People Over Circumstance

As we explored last week, the word Paul uses for the fruit of the Spirit of patience is Makrothumia.

This is a patience inspired by mercy; this is a specific patience for others. At the same time, while patience for circumstances (Hupomone) is an outcome of our faith, it’s not what Paul is talking about in Galatians. What does that mean?

It means God places people over circumstances. The more we look like Christ, I think we should place people over circumstances too.  Think about all of those stories of conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees. What was the problem?

Jesus valued PEOPLE over the LAW.

There is that great story about Jesus healing a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath in Matthew 12, where Jesus scolds the Pharisees:

11 He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out?

12 How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

- Matthew 12:11-12

What about you? For me, It’s easy to place my circumstances, my comfort, my point of view, over an individual.

We are quick to dismiss, ignore, or mock those who are different from us.  As followers of Jesus, when the Spirit shows up, people take precedence over perspectives.

As you and I look out at our world, and even at ourselves, we may think it would take divine intervention to be able to do that. Exactly! That’s exactly what happened inside of you.

You have a supernatural heart inside of you today. It can extend mercy, just as mercy has been extended to you and me.

Pastor Jared

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