ultimate demonstration of love. HE only asks that I believe I need HIM otherwise I would die in my sins. HE sent the HOLY SPIRIT to live in me because I believe in HIM. The FATHER sends me because HE is pleased with the way HE cleaned me up. I am grateful HE is GOD and I elevate HIM.

• How do you view GOD?
• Is GOD very common to you?
• Do you easily blame GOD or treat HIM like HE only deserves a little attention?
• Will you give more of your life to HIM and elevate HIM to GOD versus placing the constraints you have on HIM today?

Common Treatment

Mark 9: ⁹ Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead. ¹⁰ So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant.

¹¹ And they asked Him, saying, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

¹² Then He answered and told them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things. And how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt? ¹³ But I say to you that Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him.”

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Relaxed, I responded with a hug to a person I recognized. I was interviewing to be fast-tracked and I did not know every step I took was being watched. Though I answered the questions well, I did not get the position.

• There were times when I treated the higher ups as common.
• There were times when I treated my boss’s boss as regular.
• There were times when I treated people with a higher level, with contempt.

JESUS warns HIS disciples not to tell that they saw Elijah and Moses. They kept their promise and questioned the scribes teaching that Elijah must come first as prophesied by Malachi. JESUS explained that Elijah had come and was treated as common, just like all to other prophets and JESUS HIMSELF.

• I should treat JESUS with reverence instead of commonplace.
• I should look at GOD as GOD, not as a genie or swear word.
• I should view what JESUS did as awesome incredible, not boring forgetful.

GOD becoming man is something that should be discussed daily. Sometimes I forget to even think of GOD due to my mind being pulled towards the worries of the world. BUT GOD reminds me of HIS presence and I appreciate what HE has done.

• Are you treating GOD as common?
• Do you use HIS name I vain?
• Can you talk to HIM with the reverence HE deserves today?

Label Belief

Matthew 16: ¹³ When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

¹⁴ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

¹⁵ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

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“Mud” was the name of the person I was mad at. They could do no right in my eyes and I could not believe in anything they said. “Smart” was the name I gave a rising star and I listened to every word out of their mouths.

• There have been times I labeled people.
• There have been times I have given a person a name.
• There have been times I put someone in a category and treated them in that fashion.

How I perceived people was how I treated them. If I perceived them to be “higher” than me then I treated them with one level of respect, the opposite went for those I felt were “beneath” me. In my labeling practice I soon labeled GOD based on my lack of faith. HE wasn’t “GOD” to me rather “god” just like everything else.

• JESUS deserves the highest label I can give HIM.
• JESUS deserves to be called what HE is, namely GOD almighty.
• JESUS deserves my trust, faith and obedience due to HIS supremacy over all.

Treating JESUS as common was my problem. Yes HE is a brother and a friend but HE is GOD. HE tells me to stop labeling people HE made and get them to focus on HIM who can raise them from the dead. The higher the label I can place on JESUS the stronger my belief will be in HIM.

• What do you call GOD?
• Is your lack of faith blocking you from placing HIM above everything in your life?
• Can you stop labeling those around you and give them over to GOD today?

Is this how you repay ME?

Amos 2: ¹⁰ I brought you up out of Egypt
    and led you forty years in the wilderness
    to give you the land of the Amorites.

¹¹ “I also raised up prophets from among your children
    and Nazirites from among your youths.
Is this not true, people of Israel?”
declares the Lord.
¹² “But you made the Nazirites drink wine
    and commanded the prophets not to prophesy.

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Swish, I went to the ground in front of the bus! The driver had just started to pull off and suddenly stopped in the nick of time. I was not harmed. “Hey!” someone cried out to me to get my attention just before I stepped into traffic. I was not harmed. A car in which I had two total loss accidents was now in its third and final accident. I was not harmed.

• I have had many close calls in my life.
• I have had some very narrow escapes in my life.
• I have had several brushes with death in my life.

During the incident I don’t think I got scared, but afterwards I shuttered with fear. I may have become a little more cautious when standing on a snowy bus stop. Safety became top of mind as I plodded along with new fears. BUT GOD saw I was missing the lesson.

• GOD does not save me to be safe rather HE wants me to have a relationship with HIM.
• GOD does not protect me from harm for nothing rather HE wants me to serve HIM.
• GOD does not answer my prayers just to give me “my” way rather HE wants me to align my desires to HIS in order to grow HIS kingdom.

The one thing I did not do in the incidents mentioned is “Thank GOD” for HIS protection. HE enabled me to be safe in many instances so I can speak about HIM this day. Unfortunately there have been times where I have forgotten that I am HIS creation.

I kept stacking up demands and requests, not serving or praising HIM, meanwhile HE allowed me to keep ignoring HIM until I was in deep trouble. Fortunately for me GOD is slow to anger. HE listens when I truly turn my heart towards HIS. I can actually hear GOD’s pain as HE mentions HIS salvation of when we were brought out of the desert. GOD deserves my praise!

• Are you demanding GOD to get you out of your situation?
• Do you feel HE is ignoring you?
• Will you allow HIM to guide you back to HIM by praising HIM today?
• Will you take a moment to thank HIM today for all HE has done in your life?
• Have you ask GOD for your purpose yet?

Setting Aside Something Special

Ezekiel 48: ⁸ “Bordering the territory of Judah from east to west will be the portion you are to present as a special gift. It will be 25,000 cubits wide, and its length from east to west will equal one of the tribal portions; the sanctuary will be in the center of it.

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³⁵ “The distance all around will be 18,000 cubits.

“And the name of the city from that time on will be:

the Lord is there.”

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When I stopped by my friend’s house late, there was a plate of food wrapped in foil. It had all of my favorites on it. “I wondered when you would come by” said my other mother.

• There have been people who have set aside something special for me.
• There have been people who put some time into me.
• There have been people who watched out for me.

It truly is a great feeling to have someone do something special for me. I mean the thought and the effort behind the act is what makes me feel special, I wonder if GOD feels the same way? HE does.

• GOD wants me to set aside a special gift for HIM.
• GOD wants me to set aside a special place for HIM.
• GOD wants me to set aside a special time for HIM.

Just like I love feeling special, GOD wants and deserves the same, actually better. HE wants some time spent with just HIM and I where we can discuss the day and move on with HIS plan. When I do set aside a special thing, time and place GOD names it “THE LORD IS THERE.”

• Are you setting aside something special for GOD besides money?
• Have you set aside any time with HIM lately?
• Will you set aside a part of your living space to GOD where only you and HE can go?

There is a Difference

Ezekiel 44: ²³ They are to teach my people the difference between the holy and the common and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean.

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“Don’t go behind the pulpit” was a statement that struck fear in me as a child in a church I attended. I thought something would happen to me so I figured I would put it to the test. I stuck my hand behind the place where the preacher would speak and nothing happened, although I quickly removed it because I did not want to take any chances. Soon I was bold enough to walk back and forth behind it and make silly faces at it.

• Many times I have taken something sacred and turned it common.
• Many times I have looked at holy things as common.
• Many times I have treated something that should be holy as a thing that can be used like any other thing.

After growing up, I noticed churches were treating their places as common places looking very similar to any other place that had a crowd. I thought this was the norm and quickly fell in line. BUT GOD wanted me to think differently.

• GOD wants me to treat HIM as HOLY not common.
• GOD wants me to prepare myself before I enter HIS sanctuary of prayer and worship.
• GOD wants me to take some time to stop doing my everyday stuff and to have some sacred time between HIM and I.

GOD said to Moses “Take off your sandals for you are on sacred ground.” This intrigued me. I mean why was the dirt over there common and the dirt he was on sacred? The answer is GOD declared it.  GOD declares sacred times, namely the Sabbath. HE declares sacred places, namely prayer closets and churches. HE even declares sacred words, namely HIS message to us in the Bible.

It is up to me to see that there is a difference between holy and common, I don’t mean in a phony legalistic way. GOD wants me to lower my glossy eyes on common things like the new gadget and place them on heavenly things like GOD’s growing kingdom. HE wants me to see a difference in the common and the holy and teach others to hold GOD up in the highest regard.

• Are you treating GOD as common?
• Is nothing sacred in your life?
• Can you set aside some sacred time between you and GOD?

How to Act High and Mighty

Psalm 138: ⁶ Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;
    though lofty, he sees them from afar.
⁷ Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
    you preserve my life.
You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes;
    with your right hand you save me.
⁸ The Lord will vindicate me;
    your love, Lord, endures forever—
    do not abandon the works of your hands.

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“One day I will have an office” I said to myself. Only those who were very high up in the company had offices instead of cubicles. An office had a door that could be closed and people couldn’t just wander in and pry all over “my” desk. I observed how the big bosses would separate themselves from the underlings by placing an admin as a guard; meanwhile anyone could just barge into my tiny cubicle!

• Sometimes I think I want levels especially when I desire to be on top.
• Sometimes I think I like levels especially when I think the top is worth the climb.
• Sometimes I think I would enjoy levels because maybe people would treat me differently.

Adjustment after adjustment, behavior change after behavior change I did emerge on top. I had an administrative assistant who was my guard from those on the bottom but not from those on top. I saw people I wanted to help but could not. Is this how GOD acts? NO!

• GOD is exalted but looks kindly on the lowly and wants me to treat everyone the same.
• GOD is lofty and sees people from afar and wants me to seek HIS people rather than waiting for them to come to me.
• GOD is the preserver of life, vindicator of wrongs and sustainer of love and wants me to look to HIM for power.

Levels are a myth and a creation of man to horde the comforts of life. Levels breed exclusion, limits access and causes me not to answer my phone when people cry out. BUT GOD is the only one who should be exalted. HE should be raised up in my life as the standard, meanwhile I should treat everyone the same, with utmost respect. GOD wants me to point my life to HIM.

• Do you want to go to the next level?
• Are you trying to climb the ladder of success by excluding people?
• When will you mimic GOD’s behavior by seeking the lost?
• Will you lift GOD up, lower yourself and seek HIS people?

Is there anything “sacred” in my life?

Titus 1: ¹⁵ To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. ¹⁶ They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.

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“Church is so boring today” I thought to myself. I glanced outside and noticed some of the other kids walking down the street to the candy store. “What a great idea” I thought. The next week, I thought of my lie to get out of sitting in the sermon with my parents.

I took my offering money and went to the candy store. Unfortunately for me we lingered just a tad too long. When we arrived back at the church my parents were standing there waiting with “that” look on their face.

• When I make GOD common I treat HIM like HE is not supreme.
• When I make GOD common I pray out of habit not out of worship.
• When I make GOD common I give when I feel like it or for tax purposes.
• When I make GOD common I guess at HIS ways without learning them.
• When I make GOD common I prey on HIS humans for monetary or lustful gain.

There is a fine line between being extremely judgmental of others and honoring GOD in the way HE wants me to.  The Pharisees made an extreme number of rules that by appearance seemed to be “worshipping GOD” when in reality they sought to be noticed and adored by their congregations for their religious prowess.

GOD is supreme, holy and requires us to view HIM as GOD, not as “the wish doctor.” HE isn’t something we turn to only in troubled times, rather HE is the one and only creator with extreme unmatched supernatural powers. HE is all seeing, all knowing, is everywhere and has always lived.

JESUS, who is GOD, became a human, was murdered and was raised from the dead. This simple fact deserves remembrance, sacred worship and should never be taken lightly. Unfortunately sometimes I think church is for me instead of bowing to my LORD and savior. GOD deserves reverence so I will attempt to do this without judging people around me.

• What way do you treat GOD special in your life?
• Do you set aside time to talk to HIM or learn about HIM?
• Do you brag to others about how good you are or can you let GOD be the judge of your actions?
• Can you elevate GOD and stop treating HIM as common in one area of your life today?