About a month ago, we were out for my daughter's birthday, and her girlfriend made a comment that she wished someone would adopt her. In my mind, I immediately wanted to say, "I will adopt you." She needs a dad in her life and I have a heart for so-called orphans.
But I could not say anything because she is a lesbian who is living with my daughter.
I then thought about how Paul says God has adopted us into his family. God made that decision before the creation of the world. It was not because of anything I did but purely out of love for me.
Maybe I should offer the same kind of unconditional love to my daughter's friend.
One thing you learn in support groups for people with loved ones who are addicts is that you can't change the addict. They have to want to change. They have to make the decision. They have to do the work. It is similar for unrepentant sinners. The healthy do not need a doctor but a seemingly healthy person may have cancer. They need to see the test results and agree with the prognosis. Pretending they are healthy does no good. The disease inside will kill them. All have sinned...
Also, Paul says, "It is not my business to judge those who are not part of the group of believers. God will judge them." In other words, live and let live. But I can't support someone who is hurting my daughter's faith. How can I take her into my family? There have to be conditions.
I know that conviction is the "strange work of the HS". I cannot convict anyone. However, I do pray that God would convict my kids (and me); that he would weigh them down with guilt and then comfort them with the sure hope of salvation when they cry out for relief. That is all I can do. I stand at the end of the road and wait.
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