Ep 57: Head in the Sand (w/ Nick Gill)

0:00 Well, good morning, I'm Daniel Dalp and this is for Your Sunday Morning Drive, the short podcast designed to give you your encouragement, your drive, and your motivation on your way to worship and to help recenter your mind on those spiritual things on a hectic Sunday morning. We are brought to you in partnership with the Ministry League network of podcasts. Ministry League offers many resources to help support and encourage the church, all of them free and all of them available through their website, ministryleague.com or through their app. Listeners. Today you are in for an absolutely fantastic episode brought to us by good friend and brother in Christ, Nick Gill. Nick is from the Frankfort, KY area and has been married to his best friend for 25 years.

0:44 He's a graduate of Nation's University and a grant administrator, and he loves to brag on Jesus every chance he gets. I met Nick about 10 years ago when I was trying out for a congregation in his area, and we've kept in touch ever since. I know him to be a sincere, nicer, and encouraging brother, and I cannot wait to share his message with you this morning. Nick, thank you so much for being part of the show this morning and for putting together such great thoughts. Let's get the show on the road. This is episode 57. Head in the sand. Let's go to church. Are we there yet?

1:37 Would you believe that an ancient tale about ostriches sticking their heads in the sand can teach us something about being tempted not to show grace to others? Why do we struggle to show grace? Why is it so much easier for us to harbor anger and resentment, or to lash out when we hurt, or to just sort of hang some wallpaper over cracks in our relationship? In Matthew 18, Jesus provides bedrock teaching for how the people of God are called to resolve conflict, as well as the terrifying consequences for the church when grace does not abound. If you have time today, read that whole chapter and see how much God values both you and that person you might be mad at. Forgiveness is like the air in our lungs. If we're not breathing out forgiveness to others, there's no room for us to take more in.

2:27 And if we don't breathe, we die. Humans can last for an average of 3 minutes without air. The church can't even last that long without grace and forgiveness. I think there are at least two reasons we struggle to show grace. One more obvious and one maybe less so. The obvious one is simple and basic feelings of superiority. Like the servant in Matthew 18. We forget how much we've been forgiven. We forget how much we need fresh forgiveness every single day. And so we let other people's perceived shortcomings open the opportunity for us to attack them. Maybe not as graphically or as physically as the servant in Matthew 18, but attacked them all the same, with cruel words, whispered accusations and constant murmuring.

3:12 It's not as big of a gap as we think between our behaviour and that of the unforgiving servant. Now, the second reason we struggle to show grace is maybe less obvious because I know I went for years imagining avoidance to be a virtue. There's an ancient myth dating back at least to Roman times, that ostriches stick their heads in the sand, believing that if they can't see a predator, then a predator can't see them. Ostriches do nest in the ground and sometimes stick their heads in their nests to turn their eggs or to check on the welfare of their young. And you know, we've all seen toddlers play hide and seek by sticking their head behind something and imagining that fully concealed.

3:54 So it's understandable where the myth came from. And one thing is certain, sticking my head in the sand isn't showing grace. It's easy to believe that by simply avoiding or ignoring disagreements, conflicts, and feelings sinned against, we're being gracious like God. But the hard fact is, we're not. God didn't ignore sin. God sent his Son to reconcile sinful people to himself. Grace acts. Grace doesn't sit aloof waiting for someone to come to us and explain themselves or beg us for forgiveness. Grace goes the second mile, not to launch an attack or to paper over the cracks in our relationship, but with a steadfast commitment to working towards reconciliation and seeking the best for the other party because we belong to each other.

4:47 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Paul says that's not really a command. That's just what life looks like when we share the same heart, the same mind, and the same purpose. We've got a long way to go to get there. So let's recommit to doing the hard work of reconciliation, to becoming reconciliation people rather than retribution people. The alternative is too terrifying to accept. Nick shared some absolutely awesome thoughts with us this morning, and now it's time to hear yours. Our discussion questions for today are what does it mean for us that forgiveness is like air in our lungs? What can we do when feelings of superiority threaten to stop us from showing grace? And what can I do today to recommit to reconciliation and grace?