Church signs... You gotta love 'em, right? Actually I find that many people have mixed feelings about church signs. You know the ones I mean. Generally they are either cute or witty - sometimes a little biting - with a message intended to catch your attention, in hopes (I can only presume) that you'll decide to visit the church? Or if nothing else, you'll think for a few seconds of your day about God or life or some such important topic.
While I could very easily go down a huge rabbit hole sharing with you various examples of church signs, don't worry - I won't. At least not here. But there is one I heard of that truly did get me thinking, and maybe it will be thought-provoking for you too. It said this:
"Love them all. Let God sort it out."
Sometimes I marvel at how much life seems to consist of "sorting things out". I've heard it said that organizing is simply a matter of having a place for things and consistently putting them there. You wash your dishes, dry them and put them each in their little homes. You take off your shoes and put them in the closet. You finish reading a book and put it back on the shelf. (Side note: this is how things are supposed to go. In case you're wondering whether or not our own children have mastered these skills yet, well let's just say I believe they're... ahem, still learning.)
No matter what your situation, though, you are likely sorting things out on the regular. And I don't mean just having your house organized. You have to sort out what clothing you're going to wear to work or school, how you're going to pay for that trip, or who in your family is taking care of Grandma after she has her surgery. Maybe something has gone wrong with your car and you have to sort out how you're getting it fixed, or if you're getting it fixed.
I suppose in some ways, sorting things out could just be another way to say making decisions. Whether we like it or not, we're probably going to have to keep doing that as long as we're alive. When the sign said, "let God sort it out", I doubt the idea was that we stop sorting out all things ever. It doesn't seem quite right to interpret the message there as an excuse for us to be lazy. You know, I used to do my laundry but I decided I'm just going to let God sort it out. I'm pretty sure my clothes will eventually wash and dry themselves!
As much as we can't get away from our responsibility to sort some things out, I wonder if we often spend needless energy sorting out the wrong things. Things that are not ours to sort out. Things like who deserves my love or kindness or forgiveness, and who doesn't. Things like wondering what I should worry about the most or how long I should hold on to my regrets. Things that keep us up at night. Could we learn to let God sort out those things? Would He maybe do a better job of it than we ever could?
I remember in one of the scenes of the movie Prince Caspian, Edmund says to his older brother Peter "You're welcome", after jumping in and helping him in a fight he had gotten into with some other boys. Peter responds rather begrudgingly, "I had it sorted." Maybe sometimes we like to think we have things sorted, or at least that we're capable of getting them sorted, when really we are in over our heads. We need help. We're in a fight we're never going to be able to win.
The good news is, we're not in it alone. We are called to love God and love people. 1 Peter 4:8 says, "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins." There is a song Nick and Becky Drake sing called "The Golden Rule" and the bridge says: Love, love is the greatest, love is the highest, love is the way of Jesus. It may not be easy, but it may be simpler than we sometimes make it. "Love them all. Let God sort it out."
What do you need to let God sort out today? Who is right in front of you? Love that person. And then the next person, and the next. And when you start to feel like you're in over your head, don't try to sort it out all on your own. Ask God for help. He promises that He will not leave us alone. May we come to Him often and remain in Him, today and every day.
Pray with me...
... Father, give everyone in the ACSD community the courage and strength to "love them all"
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." John 15:11-12
... Jesus, thank You for being our Friend who knows and understands us and offers us rest
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29
... Holy Spirit, may our schools be filled with people who overflow with hope because of Your love
And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:5
Thanks for taking the time to read this blog and pray for Alliance Christian School District! Lord willing, I plan to publish a new blog post weekly on Wednesdays throughout the school year. Feel free to subscribe (at the bottom of this page) if you'd like to be notified each time a new blog post has been published. We also have a prayer team that is always open for new pray-ers to join. If you'd like to learn more, email me at cwarner@alliancechristian.org.
~ Carrie Warner, ACSD Prayer Team Coordinator
Soli Deo Gloria
To God alone be the glory
