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Your Blinker is On

Have you ever been behind someone on the highway with their blinker on and they don’t realize it?  You sit there at first wondering if they’re turning soon as their turn signal clearly indicates, but nothing happens.  They keep driving and that light keeps blinking.  What do you do?

You can rush up beside them and honk or try to grab their attention by waving.  But this might confuse or anger them and you might get a few hand signals back in return.  Ouch.  Maybe not the best method.

Another option is to try to ignore it and hope eventually they’ll notice their wayward light blink-blink-blinking.  You purposefully tune it out and eventually the flashing becomes a part of your environment and isn’t quite so distracting. The brain is amazing that way.

But wouldn’t it be nice to have a clear and non-confrontational sign that you could whip out your window?  “Your blinker is on, fellow traveler.  Kindly turn it off.”

“Why thanks!” They say.  Blinker is off.  They wave “Good day!” and the problem is solved.

But…we don’t carry around handy signs like that.  And you know what? Someone’s blinker is the least of our worries in this spiritual battle we’re living.  You know what a big worry is?  A true concern?  Your happily married best friend starts talking with a member of the opposite sex at work and you realize that things are moving into dangerous territory.  Hmmm.  Should we honk and wave and warn them with loud words that they’re about ruin their life?  Oh, dear.  Here come those rude hand gestures again.

Let’s say you see that a relative or church member is heading down a destructive road with pills or alcohol.  Should we just ignore it like we did that turn signal?  I mean surely, they’re eventually going to notice they’ve gone off the deep end of addiction, right?

Last example:  Maybe a close friend is becoming less and less modest in her apparel and attitude.  What to do?  What to do?  Oh, I know!  Let’s grab that handy sign we talked about earlier.  “Dear Friend, I saw the bikini photo you uploaded last night to FaceBook.  And those shorts you’re wearing?  Not found in the church of Corinth, okay?”  Nope – no handy signs lying around to share that message.

How do you let them know that their behavior isn’t aligning with the life scripture set out for us?  Do we share our concern?  Do we risk losing a friend?

Even though it’s hard (so hard!) to step into someone else’s personal matters, the Bible lets us know we should. My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins (James 5:19-20).

It’s so clear.  The scriptures give us reassurance that this is right.  And it doesn’t stop there – we have clear guidance on how to go about this sensitive task.  We must reach out to our loved ones with the kindness of kinship, Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother (2 Thessalonians 3:15) with patience, And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all (1 Thessalonians 5:14) without judgment, Judge not, that you be not judged (Matthew 7:1) and with thankfulness and rejoicing. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God (Colossians 3:16).

Gulp.  Are you, like me, imagining some conversations that need to take place?  Are you thinking, “But God, this is (insert name of friend here) that we’re talking about!  Are you sure you want me to talk to her?  Have you met her?!  She’s going to freak out.  She’s going to hate me.”

Yes, God knows this person.  And God doesn’t want you to go in impulsively.  Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much (James 5:16). Pray for the right words, the right timing, and be prepared for a response that might take time to come to fruition.

At this sensitive time, we must also keep watch on ourselves.  Remember what happens when we are around something new in our environment?  Eventually, it becomes commonplace.  That blinker?  It begins to fade into the background.  Again, our brains are amazing like that.  Galatians 6:1 reminds us to take care with our own walk at such a time.  Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.

Today’s Challenge:  Whew!  Today is tough!  Let’s make the challenge for this day simple and straight-forward.  If anyone is coming to mind that you’re concerned about, pray.  Let your light shine before them, and if the behavior continues, reach out gently, kindly, and with loving patience.  Ask God to give you a calm spirit and clear, but reassuring words.  We cannot remain silent when we see sin slipping into the lives of our loved ones.  We cannot.