October 27, 2011
Stark Contrast
I’ve become more aware of journalists writing their news stories and
then locating a photo to accompany the slant of their story. Awhile back photos
of two of our elected officials appeared side by side in the local newspaper.
One person’s photo was the stylish professional official photo, and the other
person’s photo was a less than flattering candid shot. Even without the written
story, the selected photos were a stark contrast and they told a story of their
own. One official was obviously favored and there was an attempt to disparage
the other official by making them appear folksy, backwards and unprofessional.
In the spiritual arena I can draw a similar parallel. As believers the Lord presents
us in our most positive light and then Satan does his best to bring us down by
using unflattering candid shots that causes others to question our
worth.
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1 comment:
Gail;
-----You have been honest. The unflattering candid shots Satan uses reveals the truth of our imperfections. I’m currently having a great email discussion with a friend who can’t quite accept the fact that everybody is faulty and in some ways, to some extent, is deceitful. Yet, while Satan’s candid photo’s of us causing others to question our worth is very insightful, it causes something else, too. Something he hates. Something we don’t talk about often enough. Although it causes some to question worth, it causes others great compassion and sympathy. It stirs up the age old expression less often now heard, “But for the grace of God, there go I.”
-----That is a constructive feeling. To godly culture it is as 2X6’s are to houses. Oh yes! It certainly recognizes somebody does some things wrong. Humanity would crumble if we stopped intellectually acknowledging wrong generally and specifically. It recognizes the damage caused to others by wrongs, and the damage caused to themselves who do wrong. But it recognizes I do wrongs, too, and you, and everyone else. And so also merciful hearts go out to the poor guy of the candid photo, especially if his image is being lynched over nothing more than the mundane mischief we all do, sometimes happily. And their God recognizes their compassion as feeling much like the His forgiveness. He knows them by these similar sentiments.
-----Satan has a problem. This little hobby of his serves much to help God sort people. Some will act like Satan and accuse the one in the candid photo, because they are like Satan. Some will act like God, while not failing to acknowledge the faults shown, they will refuse to mercilessly abandon the poor chap. And so the social fabric of God’s kingdom continues to be woven by the merciful reactions of those loving Him to Satan's victims. Especially since they know that occasionally they also are used by Satan to give things a bit of a spin.
Love you all,
Steve Corey
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