Discussing Abraham’s many struggles and mistakes, we were thankful that God saw his heart and considered him a friend. A member of our group added, ‘God saw Abraham’s potential and knew who he would become.’ These words connected with my heart as this is exactly how we want to see our friends here. We want them to grow in godliness and the giftings that God has given them, though it is not always easy. We have made some spectacular mistakes along the way, but we’ve also seen God do beautiful things too.

              I note that a fair amount of turmoil and heartache seems to accompany the change and growth that needs to take place in my life. God calls us to love Him and to love one another. The loving Him part sounds the easier, until I realise the catch that loving Him requires me to truly love others too. Doesn’t God know how messy and costly it is to build relationships with people who have issues? They are angry and bitter, jealous and avaricious… the list goes on. ‘Too hard,’ I shout, entertaining thoughts of dashing away to some holy corner.

              A moment of quiet and honest prayer shocks me, as I hear God’s clear answer, ‘You only see in others what is in you!’ That’s a chilling revelation, like discovering a plank in my eye.

              These friendships are not a way one street. He has plenty to teach me here too. Loving those who struggle confronts me with my helplessness. I cannot fix them. I cannot fix myself. Yet, in loving God, a love flows from me that I cannot contain.

              With the eye of faith, freed from splinters, I learn to look beyond the masks and tactics, trusting God to enable me to see people as He does. I do not disregard the wrong. Neither do I imagine that my faith in a person will cause them to make right choices. Instead my acceptance, like an invitation, hopefully provides an opportunity for them to move towards God and allow Him to bring change.

God surprises me, meeting people in the most unimagined and incredible ways and gifting them with the priceless gifts of forgiveness, a clear path and a new life. This gospel message is full of mercy, giving us what we do not deserve. It brings me face to face with Jesus’ incredible kindness.

God created us for relationships. Jumbled and painful, exuberant and soul quenching, they fill our lives, spanning every emotion we can ever experience. God longs that our relationship with Him and others are holy and healthy, and for that we need His help.

Thankfully, He knows this better than we do. He spoke and His word became a man and lived amongst us; Jesus the expression of His love, entered our tangled humanity to rescue us. He did not wait for us to be ready, but welcomed us, bringing hope to the world, enabling us to be continuously changed into the people who love. No wonder the true message of Christmas is so profound, it has the potential to bring a lifetime of change to derelict lives.

© copyright Gillian Newham 2023