Take a Knee, People!

Philippians 2:10-11 at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Are you as tired of hearing about it… talking about it… thinking about it… as I am?

IT – the SILENT protest that proclaims the “goodness of the hearts” just trying to “speak” for the little guy – the victimized – the poor and fragile who are at the mercy of ????…

Everyone knows – No, EVERYONE believes they know what the ???? is.

Not that each and everyone taking a knee has been asked to explain &/or confirm their personal motive… BUT… even if we don’t REALLY know the motive, we, who won’t give away our loyalty to just anyone,  are the MEAN – STUPID – UNCARING – IDIOTS who won’t join in unity and TAKE A KNEE in solidarity with so and so, in order to show this other so and so what they can or can’t do. Because… because… well, because WE SAID SO! You know… we… the ones who FOLLOW THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE who lead us in the right way.

Are you tired of IT yet?

Yes, I am tired of it too and I GROANED when Take a Knee, People, were the words I heard as I sat down to write this Wednesday Website Blog! I wrestled with the Holy Spirit to “Take THIS cup from me”… but then He said…

Joshua 24:15 If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve:  

For me, there is only ONE ANSWER… but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

So… here I groan go…

Whenever I am faced with understanding (or trying to understand) something, I TRY to identify the who, what when where, how and why.  I TRY to understand the facts and put the passionate opinions (mine included) to the side… for at least a moment!

Who… for me it is almost always about (I know – it should be ALWAYS) God and His kingdom… But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)… my knee will ONLY bow to Him – whether in prayer or in worship – He… my LORD and my GOD… will be the one I SPEAK my needs/wishes/hopes/dreams/concerns… with all due respect (NEVER in protest) because, quite frankly, I have learned that my temper tantrums just really don’t work out well.

Who was the focus of this weekend’s Knee Game? I don’t know, and lest I try to take a splinter out with a log in my own eye (Matthew 7:5), I will have to suffer a 5 yard penalty away from the kneeling crowd. I know what the media said was the reason for the season of hate toward our country…INJUSTICE! But I do not know WHO each person was focusing their judgement of accountability and responsibility onto. WHO are they trying to convince &/or impress? Before I can kneel beside them (each and every one of them) I must know if I can be part of their social justice army. WHO are they blaming and WHO are they mad at? WHO isn’t giving them the desires of their heart?

Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. 

Which brings us to… What…

Admittedly, as protests go, SILENT is always better for parental (or whoever is in authority) sanity. Asking for a change of mind, isn’t wrong. Seeking a more congenial plan of action, will insure the buy-in of at least some of the ones who will be doing the major portion of the work to accomplish. Knocking on the doors of all the doers and shakers and benefit takers, is indeed the path of unity which will most times lead to the greatest harvest for good.

But… you KNEW there would be a BUT!

Luke 11:9-10 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. 

We go back to the WHO… in all these protesters, WHO decides WHAT needs to be done and WHO needs to do it? Before I can join my voice knees in partnership, I have to know WE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE! Because, if we are not, you… or I… or even those we care so much about… will not be satisfied with the product of our partnership! We could be demanding cake made from our own personal recipe (Let them eat cake!) when what they REALLY WANTED… what they REALLY NEEDED was… the ability and tools and the partnership to make and eat their own cake.

How… On camera and in makeup… Quiet on the set! Take #It’s been done so many times before!… ACTION…

Yeah, this provided hunger filling – need satisfying – hugging love to the needy in our midst (who probably weren’t watching and didn’t know it was given) cake, with icing and all the bling we could throw onto it.

Matthew 25:37-39 ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 

Good Question… Well, I talked about it! I demanded someone to do it! I threatened the slaves when they didn’t do as I commanded! … ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ (Matthew 25:41-43)

But Lord… when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 

Interestingly, BOTH the one’s who actively pursued DOING and the one’s who elegantly bragged about doing but NEVER DID, ask the same question.

I bet you can guess WHICH side I want to take a knee with!

Actually, the when where, how and why are all answered in the question and answer above.

Wit just one caveat…

Matthew 6:1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. 

On camera, with millions watching, seem like the perfect audience… the most arms at one time one can twist… a gold mine of possibilities!

Maybe not… “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; (Matthew 6:19-20) Those Monday morning quarter backs will always be available with plenty of moths and rust to spoil the party!

I’m just not that into taking a knee for the purpose of building an earthly treasury of sparkly would’ve, should’ve, could’ve, if only you would give me – give me – give me.

I like Tim Tebow’s purpose for taking a knee so much more (just a reminder that the same press that had orgasmic passion for this protest, hated him and his Knee Day)… Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7)

Note to Tim… “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. (Matthew 7:6)

Ok… THAT was crossing the line, Mary!

Just so you know… I won’t be joining the protest because I “suspect” the protesters and I aren’t on the SAME KNEE.

My God supplies all my needs! If I am unhappy with my lot in life, or suffering with underserved toil and trouble, there is only One I can go to about that issue. There is only One I can “blame” for my wishes going unfulfilled. There is only One I can turn to or turn away from, who has my LIFE (eternal life) in His hands.

There is ONLY ONE Who love me and will wrestle the devil out of me!

This earthly life is but a moment – here today and gone tomorrow. ABSOLUTELY I am called to participate in this life and participate WELL. But I do not seek to make this life perfect…(Matthew 6:34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.) I seek God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness and I proclaim His good news of great joy to the captives, all the while rejoicing that I have THIS DAY, He has made for me to SPREAD THE NEWS with my whole heart, with my whole soul, with and my whole mind and with my whole body…

Philippians 2:13 It is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure! 

Take a Knee, People!

Our future is on the way… at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

I beg you… Take a Knee… Let’s do it together!

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible