Choosing Grace: Faith Over Feelings in Adversity
Summary
In reflecting on a pivotal moment from my past, I shared an experience from the time of Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. I remember looking out my window, witnessing the chaos and anger that filled the streets, and feeling a deep conflict within myself. On one hand, I was grappling with the painful reality of the situation and the presence of the National Guard, who were just doing their job. On the other hand, I was reminded of my father's teachings: to love your enemy, not their actions, and to hate the sin, not the sinner. This internal struggle was compounded by the principle that my faith should overrule my emotions.
In the midst of this turmoil, I asked my father if I could offer food and drink to the guards outside our home. This act of kindness was a way to show grace in a difficult situation, aligning with the biblical teaching of heaping coals on the head of an enemy. It was a moment of ministering grace, choosing not to succumb to the anger and fear that surrounded me. This experience taught me the importance of rising above the wrongs of the world, not by endorsing them, but by not allowing them to dictate my actions or emotions.
This principle of rising above, while condemning wrongs, is something I strive to carry with me throughout life. It is about maintaining a posture of grace and faith, even when faced with legitimate pain and fear. It is a call to live out our faith in tangible ways, showing love and kindness in the face of adversity.
Key Takeaways:
1. Faith Over Feelings: In moments of conflict and pain, it is crucial to let faith guide our actions rather than our emotions. This requires a conscious decision to trust in the principles of our faith, even when our feelings are pulling us in different directions. [01:10]
2. Loving the Enemy: We are called to love our enemies, not by condoning their actions, but by recognizing their humanity and responding with grace. This love is a powerful testimony of our faith and can transform even the most difficult situations. [00:58]
3. Acts of Kindness as Ministry: Simple acts of kindness, like offering food and drink to those we perceive as adversaries, can be profound expressions of grace. These actions can serve as a ministry, demonstrating the love of Christ in practical ways. [01:34]
4. Rising Above Wrong: It is important to rise above the wrongs we encounter, not by ignoring them, but by refusing to let them dictate our responses. This involves condemning the wrong while maintaining a posture of grace and integrity. [02:17]
5. Grace in Adversity: Ministering in grace during times of adversity requires strength and courage. It is about choosing to respond with love and kindness, even when the environment calls for anger and fear. [02:00]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:16] - Witnessing the Riots
[00:31] - Internal Conflict
[00:43] - Questioning the Situation
[00:58] - Teachings of Love
[01:10] - Faith Over Feelings
[01:24] - Offering Kindness
[01:34] - Grace in Action
[01:46] - Biblical Principles
[02:00] - Ministering Grace
[02:17] - Rising Above Wrong
[02:38] - Conclusion
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Romans 12:20 - "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."
2. Matthew 5:44 - "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."
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Observation Questions:
1. What emotions and conflicts did the pastor experience when witnessing the events following Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination? [00:16]
2. How did the pastor's father's teachings influence his response to the National Guard outside his home? [00:58]
3. What specific act of kindness did the pastor consider as a way to show grace during the turmoil? [01:24]
4. How does the pastor describe the principle of "faith over feelings" in the context of his experience? [01:10]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the principle of "faith over feelings" challenge the way individuals typically respond to conflict and pain? [01:10]
2. In what ways does loving an enemy, as described in the sermon, differ from condoning their actions? [00:58]
3. How can simple acts of kindness serve as a ministry, according to the pastor's experience? [01:34]
4. What does it mean to "rise above wrong" while still condemning it, and how can this be applied in everyday life? [02:17]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent conflict or painful situation in your life. How can you apply the principle of "faith over feelings" to guide your response? [01:10]
2. Think of someone you consider an adversary. What practical steps can you take to show them love and grace without condoning their actions? [00:58]
3. Identify a situation where you can perform a simple act of kindness for someone you perceive as an adversary. What might that act look like, and how can it serve as a ministry? [01:34]
4. Consider a wrong you have encountered recently. How can you rise above it while maintaining a posture of grace and integrity? [02:17]
5. In moments of adversity, what specific actions can you take to ensure your response is rooted in love and kindness rather than anger and fear? [02:00]
6. How can you incorporate the teachings of loving your enemy into your daily interactions, especially with those who challenge you the most? [00:58]
7. Reflect on a time when your emotions dictated your actions. How might your response have been different if you had prioritized your faith over your feelings? [01:10]
Devotional
Day 1: Faith as the Compass in Emotional Storms
In moments of deep conflict and pain, it is essential to let faith guide our actions rather than our emotions. This requires a conscious decision to trust in the principles of faith, even when feelings are pulling in different directions. The struggle between emotions and faith is a common human experience, but choosing faith can lead to peace and clarity. By allowing faith to be the compass, one can navigate through life's storms with a sense of purpose and direction. [01:10]
"For we walk by faith, not by sight." (2 Corinthians 5:7, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a current situation where your emotions are overwhelming. How can you consciously choose to let your faith guide your response today?
Day 2: Embracing Humanity in Our Adversaries
Loving our enemies does not mean condoning their actions but recognizing their humanity and responding with grace. This love is a powerful testimony of faith and can transform even the most difficult situations. By seeing the humanity in those we perceive as adversaries, we open the door to healing and reconciliation. This approach requires strength and a deep commitment to the teachings of love and grace. [00:58]
"But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (Matthew 5:44, ESV)
Reflection: Think of someone you consider an adversary. How can you show them grace and recognize their humanity today?
Day 3: Kindness as a Tool for Ministry
Simple acts of kindness, like offering food and drink to those we perceive as adversaries, can be profound expressions of grace. These actions serve as a ministry, demonstrating the love of Christ in practical ways. By choosing kindness, we can break down barriers and create opportunities for connection and understanding. This approach not only impacts others but also transforms our own hearts, aligning us more closely with the teachings of Christ. [01:34]
"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21, ESV)
Reflection: Consider a small act of kindness you can offer to someone you find difficult to love. How can this act serve as a ministry of grace today?
Day 4: Rising Above the Wrongs of the World
It is important to rise above the wrongs we encounter, not by ignoring them, but by refusing to let them dictate our responses. This involves condemning the wrong while maintaining a posture of grace and integrity. By choosing to rise above, we demonstrate a commitment to higher principles and values, showing that we are not defined by the negativity around us. This approach requires courage and a steadfast faith in the face of adversity. [02:17]
"Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing." (1 Peter 3:9, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a recent wrong you have encountered. How can you rise above it today while maintaining grace and integrity?
Day 5: Grace as a Response to Adversity
Ministering in grace during times of adversity requires strength and courage. It is about choosing to respond with love and kindness, even when the environment calls for anger and fear. By embodying grace, we become beacons of hope and light in a world often filled with darkness. This choice not only impacts those around us but also strengthens our own faith and resilience. [02:00]
"Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." (Colossians 4:6, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you choose to respond with grace in a challenging situation today? How might this choice impact both you and those around you?
Quotes
"I remember when um I was looking out my window during the riots when Martin Luther King was assassinated and I I'm looking at all the national god outside and I'm feeling and seeing the anger during that time and I'm conflicted because I'm dealing with the reality that's painful, I'm dealing with focal just doing the job the international god they called out to you." [00:12:14]
"I'm dealing with the why are we even in this situation to begin with and then I'm dealing with my training from my father, love your enemy don't don't love what they do but but you got to love them you you love the sinner and hate the sin and trying to just balance all of that in my mind in my head." [00:48:48]
"But I've got one other principle I've gotta I've gotta bring to bear and that is the principle that I was taught that my faith overrules everything else even my feelings and so I had to operate on faith and I remember asking my father, okay can I take the guards that were right outside of our house something to drink and something to eat." [01:09:12]
"It's coming it's coming to mind now that I actually asked my parents could I do that as a way of showing grace and kindness in a difficult situation and of course that takes me right back to the scripture again of heaping holes on someone's head who may even be an enemy because you don't know what people are gonna say and what people are going to think and uh ministering in grace." [01:31:26]
"And not succumbing to the vitriol that my environment called for that was based on legitimate pain but legitimate fear because I didn't know what was going to happen next and and moving beyond that and I'm trying to carry that principle with me through life of a rising above not without endorsing the wrong and needing to even condemn the wrong but rising above it and not succumbing to it." [01:56:11]
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