Yeah, I know. I do not like killing things either. This time of the year they crawl through every little crack in these woodhouses and the war is on.
No, we cannot humanely dispose of them. There is no Mice farm where they can peacefully live out their days. They will return and spread disease.
Human compassion, human emotion recoils at my mouse-murdering streak. That is, if you are a normal tenderhearted person. But wisdom says that humans and rodents cannot exist in the same space.
Our human emotions is part of what makes us human. It seperates us from other species. As Christians we need to have our emotions sanctified by the cross. What does it mean? It means when the emotion does not line up with what God says, we have to resist and change the emotion.
Yes, you can change how you feel. Emotions do not rule you. If they do, you are a slave and not free.
When Jesus started to prepare His disciples, His intimate group of twelve, for what was about to happen to Him, Peter rebuked Him. Peter, impulsive, choleric Peter. Peter, led by his deep affection for Jesus. Overwelmed by what they already sacrificed to walk with Jesus those three years, he was not having this talk about a bloody, cruel death. We can understand that. These men left family, wives, fathers, bussiness, homes and land to follow Jesus. Now, He wants to quit and die. Human emotion had a response to this.
But Jesus... Jesus rebuked Peter harshly: " Get behind me satan!! You are mindfull of the things of man and not of the things of God."
Too often it is the good that derails and hijacks the best. Too often it is the parent or the friend who loves us who interferes with God's plan and call for our lives.
It happened to Paul the apostle. After the prophet Agabus tells him of his impending imprisonment, the church wailed and wept. Paul rebuked them: " Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. " Acts 21v13
Biblical examples abound.
How do we first deal with our own emotions? And second, how do we deal with our loved ones when they have an emotional response to what we follow God in?
We have to constantly bring our emotions in line with God's word. For this to happen, we need to know the book. Our emotions by itself is not bad. How we allow it or use it to glorify God or steal our own peace, is important. You shall love the Lord, your God with all of your mind, heart, will and strength. Sounds like emotion is part of it. All of us, all of what we are, needs to bow down before Him.
When our loved ones respond emotionally, we need to recognise it. Honor and respect them but listen and obey God. We are responsible for our actions before God. We are not the keepers of their emotions. We love them and treat them with respect but we have only one Master; the Lord Jesus Christ.
