Matt 7: 13-29. Sheep outside, wolf inside.
Today was the first day back at school after our Christmas break. People were glad to see each other for the most part and many of us were happy to be back at work. When I was a teacher, I really enjoyed getting back to the class. As a principal, however, besides the different joys there are always unpleasantries. Today I had one of those that made me feel like a wolf in sheepamprsquos clothing.
Because of a long overdue account by a parent who lied and lied about paying his bill, his daughter had to be withdrawn from the school. She has been our student for years. Her father could pay the fees initially but then fell on hard times and instead of facing it bravely with God, he delayed and lied in order to look good in his daughteramprsquos eyes. Now disaster has befallen him, and his daughter is suffering because of his pride.
The man is a Christian and comes to our church periodically. He met with me a couple of times and talked words of repentance as he shared some of his story of a broken marriage, divorce, and job loss. I had warned him before that his situation was the result of his life and he needed to make a serious application of repentance in order to keep the respect of his daughter. He pridefully chose the worldly way of trying to look good in his daughteramprsquos eyes.
Today I received yet another empty promise from him to pay his bill in a few weeks time. The wolf of self-righteousness rose up inside me and I wanted to write him a slashing letter, condemning him in the strongest terms as a pitiful liar in whom no one could trust and who refused to face the reality he had created for himself and his daughter, his divorced wife, and the grandparents his daughter is living with, old people who were shocked to learn today of just how much debt he had incurred to maintain his pride.
Instead I wrote a muted letter in which I encouraged him to repent. He responded by asking me to write a note of encouragement to his daughter! I couldnamprsquot believe it. I snarled to myself and if the man had been in front of me I would have hit him!
I took a breath and prayed instead. Then I wrote to his daughter, whom I know well, that I was sorry for her circumstances and reminded her that life is hard. I encouraged her to look to Jesus to help her change her attitude and feelings because she was powerless to change her circumstances.
When she responded with gratitude to my note, I realized just how much wolfish anger at her father had blinded me to Godamprsquos love in all this, especially to the daughter. I saw that I was only pretending to be a sheep while inside I was quite another creature altogether.
God used the man I judged harshly to give me a message of spiritual consolation to a girl caught in circumstances she too needed to face with the Lordamprsquos strength.
Application: Get a QTin to the daughter so she has something to help her in the coming days.
Lord, keep me mindful of my wolfish self-righteousness and harsh judgement of others and ever steer me to humility and love.
