Recently I confronted someone that I loved with concern I had about something they were intending that could expose them to enormous physical, emotional, spiritual and legal risk. They rolled their eyes and laughed at me accusing me of choosing a position of judgment and poo-pooing my words as overwrought and annoying.

I explained that I had taken no position but that the law was the law and God’s word is God’s word. I likened the accusation to me begging this person not to jump off the roof and them accusing me of using the “gravity” thing as a manipulative tool and not fact. I said, “I did not create the law nor God’s word. These were in effect long before you and I were ever conceived. And, if you are wondering, I did not invent gravity either.”

The argument ended on an uncomfortable note and I spent the remainder of the day broken-hearted and fighting bitterness over being mocked. I know that it was actually Jesus being mocked and I was merely the messenger but it still felt like an offense worthy of teeth-grinding and grudge-bearing.

Much to my surprise, I found out later in the evening that this messenger had succeeded in faithfully delivering the word of the Lord and a sinner chose to change their course because of it. Hallelujah! In the immortal words of Joan Armatrading, “Sometimes the bear will eat you,  sometimes you eat the bear.”

I’m eating the bear.

I’m walking on sunshine.

I’m rejoicing in the fact that there is one less sin nailing Jesus to the cross.

I remember that I laughed once, twice… Then one day my heart changed toward the Lord and the laughter of scorn turned to tears of repentance and laughter of joy. I pray this is the case here.  I’m glad I obeyed the urging of the Spirit to speak. Obedience can be nice. Painful, frustrating, scary… But nice.

And James 5:19, 20 states: Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

Obedience can be very nice, actually.