Our China managers are here for training and business
strategy. We are writing new contracts and tightening what our manager calls
leakage. I have some incredible and exciting miracles to share with you, but
this is on my heart today.
They described many situations of dishonesty from our
China partners. This doesn't come as a shock. We have been working on some
situations for years. But the reality stings hearing it first hand.
Some of our partners are very honest and upright. Others
sadly are not; they put on a good face when we go to China. In China, they call it knives with smiles. It makes me angry
because my father has spent years helping them build their farms, build their
business and giving them tools to be successful. They use what they want and
do their own thing for their own pleasure.
In China when someone does something dishonest, they call
it losing face. When someone is very dishonest and cannot be trusted at all,
they say he has no face. Too often, they respond in the moment for their
pleasure, while denying our agreements and word.
It makes me think about my relationship with God. How often I put on a good face then take what I want and use it for my own pleasure?
Lose face. I responded to the moment by letting my anger deny I live for Jesus. It wasn't
intentional. Does that make me a little like Peter?
Peter promised he would never deny Jesus. Everybody else
could, but he would die before bending. Then he responded to the moment and three times, lost
face. The rooster crowed.
At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Luke
22:61a.
Can you imagine? The denier and the denied face to
face. It must have been a paralyzing moment, searing the
mind and heart. Peter realizing what he did. Jesus knowing.
What did Peter see
in the eyes of Jesus? I think he saw compassion, grace and sorrow beyond
what he could bear. Peter saw love he could not understand.
And Peter left the courtyard, crying bitterly. Luke
22:61b
Maybe that was the moment Peter completely believed for the first time. I don't know, but it changed Peter's life. Maybe that black night and the rooster crow was the very moment Peter truly became the rock.
Black moments of losing face can change our lives too.
Have you ever heard the rooster crow?
I've heard. I've been like Peter in some ways this week. By being
angry and impatient, I denied for the moment that Jesus is
my Lord. When I allow that to happen, I lose face.
When we lose face, we lose our witness. In our worst moments Jesus turns to look at me, at
you. We behold the same compassion and grace.
Thank you God that no matter what we have done, Jesus knows.
Jesus turns to look at me. He turns to look at you.
See love.
